The 2012 Pico Blanco Staff

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

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

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

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