Blue Ridge Mountains Council - Eco-Challenge Spring Camporee 2026

Eco-Challenge Spring Camporee 2026

Event Details

WHEN- Event on May 1st-3rd *** informtion being updated - Cub Scout Camporee will have a sepparate sign up.

Camping on Friday and Saturday if you like.

WHERE- Camp Ottari

2882 Simpkinstown Rd, Hiwassee, VA 244347

COST- $15 per person attending. Cost includes patch for each person, station

materials, awards, and insurance.

OPTIONAL- Finisher T-shirt for $15. Moisture wicking performance shirt with event logo and “Finisher”- If they survive the challenge, they will proudly

wear the shirt. See attached order form and design

REGISTRATION- Please register by Wednesday, September 24th

FORMAT- Think of the TV Show “The Amazing Race”

Scouts will register in patrols with a minimum of ve and a maximum of ten Scouts. Patrols will start at the top of Ottari and receive a set of instructions that they will use to begin navigating along a course with various challenges to test their Scouting skills and teamwork. At the end of each challenge, they will receive instructions to navigate to the next point on the course. The course will cover approximately ve miles, taking them around camp and into the surrounding wilderness. Challenges will not be scored for points, but simply to be completed so patrols can continue on their journey. This is not a race or a competition against other troops; it’s an endurance challenge to push the patrol to work together, conquer tasks, and persevere to the nish line.

The question is, can your patrol survive to the finish?

IMPORANT NOTES:

***Each troop needs to provide volunteer leader(s) to staff a challenge station along the course.*** This is easy and often pretty entertaining. Bring a folding chair, water, and a good book to read during down time between patrols. The station is already planned and all of the materials will be provided. Troops will receive their station assignment a few days before the event to review and ask questions. ***There is a mandatory organization and information meeting for volunteers on Saturday morning, 8am at the camp office so we are all prepared and coordinated.***

Potable water for the weekend will be accessible only from the camp ofce. Troops should bring containers to shuttle clean water. Limited bathroom facilities and porta-johns will be available, but shower houses will be closed and winterized at this point in the year.

Troops need to come with completed parts 1 & 2 BSA medical forms for all registered youth and adults present. The Troop will retain these during the event, but have them ready if needed in an emergency.

REQUIRED GEAR FOR EACH SCOUT:

• Bag lunch to eat while on the Eco-Challenge Course

• Trail snacks are good for energy- this is a long course!

• Minimum 2 liters of water- rell stations will be on the course • Change of clothes and extra hiking socks in a small trash bag • Rain gear

• Pocketknife for those that have Totin' Chip

• A backpack to carry the above gear and any patrol gear below

REQUIRED GEAR FOR EACH PATROL:

• One to three Scout who can pass the BSA Swimmer classication test who bring a towel and bathing suit to change into when needed- each patrol needs at least one swimmer.

• Scout handbook in a ziplock bag • Compasses- minimum of 2

• Basic First aid kit for patrol

• Pad of paper or mini-notebook

• Pen or pencil

SCHEDULE:

Friday-

Optional camping- Troops can arrive after 4pm

Saturday-

8:00am - Meeting for all Station Leaders/Staff

9:30am - Opening Ceremony & Challenge Explanation

~9:40am-11:00 - Staggered rolling start for patrols- start times will be assigned ahead of time.

9:45am-5:30pm - Course stations open and Eco-Challenge is on!