Camp Kern

Camp Kern is a Boy Scouts of America summer camp owned and operated by the Southern Sierra Council. Camp Kern is located along the south eastern shore of Huntington Lake in the Sierra National Forest in Fresno County, California.[1]

Camp Kern
OwnerSouthern Sierra Council
HeadquartersBakersfield, CA
LocationLakeshore, California
CountryUnited States
Coordinates37°15′07″N 119°10′18″W
Founded1939
Camp DirectorUnknown
Program DirectorUnknown
Scout ExecutiveJesse Lopez
Website
www.sscbsa.org

During the Creek Fire of 2020, Camp Kern suffered considerable wildfire damage, with most camp structures significantly damaged or destroyed.[2]

History

Camp Kern was established by the BSA in 1939.[3] The camp was originally named Camp Huntington, with 39 Boy Scouts attending the first weekly session.[4] By the mid-1990s, the camp was hosting over 3,000 Scouts each summer.[5]

In September, 2020, Camp Kern was fully engulfed in the Creek Fire. Most of the camp's structures suffered serious damage or were completely destroyed.[6][7]

Program

Camp Kern, like most Scouts BSA summer camps, divides activities into different program areas such as Waterfront, Nature, Shooting Sports, and Outdoor Skills.[8] Each area has its own staff members (age 16+) and a director (age 21+) trained at BSA's National Camp School.[9]

During the 2019 season, Camp Kern offered 34 different merit badges[10] and a "Trail to First Class" advancement program.[11] The camp also offered additional several awards and training programs for both older scouts (age 15+) and adults (age 18+),[12] including BSA Lifeguard, Leave No Trace Awareness, and Safe Swim Defense.

References
  1. http://scoutingmagazine.org/2015/12/guide-to-cool-camps-2/coolcamp_kern/
  2. "Camp Kern Update". SSCBSA.org. Southern Sierra Council. September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  3. "Camp Kern Update". SSCBSA.org. Southern Sierra Council. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  4. "Boy Scouts Begin Period at Camp", The Bakersfield Californian, p. 9, July 5, 1939, retrieved September 21, 2020
  5. "Boy Scout Troop 913 learns leadership, earns badges", The Shafter Press, p. 2, August 7, 1996, retrieved September 21, 2020, Camp Kern is visited by over 3,000 Boy Scouts each summer.
  6. "Camp Kern Update". SSCBSA.org. Southern Sierra Council. September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  7. Staff, BakersfieldNow (2020-09-17). "Camp Kern destroyed by Creek Fire". KBAK. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  8. "Southern Sierra Council- Camp Kern".
  9. America, Boy Scouts of. "National Camp School".
  10. "Camp Kern Merit Badge List" (PDF).
  11. "Guide to Advancement" (PDF).
  12. "Adult and Youth Trainings" (PDF).
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