LONE TREE STANDS TALL
Expanding The Vision & Mission Of Lone Tree Scout Reservation
The Spirit of Adventure Council’s vision for camping is thoughtful, extensive, and inclusive. Each camp plays a critical role in achieving
the overall mission to make Scouting thrive in our communities. Part of that vision is to use the camp properties strategically to address
needs of units, families, and Scouts.
Today Lone Tree is often considered as a “Cub Scout Camp”. It is, but it has always been much more than that. For 10 months of the year
more Troops, Crews, and Packs than both Wah-Tut-Ca and TL Storer use Lone Tree Scout Reservation. Its location in Kingston NH makes it
an accessible location for many units in the Spirit of Adventure Council. On a Scout Unit level it offers many advantages and meets many
needs.
In the early days of Scouting some Scout Troops had their own camps. At these “unit camps” they may have had a building or two where
Troops could store their gear. They were usually close to home and could be used almost impulsively. A Patrol could show up on a Saturday and practice outdoor cooking, or even have after school archery shoot.
In today’s world putting together a good unit program is more difficult. Running a Scout Unit is a big commitment and fewer people are
prepared for the job. Gathering equipment, finding locations, and organizing activities has become so time consuming that is no wonder
we are challenged to find and retain adult leadership. The Spirit of Adventure Council is focused on making that easier.
In the creation of the New England Adventure Network, (all SOA Camps), two of our camps are targeting this problem directly and by
working together promise to make significant contribution to the council’s goals. In addition to its role of a Cub Summer Camp, Lone Tree
is seen as the camp for units to help units conduct their own programs. Making and expanding the resources of Lone Tree to support unit
outdoor activities is the central strategy for the Kingston property.
Consider the resources at Lone Tree: Boats, shooting sports equipment, cooking gear, craft shop etc.… Does it make any sense for this
equipment to sit in a locked building for 10 months when there are plenty of Scouts that can use it?
Practically speaking to make this equipment available takes more than removing a padlock. Use of this equipment often requires training
and inventory controls. Safety of all our members is the number one concern of any Scout program.
In this new version of the “unit camp” we will retain the value of the old school impulsiveness, yet we’ll address the scalability and access
for all units through the training and inventory control process. The answer to the training issue is where New England Base Camp comes
in. At Base Camp units and leaders can get all the required trainings necessary to be able to conduct unit programs at Lone Tree. Base
Camps training programs cover a range of opportunities from basic camping skills to Serve-Safe Certifications. BB and Archery Certifications are also available as well as extensive water safety courses. All the training needed to conduct programs at Lone Tree begins at New
England Base Camp.
Getting kids outside and active in the outdoors in a safe and nurturing environment is what the Boy Scouts Of America does best. We can
do it better by helping Units by providing training, facilities, and programs to them. After all it is local parents and adult volunteers make
the Scouting program come alive for all the children and young adults in their Troop. The vision for the Spirit of Adventure Council is to
utilize Lone Tree in a way that empowers these adults and older Scouts, to broaden their horizons and bring a more vibrant program to
their units. With this expanded mission Lone Tree stands tall in our emerging New England Network of Adventure.