Camp Emerson BSA Reserve — Hotel in Idyllwild-Pine Cove

The program director has a good program. The shooting staff was outstanding and excellent equipment. The water activities staff was also good. Our campsite only had water and one leader tent and the balance of the equipment the troop had to bring tents. The site lacked a posting board for the duty roster, fire marshal duties, SPL notes, etc. When it was brought to the attention of the camp staff we were told the troop should go down to the wood pile to make an improvement. As part of the scoring the camp expected 3 improvements in a week. The food was horrible the first 3 days, it did improve to tolerable but tasteless for the other 3 days. The scouts are expected to wash the dishes after each meal, which took the troop almost 90 minutes. The troop missed many of the pre-campfire activities.

As part of any boy scout program flags are very import and our troop was in the second meal shift and didn’t see the raising or lowering of the flags.

I was especially upset about the quality of knifes sold to the boys. 1) two of the knife could be opened about a 1/4 inch and could be flipped open. This was brought to the attention to the store staff. They continued to sell the knife with a warning. 2) The quality of the knife is also UNSAFE. The screw holding the blade comes out, allowing the blade to fall out.

It’s the responsibility of the store and the camp staff to sell SAFE equipment!

Although the troop had a good time at camp merit badges, during the Stop Start Continue they determined this camp was the worst camp ever and...

As always fun. The cabins are in desperate need of up keep and repair! Bathrooms are rarely cleaned and out of stock. If you're going to have automated hand towel dispensers at least change the batteries once in a while! Trails need work with some steps or grades added in. Hosting Troop was fun and enthusiastic. Neil the cook always makes it happen, but camp food is still camp food...

This was my second time to the scout camp, this time for Polar Camp, got plenty of snow and was cold. The hosting staff was great and the food was decent, but the cabins need much much much love and care, heaters didn't work and the fire place was off limits, and the windows were all busted out and partially covered with plywood; made for a...