General Camp Information
The Camp Property
Mount Norris Scout Reservation is owned and operated by the Green Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America and has been enjoyed by generations of scouts and scouters as a beautiful summer retreat for over 58 years. Our scenic 1,000 acre camp is ideal to supplement your troop’s outdoor program of camping, hiking, advancement, and fun. Mount Norris offers a combination of a Mountain “high” adventure program for your older Scouts and a quality scout program for your younger Scouts, providing the opportunities to work toward the Eagle Scout rank and experiences you and your scouts will remember for the rest of your lives.
The camp is licensed to operate by the State of Vermont and the Boy Scouts of America. The State Department of Health and the BSA National Inspection Team inspect the grounds during the camp season. Mount Norris is a 100 percent nationally accredited Boy Scout resident camp.
Program Philosophy
The Green Mountain Council summer camp program allows scouts to learn new skills and improve on existing ones. Skill instruction has been designed around the Four Fundamental Outdoor Skills:
- Ecology/Conservation
- Outdoor Living
- Aquatics
- Physical Fitness
Training emphasis relates all of these to practical living: for example, fire building and cooking for the purpose of providing warmth and wholesome food, not just to pass a requirement for advancement.
We strongly encourage troops to make use of the Patrol system. Green Mountain Council organizes its camps in accordance with the chartered troop concept: that of using the boys’ natural leadership as its troop leadership.
In delivering a quality camping program, the camp staff is responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of all individuals within camp. The staff will promote a positive environment in which troops, patrols, and scouts can realize their objectives in coming to camp while making full use of camp resources and facilities. They will also apply their personal abilities and leadership skills so that an active, skill-orientated program will take place.
As camp leaders, you play a part in delivering a quality program to the boys. You are responsible for fulfilling Scoutings’s objectives within your Troop and Patrols: character building, citizenship training, and personal fitness. You must ensure your patrols have an active, well-balanced program at camp, taking full advantage of the opportunities and resources in meeting the needs and interests of the troop, the patrol, and the scouts.
As Scoutmaster, you must also ensure that the troop’s youth leadership performs their tasks to the best of their abilities with the proper training, preparation, and support needed.
You must also follow all policies and regulations of the Green Mountain Council and Boy Scouts of America and be supportive of the council and camp staff leadership.
The Camp Staff
The Mount Norris Scout Reservation takes pride in hiring the brightest, energetic, hard-working, and friendliest Scouts available from your troop to serve as camp staff. They are eager to help your unit succeed at Mount Norris and are willing to accommodate your needs. The camp staff has been chosen for their knowledge of camp life, sense of Scoutings’s values, and understanding of boys. The BSA National Camping School has certified all area directors as trained specialists in their field. In keeping with the adopted policies of the Boy Scouts of America, all staff has been trained in Youth Protection policy. Our staff is senior, experienced and enthusiastic and are the best scouts from the best troops in the Green Mountain Council.
Like the campers, the camp staff has certain procedures to follow and a very full schedule. If you have a special request of the staff, please bring it to the Program Director’s attention.
National Camp Accreditation
According to Boy Scouts of America national policies, every Boy Scout camp in the country must be inspected annually for compliance with the safety and program guidelines of the Boy Scouts of America. As a result of this process, camps are designated as accredited, conditionally accredited, or are closed for non-compliance.
Mt. Norris Scout Reservation is a 100 percent Nationally Accredited camp.
Driving Directions
From Interstate 89 (north or south), take exit 10 and head north on Route 100. Follow for about 32 miles until you see the sign for Mount Norris Scout Reservation on your right. Turn onto this road and follow to the main parking lot. Report in at the camp office. Please drive 5 mph once in camp. You can drive to your site and unload then park in our lot.
Communication To and From Camp
Incoming mail to scouts and leaders is distributed at the evening retreat ceremony. Mail usually takes two to three days to reach the camp. Outgoing mail should be left at the camp office for delivery each morning. Mail to scouts, leaders, or staff should be addressed as follows:
Individual’s name
c/o Mount Norris Scout Reservation
Troop ###, Campsite
PO Box 117
Eden, VT 05652
The camp telephone is reserved for business use only. Parents wishing to contact their son in an emergency should call 802.635.7415 and leave a message. Because this phone is the business line for camp, scouts, leaders and staff are not permitted to use it except for emergencies.
Uniforming
One of the methods by which scouting achieves its goals is through the uniform. All scouts and leaders should be in field uniform for retreat, 5:45 pm each day, at Vespers and at the opening and closing campfires. Appropriate activity uniform (a scout t-shirt with scout shorts or pants) should be worn to breakfast and during the day’s activities. Shirt and shoes are always required.
The Trading Post
It’s difficult to say how much money a scout should bring to camp to spend at the Trading Post. The amount he’ll spend depends on what merit badge books and materials he’ll need and how much he is likely to spend on snacks and souvenirs. In general, merit badge books cost $3.15 and handicraft kits are about $3 to $5. Camp T-shirts are $13. We suggest $30 as a reasonable amount. Accounts can not be set up for Troops or Scouts.
Baden Powell discounts cannot be used for purchases at camp trading post.
Dining
Most units will enjoy the tasty meals of the Flynn Lodge dining hall. Our renovated kitchen facilities and staff provide the means to fill every stomach in camp with a warm and healthy meal three times a day. Units also have the option of cooking any meals in their own sites. All food and preparation materials are provided.
Unit Photographs
Photos of your troop will be taken during the week and delivered before you leave camp. Camp photos are $5 each (cost is subject to change). Please take orders from parents and scouts prior to coming to camp.
Camp Ranger
Mount Norris Scout Reservation has a full-time, year-round property manager on site who is in charge of all property maintenance, as well as overseeing programs at camp during the off season. The ranger is the steward of your camp property and holds a certification from the BSA National Camp School, Ranger Section.
Pre-Camp Leaders' Meeting
A Leaders’ Meeting for all troops attending Mount Norris this summer will be held April 15 at the First Congregational Church; 77 Main St., Springfield and on April 16 at the Council Service Center in Waterbury. These meetings will start at 7 pm. Your questions and Camp information will be discussed.
Mt Norris Alumni Picnic
The Mount Norris Scout Reservation Alumni Association will host its second annual picnic on Saturday July 8 at Mt Norris. This reunion will be for all Scouts, Leaders, Staff and Friends of Mount Norris that have been part of building the traditions of the camp since the Fifties. There will be no charge for the day. You bring the “picnic” and the camp will provide the drink. The day will run from 10:00 am to evening. Plan to attend.
For more information regarding the Mount Norris Alumni Association contact Bill Baron (home phone 802.372.8763).