Summer 2011 #10: The End of Summer Season 2011

This marks the end of the 2011 summer season at Pico Blanco Scout Reservation. Today, we will be removing the seasonal dam and begin to prepare the camp for the winter. It has been a great summer for the camp.

However, camp is available year round. Your organization, company, or Scout unit can rent part or all of Pico Blanco by contacting the Council Office or using the form earlier in this blog. You can also use Pico as a trailhead. The rates are very reasonable. Also, there is a fall campout for Cub Scouts coming up at the end of the month called Dad N Lad which will be great fun for Cub Scouts and their dads.

It's hard to see our favorite season come to an end, but we know that the old growth redwoods will be there for us for generations to come and Pico is always there for the Scouts. We look forward to next summer but know that fun can be had year round at Pico Blanco.

Throughout the year we will update you on any events and news of the camp and we will also continue to provide a look at the facilities, program opportunities, and culture of the camp.

The above picture is the moon over the Bixby Creek Canyon while driving out late Sunday night.

Summer 2011 #9: Labor Day Weekend

Over 12o Scouts and Scouters enjoyed this year's Labor Day Family Weekend at Pico Blanco. Scouts had the opportunity to have a final campout for the summer and spent their days at the waterfront or up at the ranges. One dad brought down some stand up paddle boards and gave free lessons, introducing Scouts to a fun and exciting sport right on our waterfront. Parents and kids got to canoe together too, enjoying some family time together out on the water. The Saturday night campfire was full of energy and included many skits and songs from the packs and troops in camp. It was a great way to bring this years summer season to a close.

The canoes on the beach at the waterfront

A Scout tries stand up paddleboarding

A late summer afternoon looking out from the deck of the Admin

Scouts and their parents gather around one of the campfires after the campfire

Songline

A few decades ago, the Pico staff developed a way to entertain Scouts as they wait in line to be served their meals. The staff line up and form a corridor for Scouts to walk from the serving line to their tables and sing songs from the Pico songbook. Sometimes the song fits a theme like "W e Had a Henhouse" when its chicken night, "Six Pence" on pay day, "Viva La Compagnie" on the first night, or "Rise and Shine" in the morning. Many of the songs like "Quartermaster Store" have verses added by staffers that relate to camp events or certain staffers. Scouts and Scouters enjoy songline since it emphasizes that "A Scout is Cheerful".

Dad N Lad 2011

Want more Cub Scout fun? Come to Dad N Lad at Pico September 23-25. Did we tell you there will be fun? There will be bb guns, archery, hiking, woodwork, and........slingshots! you won't want to miss this fun weekend to kick off the fall!

Click Here for more information and registration

Year Round Use of Pico Blanco

Does your group, company, organization, or Scout Unit want to camp in the Big Sur River? Pico Blanco Scout Reservation is a great place to camp and can be reserved year round. The camp offers facilities such as the newly completed Hayward Lodge and Mazzuca Campfire Bowl, a medical lodge, platform tents, a nature lodge, a chapel, and 12 spacious campsites. Pico Blanco is also located at a Forest Service trailhead, offering opportunities for hiking in the Los Padres National Forest and Ventana Wilderness. Rates vary by group size and facilities used, so it is very affordable.

Please fill out the following form to reserve Pico Blanco Scout Reservation for your Scout or non-Scout group:

Pico Blanco Year Round Use

In addition, hikers who wish to use Pico Blanco as a trailhead and avoid hiking 4 miles on the camp road each way from Bottchers Gap can call the council office in Salinas at 831-422-5338 for a parking permit. The rate is $8/day instead of $5/day at Bottchers Gap, which is a great deal in that it saves 1-2 hours of steep hiking in each direction.

The Hayward Lodge dining hall, photo credit: Jim Bowels

USFS Backcountry Fire Restrictions

It's that time of year again. While we were blessed with a wet and extended winter, the Los Padres National Forest has ordered backcountry fire restrictions. Normally this happens 1-2 month earlier.

The restriction that would really effect you is that there may be no open fires, campfires, or charcoal fires are allowed outside of designated campfire use sites such as a car campground like Bottchers Gap. If you are in the backcountry, you may still use a gas stove as long as you carry a free campfire permit. These are available at any USFS or CalFire facility such as from Larry at Bottchers Gap, Big Sur Station, or the Carmel Hill Fire Station or may be printed by following the link at the bottom of this post.

This order mainly affects you if you plan to travel into the backcountry. At Pico Blanco Scout Reservation, we still allow fires under our special Campfire Use Policy. This will be provided to you upon arrival.

While fires can be a great addition to a camping trip, we also must think back to 2008 when we almost lost our camp due to wildfire. As Scouts, we must do our part in protecting our environment.

The order will remain in effect until there has been sufficient rainfall forestwide (from the Ventura/Los Angeles County Line to Carmel). This is usually in November.

LPNF Order 11-02

Effective August 18, 2011

California Campfire Permit

I Point to Mineself

I Point to Mineself

I point to mineself and say das here
Das is mine topnotcher, ya mama dear.
Topnotcher, topnotcher, ya mama dear,
Dat’s what I learned in der school, Boom! Boom!

I point to mineself and say das here
Das is my sweat browser, ya mama dear.
Sweat browser, topnotcher, ya mama dear,
Dat’s what I learned in der school, Boom! Boom!

Topnotcher - top of head
Sweat browser - eye brows
Eye winker - eye
Horn blower - nose
Soup strainer - mustache
Lunch eater - mouth
Chin chowser - chin
Rubber necker - neck
Chest protector - chest
Bread basket - stomach
Thigh slapper - thigh
Knee knocker - knee
Shin splinter - shin
Foot stomper - foot