Your Summer. Your Adventure.
There is no single way to experience Camp Chawanakee.
Scouts can spend their week earning merit badges, developing outdoor skills, challenging themselves on the climbing tower, getting out on Shaver Lake, trying something new, or simply enjoying everything summer camp has to offer.
With programs for first-year campers through experienced Scouts, every Scout can build a Chawanakee experience that’s their own.
VIEW MERIT BADGE & PROGRAM SCHEDULE
2027 MERIT BADGE & PROGRAM SCHEDULE COMING SOON
More Than Merit Badges
Merit badges are an important part of summer camp—but they shouldn’t be the entire summer camp experience.
Encourage Scouts to leave room in their schedules to explore Camp Chawanakee, visit open program areas, participate in campwide activities, spend time with their patrol, and try something they may never have done before.
Some of the best memories at Chawanakee aren’t scheduled.
Merit Badges
Advancement Meets Adventure
Camp Chawanakee offers more than 50 merit badge opportunities covering a wide variety of interests and skill levels.
Scouts can choose programs in areas including aquatics, outdoor skills, nature, crafts, range and target activities, and more.
Some merit badges may have prerequisites, age or experience recommendations, additional fees, or limited enrollment.
Scouts and leaders should review the current Merit Badge & Program Schedule before making selections.
VIEW MERIT BADGE & PROGRAM SCHEDULE
2027 MERIT BADGE & PROGRAM SCHEDULE COMING SOON
First-Year Camper
Start Your Scouting Adventure
New to Scouts BSA? Camp Chawanakee’s First-Year Camper program helps newer Scouts build confidence while developing the foundational skills they’ll use throughout their Scouting journey.
Scouts work on skills connected to early rank advancement while learning how to navigate summer camp, work with other Scouts, and become more comfortable in the outdoors.
The program is a great starting point—but first-year Scouts should still have time to explore the rest of Chawanakee.
Waterfront
Adventure on Shaver Lake
The shores of Shaver Lake are one of the things that make Camp Chawanakee special.
Scouts can cool off, build new skills, earn aquatics merit badges, or simply enjoy time on the water.
Programs may include:
- Swimming
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Aquatics merit badges
- Open waterfront activities
All aquatics activities are conducted according to Scouting America safety standards and participant swimming ability.
WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES
Climbing & COPE
Challenge Yourself
Take your Chawanakee adventure to new heights.
Camp Chawanakee’s 52-foot climbing tower gives Scouts the opportunity to challenge themselves, develop confidence, and experience climbing and rappelling in a supervised environment.
COPE activities focus on teamwork, communication, problem-solving, trust, and leadership through a series of individual and group challenges.
Programs may include:
- Climbing
- Rappelling
- Climbing Merit Badge
- COPE challenges
- Team-building activities
[ EXPLORE CLIMBING & COPE ]
Range & Target Activities
Focus. Skill. Challenge.
Camp Chawanakee offers opportunities for Scouts to safely develop their skills under the supervision of trained range staff.
Programs include:
Rifle
Learn safe firearm handling, shooting fundamentals, and marksmanship.
Shotgun
Take on the challenge of shooting moving targets while learning proper technique and safety.
Archery
Develop accuracy, consistency, and shooting skills on the archery range.
Merit badge opportunities and open program activities may be available depending on the weekly schedule.
[ EXPLORE RANGE & TARGET ACTIVITIES ]
Scoutcraft
Put Scout Skills Into Action
Scoutcraft brings traditional Scouting skills to life.
Scouts can strengthen the outdoor skills that have been part of Scouting for generations while learning techniques they can take back to their troop and use on future adventures.
Programs may include:
- Camping skills
- Pioneering
- Knots and lashings
- Wilderness survival
- Orienteering and navigation
- Outdoor cooking
- Scoutcraft merit badges
Nature
Explore the Sierra Nevada
Camp Chawanakee’s location in the Sierra Nevada provides an incredible outdoor classroom.
Scouts can explore the natural world, learn about conservation, investigate plants and wildlife, and better understand their responsibility to protect the outdoors.
Nature programs and merit badges may cover subjects including environmental science, forestry, mammals, reptiles, weather, conservation, and other natural sciences.
Handicraft
Create Something at Camp
Sometimes it’s good to slow things down.
The Handicraft area gives Scouts an opportunity to learn creative skills, work with their hands, and leave camp with something they made themselves.
Programs may include crafts, leatherwork, woodcarving, art, and related merit badges and activities.
Horse Corral
Saddle Up
Experience another side of Camp Chawanakee at the Horse Corral.
Scouts can learn about horses, horsemanship, animal care, and riding while developing confidence around these incredible animals.
Program availability, requirements, and additional fees may apply.
[ EXPLORE HORSE PROGRAMS ]
Eagle Point
Advancement & Eagle Scout Resources
For Scouts working toward the upper ranks of Scouts BSA, Eagle Point provides advancement resources and opportunities focused on continuing the journey toward Eagle Scout.
Available programs may include selected Eagle-required merit badges, advancement assistance, and other resources for older Scouts.
Open Program
Leave Room for Adventure
Not everything at Chawanakee requires a reservation or a merit badge.
Open program periods give Scouts opportunities to return to favorite areas, try activities they couldn’t fit into their regular schedule, spend time with friends, or discover something completely unexpected.
Encourage Scouts to leave some room in their week for exploration.
Summer camp should feel like summer camp—not school with pine trees.
Campwide Activities & Traditions
Some Things We Do Together
A week at Chawanakee extends well beyond scheduled program periods.
Throughout the week, Scouts and units can participate in campwide activities, evening programs, special events, campfires, competitions, and traditions that bring the entire camp together.
These shared experiences are part of what has made Chawanakee a summer home for generations of Scouts.
Programs for Adult Leaders
Camp Isn’t Just for the Scouts
Adult leaders are encouraged to experience Chawanakee too.
Depending on the weekly schedule, opportunities may include:
- Adult leader training
- Program-area activities
- Leader challenges and competitions
- Fellowship with other Scouters
- Special activities and events
- Time to explore camp
Adult leaders make summer camp possible. We want you to have a great week too.
Build Your Week
Every Scout’s Chawanakee experience should look a little different.
When planning a schedule, consider a balance of:
Advancement + Adventure + Exploration + Fun
Choose merit badges that match the Scout’s interests and experience. Leave room for open program. Try something new. Spend time with the troop and patrol.
Don’t measure a successful week only by how many merit badges were completed.
Measure it by what the Scout learned, tried, accomplished, and can’t stop talking about on the ride home.
VIEW MERIT BADGE & PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Ready for Your Chawanakee Adventure?
Join Us for Our 80th Anniversary Summer
Seven weeks of adventure await on the shores of Shaver Lake.
June 13 – July 31, 2027
Questions about Camp Chawanakee programs?
Contact us at (559) 320-2100 or CampChawanakee@SequoiaCouncil.org.
