Projects and Service Opportunities

 

Thanks for taking a look at what projects we have here at Camp Acahela. The list below is divided into several sections, plus we have added some additional information about service work.

 

Free Camping

That's right folks - free camping. If you are an In Council unit and come up to either camp with the expressed purpose of giving us a good amount of service time on one of your camping days, we'll give you your platform or open campsite for free for the weekend. (if you are an Out-of-Council unit, we'll provide you with a similar deal or serious discount depending on the circumstances or scope of the project). The best way to arrange this is to talk with our Council Ranger, Tim Bongard, who can be reached at 570-335-0283.

 

Service Hours, Woodbadge, NYLT, and Eagle Projects

You can always use the hours of service you put in at either camp for rank advancement requirements or, in the right circumstances, for conservation requirements for awards like Leave No Trace, World Conservation Award, or the Hornaday Award. Woodbadge and NYLT candidates and patrols can also use service hours for the Conservation element of their course or even create a ticket item around a much needed project in camp. The one award where camp service projects can not be used as the award's service project is the Eagle Award. Eagle rank candidates must create service projects that benefit their local communities or parks, not their local Boy Scout Council or its camps.

 

If you have an idea or would like to discuss these options further, talk with our Council Ranger, Tim Bongard, who can be reached at 570-335-0283.

 

In any event, volunteer effort is the key to success because without it there would simply be no way for us to continue the ongoing improvements to either Acahela or Camp Acahela.

 

 

Service Projects

  • Trail maintenance is needed on the system of trails around the camp. Work includes setting out new markers or painting blazes on trees, repairing old markers, clearing debris at various locations and being sure all the trails are passable and easy to follow.
  • Regular and constant item on the list is clearing our storm drains and trenches. This very important task needs constant attention to keep erosion of our roads and hillsides to a minimum. Also a great task for showing what water erosion can do.
  • Likewise, another constant on the list is doing trail maintenance on the Campfire Circle Trail from the Parking Lot to the Campfire Circle.
  • There is lots of downed timber and branches around camp. Gathering these and breaking it all into tinder, kindling, and fuel about 18" in length (from fingertip to elbow) is a very Scoutlike way of doing a good turn.
  • There are always painting projects to do for those who are good with a brush. The Administration Building and Dining Hall are on the list for this year.
  • Likewise, Acahela is in desperate need of new picnic tables and platforms or maintenance on what we have.

 

 

 

Legacy Projects

Bigger projects that you can share in or help orchestrate include:

  • We are going to be setting up a perimeter trail, just like the one at Goose Pond. Volunteers are needed to help mark the boundaries of the camp, then blaze a trail from the Lehigh River across our boundary lands to the Tobyhanna Creek. This would create a trail almost 5 miles in length, ideal for getting boys passed on their hiking requirements for 2nd Class. Volunteers are needed to help make this come about.
  • A complete rehabilitation of the Twins is currently underway. There are lots of details to handle.
  • The old Goat Trail site is being revamped and rebuilt into Eagle's Nest, a camping training site. Help is needed with rebuilding the road, the latrine, and setting up a good bridge over Rabbit Run.
  • Refurbishing the pond where the rivers join has been another ongoing project that is really starting to show what this kind of thing can do. There is plenty of conservation work to do of all kinds and for all ages.
  • Building new Adirondack shelters at Eagles Nest or at least moving the ones at Adirondacks up to Eagles Nest is a big item on our list.
  • Building a permanent Workshop and Storage Building near the Ranger Station would have a cascade effect in camp. We would then be able to put the Handicraft Lodge back in service as Handicraft (It currently houses the Workshop) and would add one more Winter Lodge to what we already have. Besides providing proper storage for tentage, paint, program materials, it would provide proper housing for our equipment and tools many of which are stored outdoors taking a beating from the weather.

 

 

 

Additional Information

  • If you would like to be placed on our e-mail list to receive updates and bulletins regarding Projects and Service Opportunities at Acahela,  simply send an e-mail to ranger Tim at tbongard@nepabsa.org .
  • To contact our Council Ranger about any of these projects, click here to go to our contacts page for current contact information.
  • Need program assistance? We can help you plan a terrific weekend. Call Ranger Tim Bongard at 570-646-1216.
  • Direct any additional camp questions to Ranger Tim or e-mail him at tbongard@nepabsa.org .