Turkey Camp
A Camp Pirtle tradition all its own. Volunteer-run, over the Thanksgiving holiday, and the week that a lot of East Texas Scouting families build their year around.
Dates and registration are on the council calendar.
View the East Texas Area Council calendar → (opens in a new tab)
Who it's for
Scouts BSA units and families who would rather spend the long Thanksgiving weekend at camp than at home. Turkey Camp has its own regulars — units that have come back every November for years.
What makes it different
Turkey Camp is not a smaller summer camp. It runs on volunteers rather than a paid summer staff, which changes the whole character of the week. The adults teaching a session are there because they wanted to be, on their own holiday, and the camp is quieter, colder and more relaxed than it is in June.
- Advancement and merit badge sessions run by volunteer instructors
- Program areas open as staffing allows
- The Thanksgiving meal at the dining hall
- Campfire, fellowship, and a camp with room to breathe
Volunteering
Turkey Camp exists because people show up to run it. Attracting volunteers for the holiday week is a standing challenge, and it is also one of the best ways to find out whether camp staff is for you — a long weekend rather than a whole summer.
More about serving on camp staff →
What to bring
November in East Texas can be mild or genuinely cold, sometimes in the same weekend. Pack for both, and pack for rain. See the general list on Plan Your Visit.
Cost
Fees are published with the event on the council calendar.
Documents
Leader guides, forms and packing lists for this program are posted here as they are released. In the meantime, the council calendar (opens in a new tab) listing has the current paperwork.
Ready to sign up?
Registration for every Camp Pirtle program is handled on the East Texas Area Council event calendar.