Merry Christmas

All of us at Pico Blanco Scout Reservation wish you a Merry Christmas

A sunny flat along Skinner Creek

More Trail Work!

On November 10, a crew of 17 volunteers cleared 58 fallen trees along the trail to Fish Camp. This greatly expands hiking opportunities for Scouts and the general public along the North Fork of the Little Sur River. This trail also provides to more challenging destinations such as the Circular Pools and The Window. Once again, Fish Camp and Jackson Camp can be used as a beginners hike for troops.

Many thanks to our dedicated volunteers!

National Public Lands Day

Last weekend, to celebrate National Public Lands Day, the Ventana Wilderness Alliance conducted a trail work weekend based out of Pico. The 23 person all-volunteer effort cleared the Little Sur Trail up to the Saddle, clearing 87 downed trees, removing brush, and rehabilitating much of the tread. A trip report from the VWA can be found here.

This trail work trip was desperately needed. Over the past few years the trail up to the Saddle has gotten worse and worse, making trips to Pico Public and Mount Pico take hours longer than they used to. The work done last weekend will make the bakcountry more accessible for Scouts and the general public.

We would like to thank the Ventana Wilderness Alliance for their service. You can learn more about this great organization at http://ventanawild.org

Stay tuned for an upcoming trail work party!

The 2012 Pico Blanco Staff

Yucca Firsthand

Our Nature Director shows some campers a Yucca whipplei (chaparral yucca, our Lord's candle, Spanish bayonet, or Quixote yucca) along the camp road. Go on a nature walk with him and he'll show you how you can make your own needle and thread out of this plant!
Learn more here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesperoyucca_whipplei

Article about the firebowl

http://www.nccrc.org/newsletter/v14n7/v14n7_boyscout_camp.html

Dad and Lad 2012

Cub Scouts- Come on down to Pico with your Dad for a weekend of BB shooting, slingshots, hiking, archery, crafts, and a campfire! This year's theme is The Great Escape and will take place September 21-23.

More information here:
http://mbacbsa.org/Activities/~/media/Councils/Council025/Activities/Dad%20and%20Lad/Dad%20and%20Lad%20flyer%202012.ashx

Pico Blanco Available for your Group!

Did you know that Pico Blanco is available year round for your Scouting and non-Scouting group? You can rent out all or part of camp for a campout or retreat. You can also reserve a parking permit so that you can use Pico Blanco as a trailhead.
More information here: http://mbacbsa.org/Camping/2013%20Summer%20Camps/Year%20Round%20Camping%20Reservation%20Form%20and%20Parking%20Permit

2012 Esselen Lodge Vigil Honor Recipients

2012 Esselen Lodge Vigil Honor Recipients

9/8/12

For a complete list of Esselen Lodge Vigils visit: http://himlyn.com/vigil.html

Labor Day Weekend 2012

This year's Labor Day Weekend Scouter Retreat was one of the busiest on record. This year the Pico Staff served over 180 campers and offered an expanded program including waterfront, shooting sports, slingshots,        handicraft, nature, and scoutcraft demonstrations. The campfire program was filled with great skits and songs  from troops, packs, venture crews, and the staff.

This year, our program expanded beyond the camp into the Ventana Wilderness where Scouts of all ages took part in a wide range of hikes. A group of Cub Scouts went downstream from camp to Little Sur River Camp and enjoyed walking in the river. Several older Scouts went with some staff upstream to Jackson Camp to see an albino redwood and some other Scouts did a challenging hike to visit Al Clark's Lost Silver King Mine and then to Pico Public to take a refreshing swim in the waterfall fed pool

Several units decided to go backpacking over the weekend, using Pico as a base camp. A troop from Monterey spent the night at Fox Camp and took a side trip to the Circular Pools. A patrol from the Los Padres Council hiked to Jackson Camp and spent the night. Two Venture crews elected to do some more challenging treks. One crew hiked to Pico Public and then went up Mount Pico for the night, enjoying stunning views of the sunset over the Pacific. A crew from the Los Padres Council attempted Ventana Double Cone, a 4,852 ft peak above camp with views of the entire Ventana Wilderness, Monterey Bay, and  the Big Sur Coast, spending two nights at Pat Spring Camp.

Scouting was alive and well at Pico Blanco that weekend!

A Scoutmaster reviews packing techniques with his troop before heading out on a backpack trip

A staffer is excited to be at Jackson Camp

And excited to find an albino redwood along the Little Sur River

Crossing the Little Sur River

Hiking to Pico Public

Searching for Al Clark's Silver Mine

The Blue Hole at Pico Pubilc

Swimmers and Boaters Enjoying the Waterfront

Canoeing at the Waterfront

The Nature Director imparts wisdom upon some Scouts

Driving out Palo Colorado Canyon after a fun weekend

A Closing Song

Here is a video of David Doyle, Camp Director in 2009 and 2010, singing "Pico Blanco", a song he wrote, at a closing campfire.


Not too long ago
I traveled to a land
A place where redwoods stand
A place where boys can grow

They called it pico
Pico Blanco
That's where I want to go
That's where I am

It's where I learned about life
And how people can make things right
Where I learned about love
I learnrd about God above

Now I call her Pico
Pico Blanco
That's where I want to go
That's where I am

Pico
Pico Blanco
She is my home
She is my friend

But now it's time to go
It's time to roll up the show
To drive that dusty old road
And head home

I'll remember Pico
Pico Blanco
That's where I'll want to go
That's where I've been

Pico
Pico Blanco
She is my home
Away from home
She's a lady

Labor Day 2012

Want to end summer the right way? Spend Labor Day weekend at Pico Blanco at the Labor Day Scouter Retreat. Come and enjoy the waterfront, shooting ranges, hikes, handicraft crafts, nature demonstrations, and outdoor skills and, of course, the final campfire of the summer. Come with your family or your unit and camp under the redwoods.

Register here: http://mbacbsa.org/Camping/Memorial%20and%20Labor%20Day%20Family%20Camp

Summer 2012 Update

Yes, camp occurred this summer. Photos will be uploaded soon as the bloggers have been busy.

NYLT at Pico

Do you want to develop as a leader in your troop? The Monterey Bay Area Council is again offering National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) at Pico Blanco this summer from June 17-23.

NYLT is an opportunity for Scouts to develop leadership skills that will help them better serve their own units.

NYLT is a six-day course that centers on the concepts of what a leader must BE, what he must KNOW, and what he must DO. The key elements are then taught with a clear focus on HOW TO. Content is delivered in a troop and patrol outdoor setting with an emphasis on immediate application of learning in a fun environment. Interconnecting concepts and work processes are introduced early, built upon and reinforced by the use of memory aids, which allow participants to understand and employ the leadership skills much faster.

Click here for more information

Kick off the Summer Camping Season: Memorial Day Scouter Retreat

Summer is almost here and it's time to get it off to a good start with a weekend beneath the redwoods! Scouts and Scouters of all ages are welcome to the Memorial Day Scouter Retreat which will be May 25-28 at Pico Blanco Scout Reservation. Activities will include hiking, nature activities, BB gun, .22, and archery ranges, and a campfire in the newly renovated Bob Mazzuca Campfire Bowl to kick off the summer!

Registered Scouts and persons 6 yrs. & older are $25.00 each. Persons 5 yrs. & younger are free.

Register Here

Marksmanship!

Mom and Me 2012

Hey Cub Scouts! Do you miss camping? Do you want shoot BB guns, perform your favorite skit, and drink bug juice?

...then tell your Mom to sign you up for Mom and Me! This year's theme is "Oh the Places You'll Go". The event is May 18-20.

The event costs $15 on or before April 19, 2012 and $25 after April 19, 2012. A meal plan is available for $20.

REGISTER TODAY!

Camporee 2012

The Esselen Lodge is hosting the Council Camporee at Pico Blanco May 4-6.

Does your troop have an award winning dutch oven recipe?

Do you want to show off your troop's mastery of Scout skills?

Do you have a great skit for the first Pico Campfire of 2012?

Do you want to get ready for the summer camping season?

...then your troop should register today. It's only $15 a person if you register before April 19 and then $20 after.

REGISTER HERE

Dudley's Lousewort

Pico Blanco Scout Reservation hosts the state-listed rare plant Dudley's Lousewort, Pedicularis dudleyi.

It is found on riverside terraces, especially near Old-Growth Douglas-Fir. Only three small populations exist in the entire world- all in California. These include specific sections of Pescadero Creek in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Arroyo De La Cruz In the South Santa Lucia Mountains, and finally the Little Sure River in the Santa Lucia mountains where Camp Pico Blanco is located.

Additionally, one of the largest patches of it occurs in Pico.

The plant is currently being researched in camp, and scouts visiting camp have the rare opportunity to view and learn about this extremely rare and special plant.

Fording the Little Sur

Scouting fun lies ahead!

Tiger Lilly on the banks of the Little Sur

The Gumby

The Gumby, the trick with the stick, is a Pico tradition. It is a stunt that is performed with a simple Scout Stave or "Gumby Stick". Watch this video for a quick history from the original gumby. Then, watch the video below and see if you can beat this guy's time:

A word from our Camp Director

" Anyone associated with Pico Blanco Scout Reservation: let's get the word out. Interviews start this Saturday 1/28 at the University of Scouting in Salinas. Anyone interested in camp staff is invited to stop by and apply and possibly interview on the spot if time allows. Looking forward to seeing everyone. "

Register your unit for summer camp 2012!

Boy Scout Resident Camp will run for 3 weeks

Week 1: July 8-14

Week 2: July 15-21

Week 3: July 22-28

Cub Scout Dates will be posted soon on this post. Check back for updates

Site Reservation Form

Fall Ordeal, 2011

Photo: Jim Bowels

Men in the Making

Please check out Men in the Making, a pamphlet produced in 1963 by Scout Executive Alfred Young. It provides insight into the founding, history, and purpose of Pico Blanco Scout Reservation and recognizes those that made the camp possible. Pico Blanco is truly a place for Men in the Making.

Bing Crosby Central Kitchen, 1963

Apply for Staff

Serving on staff is a great experience for any experienced Scout. Staff learn valuable leadership skills and have the opportunity to serve Scouts from throughout the Central Coast and across the state. Counselor-in-Training positions are available for boys and girls 14 and older and paid program and service staff positions are available for men and women 16 and older.

Being on staff is a lot of hard work but is very rewarding as well. If you want to serve your fellow Scouts have a great camping experience, have some of the best summers of your life, and work with one of the best teams you will ever find, apply!

Staff Application

Happy New Year!

We wish you a Happy New Year and hope all is well with your unit. We look forward to seeing you this summer or throughout the year.

Despite all that changes in the world:

"Today, Pico Blanco Scout Reservation stands on this land, set aside to the sole end that it is preserved as a primitive area where the American boy can have the inestimable experience of untouched wilderness and unspoiled natural beauty. It is a reservation for boys, away from civilization, intended to offset the softening influence of our modern social life, and to help in the development of America’s future men to be self-reliant, of strong character, and physically fit." -Men In The Making by Alfred Young"