Summer Camp 2027

Awards and activities

BSA awards, camp awards, evening activities, and the camp-wide events that fill the rest of the week.

Pardon our sawdust! We're still building the 2027 program.

Activities, awards, times, and fees are still being finalized and may change before camp. Check back for updates.

Last updated October 12, 2026 · Questions? Email us

Beyond merit badges, there is plenty to do at Camp Alexander. Evening activities start at 6:30 p.m. and are first come, first served. Shooting sports, climbing, mountain boarding, and biking start with a short safety talk from 6:30 to 6:45; Scouts who had the safety talk in their merit badge class can skip it.

Scout's age

Art Show

Handicraft

Activity

See the projects Scouts made in Handicraft this week.

Astronomy Night

Nature

Activity

Look up at the dark mountain sky with the Nature staff. Required for Astronomy merit badge Scouts and open to others.

Bald Eagle Tour

Nature

Activity

An evening outing to look for bald eagles. Scouts taking Bird Study get first priority.

Battleboard on a Paddleboard

Aquatics

Activity

Paddleboard games on the lake. Keep your balance and stay dry if you can.

Blue Mountain Sunrise Hike

Hike & Bike

Camp Event

A 5-mile hike to the top of Blue Mountain to watch the sunrise. It also counts toward the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Award.

Branding

Trades

Activity

Bring something to brand with the Camp Alexander mark.

Camp Director’s Award

Camp-Wide

Camp Award

Each troop chooses one Scout as its Top Camper for the week: the Scout who showed the most Scouting spirit and lived the ideals of Scouting. The Camp Director presents the award at the end of the closing campfire.

Capture the Flag

Athletics

Activity

The camp classic, run by the Athletics staff.

Carnival

Camp-Wide

Camp Event

The staff host a carnival for all Scouts on the parade grounds, with burgers, ice cream, snow cones, popcorn, music, and games.

Chapel Service

Camp-Wide

Camp Event

A Sunday evening service to start the week.

Chess

First Class Center

Evening Merit Badge, Merit Badge

Chess is among the oldest board games in the world and one of the most popular ever created. Players meet for fun and in competition everywhere, from kitchen tables and park benches to international tournaments.

Closing Campfire

Camp-Wide

Camp Event

Led by the elected Camp Senior Patrol Leader and performed by the Scouts, the Friday campfire is the high point of the week. The Camp Director’s Award is presented at the end.

Conservation Project

Nature

Activity

Help care for camp with a Nature area service project. It also counts toward the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Award.

Emergency Preparedness Drill

Outdoor Skills

Activity

Practice responding to an emergency in a hands-on drill with the Outdoor Skills staff.

Fingerprinting

Handicraft

Evening Merit Badge, Merit Badge

Scouts learn about and use an important technique used by law enforcement, along with tools like dental records and DNA sampling, to help identify missing persons and others.

Firem’n Chit

First Class Center

BSA Award

Firem’n Chit gives Scouts the right to build and use campfires. The session also covers Second Class requirements 2d and 2e.

Hiking Trails

Hike & Bike

Activity

The Hike and Bike staff maintain the trails around camp: Blue Mountain (5 miles), Scenic Overlook (1.5 miles), and the Nature Hike (1 mile). Units must register in advance, and every hike starts by checking in at the Camp Office.

Hole in One

Athletics

Activity

A sports challenge run by the Athletics staff.

Identification Hike

Nature

Activity

An evening walk with the Nature staff to spot and identify plants and animals around camp.

Iron Man

Camp-Wide

Camp Event

A camp-wide Friday competition. Give it all you have got.

Kayaking BSA

Aquatics

BSA Award

Learn the basics of kayaking on the lake, from safety and launching to paddle strokes and getting back in after a capsize, and earn the Kayaking BSA award.

Key Log Roll

Aquatics

Activity

See how long you can stay on a floating log while it rolls under your feet.

Merit Badge Make-Up

Camp-Wide

Camp Event

A chance to finish up merit badge requirements with area staff.

Mile Swim BSA

Aquatics

BSA Award

Mile Swim is a BSA award, not a merit badge. Scouts with strong swimming skills can earn it by taking part in the conditioning swims during the week and then completing the full mile.

Mountain Boarding

Hike & Bike

Activity

For older Scouts ready for a physical challenge. A mix of snowboarding and skateboarding, Scouts learn safety, turning, starting, stopping, and even a few tricks.

Open Archery

Range & Target Activities

Activity

Shoot on the archery range with Range staff.

Open Boating

Aquatics

Activity

Take a canoe, kayak, or rowboat out on the lake.

Open Climbing

Climbing

Activity

Climb and rappel at The Rock with the Climbing staff.

Open Cycling

Hike & Bike

Activity

Ride the camp trails with the Hike and Bike staff. Helmets required.

Open Rifle

Range & Target Activities

Activity

Shoot .22 rifles on the rifle range with Range staff.

Open Shotgun

Range & Target Activities

Activity

Shoot clays on the shotgun range with Range staff.

Open Swimming

Aquatics

Activity

Free swim time in the heated pool.

Opening Campfire

Camp-Wide

Camp Event

For over 75 years, Camp Alexander’s opening campfire has energized Scouts for the week ahead with songs, skits, and traditions, and a few serious moments too.

Order of the Arrow Social and Call-Out

Camp-Wide

Camp Event

Order of the Arrow day ends with a call-out ceremony for Scouts and Scouters elected by their units. OA members, candidates, and their troops are welcome. Troops from outside Pathway to the Rockies Council must bring a signed letter from their home lodge on Sunday for their candidates to be called out.

Pebble Patch Program

Camp-Wide

Camp Award

Pebbles reward Scouts for trying things around camp beyond their merit badge classes. Each pebble has a short list of things to do:

The Burning Spirit: attend the Friday night campfire, help your troop with a skit, and have something branded
Outdoorsman: help make a pioneering project, learn one lashing, and teach it to your Scoutmaster
Climbing: complete a climb and a rappel, and tie a water knot and teach it to another Scout
Kayaking: go kayaking, use all safety equipment, and follow all of the rules
International Scouting: attend the international presentation, talk to someone who has scouted internationally, and learn the flags of five countries with Scout organizations
Mountain Boarding: go mountain boarding, don’t get hurt, and complete a J turn
Handi with the Crafts: make a Handicraft project, a paracord craft, and a lanyard
Citizenship: help raise or lower the colors in your campsite, and demonstrate and teach how to fold the American flag
Archery: shoot a round, obey the range safety rules, and hit the target
Mountain Biking: ride the moderate course with a buddy, wearing your helmet
Weekly Camper: stay all week, earn a merit badge, and live like a good Scout
Happy Feet: complete an official camp hike with lots of water and a buddy
Outdoor Cooking: cook food in your campsite, invite a staff member to join you, and eat what you made
Marksman: shoot rifle or shotgun, obey range safety rules, and shoot five groups of five
Iron Man: compete in the Iron Man competition, give it all you’ve got, and have fun
Geocached: complete an official camp geocache, sign the log, and put it back where you found it
Skull & Cross Bones: did you think you were going to die, but didn’t?
River Rat: go whitewater rafting, brave the rapids, and steer together as a team
First Aid: learn a new first aid skill, attend a health and safety merit badge or CPR/first aid training, and teach a skill to another Scout
Naturalist: follow Leave No Trace, and go on a nature hike or do a Nature conservation project
The Angler: get a camp fishing permit and fish for at least 30 minutes total
The Aquaman: complete the BSA swimmer test, and bring a towel and a buddy to an aquatics event

Polar Bear Plunge

Aquatics

Camp Award

Rush into the chilly waters of Lake Hagnauer first thing in the morning. Scouts who complete the plunge can buy the much sought after Polar Bear patch at the Trading Post. Not for the faint hearted!

Pre-Staff Interviews

Camp-Wide

Activity

Interested in joining the Camp Alexander staff someday? Meet with staff leaders to learn what it takes.

Pulp and Paper

Handicraft

Evening Merit Badge, Merit Badge

Scouts learn how paper is made, from trees and recycled fibers to the finished sheet, and make paper by hand.

Search and Rescue Drill

Outdoor Skills

Activity

Put search and rescue skills to work in a hands-on drill with the Outdoor Skills staff.

Snorkeling BSA

Aquatics

BSA Award

An award, not a merit badge. Scouts learn to snorkel well and safely, and the patch can be worn on the swimsuit.

Stand Up Paddleboarding

Aquatics

BSA Award

Learn to balance, paddle, and turn a stand up paddleboard on the lake, and work toward the paddleboarding award.

Swimming Lessons

Aquatics

Activity

Every Scout should know how to swim. Instructional swimming is for non-swimmers and for Scouts who want to improve. Talk with the Aquatics staff so they can evaluate skills and set up a schedule.

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Award

Nature

Camp Award

This award, unique to Camp Alexander, promotes conservation and an appreciation of the outdoors. Scouts who earn it receive a patch. During the week, a Scout must:

Take part in one of the Blue Mountain hikes
Take part in a Nature area or troop conservation project
Earn one merit badge from the Nature area, or Fishing or Fly Fishing

Totin’ Chip

First Class Center

BSA Award

Totin’ Chip gives Scouts the right to carry and use woods tools. It is required for the Woodcarving and Leatherwork merit badges. Scouts in the First Class Center earn it during their sessions and don’t need to attend separately.

Underwater Basket Weaving

Aquatics

Activity

A Friday afternoon tradition at the pool, run with the Handicraft staff.

Water Bottle Rockets

Media

Activity

Build a rocket from a water bottle and see how high it flies.

Whitewater Rafting Trip

Camp-Wide

Activity

An optional Friday trip on the Arkansas River through Browns Canyon for your whole unit. See the whitewater rafting page for details and sign-up.

Wilderness Survival Overnighter

Outdoor Skills

Activity

Spend a night out using wilderness survival skills, with Outdoor Skills staff.