Boy Scouts of America Camp John J. Barnhardt — Local services in Badin

I have been coming to Camp Barnhardt for two years now as an adult leader for summer camp. This camp is a great place for youth to develop and make lasting memories. Below are some of my observations both good and things that can be improved upon:

Good This camp has an excellent 1st year camper program called the Nighthawks. The program focuses on rank advancement for the younger scouts as well as giving them a taste of everything the camp has to offer to them when they return the following year. The programs for the older scouts are well thought out and the staff do a great job of ensuring everyone is included and engaged with the activities. The waterfront, pool, ranges, ATV course, and climbing tower are excellent facilities on camp and can provide unique experiences for the youth that they may not get elsewhere. The campsites are well maintained. The newer style tents with ventilation flaps are a large improvement from the solid canvas tents I had as a youth. The pavilions with power are also appreciated, however, more outlets would be nice. Having Lunch in the campsites is a great idea. This allows for better troop bonding and streamlines the process. I hope this method continues in the future.

Needs Improving Staff interactions between adult staff and youth staff as well as adult staff to adult leaders need improvement. I have been made aware of and been a part of some poor interactions that occur on camp. I understand that sometimes people have bad days and we let things slip, but let us all remember we are all scouts, and we are… helpful, courteous, kind… and we all deserve respect. There is no place in scouting for egos, belittling, singling out, rudeness, or condescending attitudes. As adults we are in this program to better the youth and the youth are here to learn and help each other. Meal portions (especially for adults) could be increased. Some of the meals on camp seem extra light. Now I will give credit that there has been an improvement from last year, but this improvement could continue. Maintenance Requests need to be addressed faster. I had requested fixes be made in the bathhouse last year and the same parts are still broken this year (a request was also made this year). I’m glad to see an online ticketing system was implemented and I hope it improves this process. I understand the Ranger is one person and has a lot on his plate, which leads me to my next point. The camp seems to be understaffed and underpaid. I believe more staffing would allow this camp to truly excel, as the staff would not be overworked and overwhelmed. I also believe understaffing and unhappy staff fall back to wages. I hope an executive from the Central NC Council sees this review and realizes, that we leaders recognize the importance of this camp and notice the pressure points within the camp. In realizing this the Central NC Council should designate the appropriate funds to allow the camp to continue to grow. Transportation on camp needs adjusted. People with disabilities need to be able to get around camp, however, some people drive entirely too fast (staff included) in camp. When it is dry and you're driving, if dust is flying behind you slow down... There are youth walking everywhere on camp and they are the number 1 priority. A possible solution to this may be having golf carts available to rent at camp for those who need them.

Please don’t take any critiques personally and nothing I said is intended to get anyone reprimanded, these have simply been my observations. I do believe this camp is a great place for youth to come and we as a troop plan to continue coming for years to come.

Year 3 Update:

The program is still very solid and the themes are enjoyed by the kids.

Facilities are improving and with it being only week 3 for the new ranger it seems he is hitting the ground running witch is encouraging.

The food quality and quantity have gotten worse. It seems there is a shortage and the quality is just severely lacking.

I still stand by my final thoughts...

This is one of the best camps in the Southeast! They have many merit badge options and lots of activities. The scouts are kept busy with their programs, games, and activities. Nobody just sits around the campsite- that’s for sure. Their Nighthawks program (first time campers) is second to none. They can earn their scout rank while at camp and also work towards more advancements. Additionally, IMO this is one of the best Aquatic programs our scouts have seen. Lots of options and a very a knowledgeable staff. They take safety very seriously.

The facilities are very nice with multiple bathhouses at camp, dining hall, and new pavilion.

Staff and Leaders are passionate about scouting. You can tell the program team makes sure they are hiring the correct people for the correct roles. Camp went seamlessly and without a hitch.

Highly recommend bringing...

I have been coming to Camp Barnhardt since I was in high school JROTC and my experience with camp back then is a lot of what brought me to sign my kids up for scouting in the first place. The facility overall is very nice. My suggestions for upgrades would be to improve the bathrooms in someway to make them cooler (ac or exhaust fan possibly). A few of the structures in campsites could also use some repairs but it's definitely not a deal breaker. Our troop comes to Barnhardt every year for summer camp and I do not see that changing anytime soon. The theme this year (Vikings) was really fun to get into and the games was well designed. Can't wait to see what's...