Thank you for choosing Cole Canoe Base as the destination for your 2024 Summer Camping experience!

Edward N. Cole Canoe Base is a 1,489 acre piece of wilderness, nestled along the banks of the beautiful Rifle River in Ogemaw County, Michigan. We are one of the premier summer camping destinations for thousands of youth and adult leaders from all over the Midwest for over 50 years. We are owned and operated by the Michigan Crossroads Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Are you and your unit looking for a traditional summer camping program? We offer scouts opportunities to earn over 95 merit badges during our week long summer camp program. We also offer nightly camp wide events, and daily programs designed to let scouts choose their own activities, providing opportunities for scouts to advance their skills in athletics, crafts, and basic scout skills, cooking, swimming and boating. This past summer camping season we have a unit return rate of over 85%.

We're proud to be a patrol cooking camp. This means daily meals are prepared in your campsite by youth and adults. No waiting in line at the dining hall here! Just pick up your ingredients from the commissary and take them back to camp to prepare our simple but filling, dietician approved menu. Don't like what's on the menu? Swap it out for one of our alternative meal options!

Our high adventure program provides older scouts an opportunity to stray from the traditional summer camp experience and put their outdoor skills to the test, on canoe trips on three of Michigan's most scenic rivers- the Rifle River, the Fox-Manistique, and the Au Sable. We also are hosts to the ATV Safety Institue's ATV Rider course and offer trail rides in and out of base camp.

There's too much to do in one week so don't forget to consider a 2nd week on your own or book a high adventure trip just for the older scouts! We can accommodate units of any size!

Camp Fees and Payment Schedule:

Youth Fees:

Adult Fees:

*All prices are subject to change

Starting on January 1, 2024, Units will be required to confirm the headcount that they estimated at the time of their initial registration.  Their confirmation payment of $60 per person will be due on February 1st.  For units that placed a deposit for camp in the fall, this deposit will be applied to your February 1st payment.

NOTE:  MCC Youth camper fees will increase to $435 & Non-MCC Youth camper fees will increase to $455 per session AFTER MAY 1st.  This fee does not apply to Arrow of Light Crossover or New Scouts.