Social Links Search User Login Menu
Tools
Close
Close

Featured Shares

No content

A problem occurred while loading content.

Previous Next

Camp Scouthaven

Camp Scouthaven
David Madison
/ Categories: Camping

Camp Scouthaven

BSA Scout Camp

The camp is one of the oldest scout summer camps in the United States. According to David Eby, "Scouthaven was purchased in 1918 but was first called Camp Crystal as it was located on Crystal Lake; it was not called Scouthaven until 1923. It is a 400 acre camp and in the early years Scouts got to it by riding a "milk" train which went by the camp. Eby goes on to state, "It is rather unique as it was a turn of the century amusement park that was converted into a Scout camp. The dining hall is the former dance hall from the park and the Camp Rangers office is the railroad depot that was used at the park to drop off and pick up passengers."

The camp was originally owned by Buffalo Council (BC). In 1949, Erie County Council (ECC) merged with Buffalo Council and the camp became part of the Buffalo Area Council (BAC). The camp was still being used as a summer camp when the Buffalo Area Council merged in 1967 with the Niagara Frontier Council (NFC). The Greater Niagara Frontier Council (GNFC) countinued to

use Scouthaven as a summer camp for Boy Scouts until the late 1980s. The camp closed as a Boy Scout summer camp after the 1988 season.

However, in the mid 1990s Camp Scouthaven became the GNFC's primary camp for Cub Scouts during the summer months. According to the GNFC web page, "Camp Scouthaven is the perfect environment for introducing Cub Scouts to the challenges of Scouting and the outdoors. Spanning the entire north shore of Crystal Lake, Scouthaven is located about 8 miles southeast of the Village of Arcade in Cattaraugus County on Route 98. It encompasses more than 732 acres of rolling hills and trees on beautiful Crystal Lake. The main campground is flat and open. The lake is small and calm so even beginners can safely learn to swim and navigate rowboats, canoes, and 'funyaks'."

Previous Article Camp Shoelkopf
Next Article Pine Hill Scout Reservation
Print
2918 Rate this article:
3.7
Scouting Type
  • Family Scouting
  • Scouting
  • Venturing
  • Sea Scouts
Phone Number716-492-4429
Website URLwww.wnyscouting.org/camping/weekend-camp-reservations/67051
Street10784 NY-98
CityFreedom
StateNew York
Zipcode/Postal Code14065
CountryUSA
eMail Addressgnfc@wnyscouting.org
LocationWestern NY
Season/Time of YearYear-round

David MadisonDavid Madison

Other posts by David Madison
Contact author
Please login or register to post comments.

Contact author

x

Got something to share?

Become a ScoutShare member or simply send us an email to share@scoutshare.org .


Learn more about how to join the ScoutShare team!

Learn more

Back To Top