The Wanocksett Experience
Unit Reservations
Arrival & Check-In
2:00pm
Welcome to Camp Wanocksett
Welcome from north-central Massachusetts in the heart of New England, and thank you for your interest in Camp Wanocksett! Since 1924, Camp Wanocksett has been exceeding the needs and expectations of Scouts from all across New England. We hope this information will be able to paint a better picture of what Camp Wanocksett has to offer you and your unit.
Our program offers something for everyone, from a new to the woods Tenderfoot, to the most tenured Eagle Scout. Our program is sure to please any Scout, Venturer, or Adult. We offer over 60 merit badges, and boast one of the best COPE Courses in the Northeast Region. Located at the base of Mt. Monadnock and on the shores of Thorndike Pond, there is no more picturesque setting for Scouting adventures than Camp Wanocksett.
With a 94% unit retention rate, it is clear to see that customer service is our highest goal. If an extra merit badge offering, or 5-mile hike is what will make your week perfect, then it is something we are happy to accommodate. We are always improving our program to meet customer feedback. Recent improvements include a second motor boat to accommodate more water skiers and tubers, new mountain bikes, new shotguns, rifles and bows, an iceberg floating amusement, a batting cages in our sports field, and technology to support our STEM related programs, including a 3D printer.
We understand that if you are joining us from outside of New England, your week at camp is only a portion of your adventure. New England is home to historic attractions including Boston’s Freedom Trail, the USS Constitution, Minute Man National Historical Park, and the Shot Heard ‘Round the World. New England is also full of exciting attractions and amusements. From the 6,000 ft summit of Mt. Washington and the Kancamagus Highway to Cape Cod and its lobster bakes and whale watches, Camp Wanocksett is your launching pad for all the excitement the summer has to offer! We have grown up here, so let us help you plan a New England visit worth a lifetime of memories. We can assist with additional camping reservations at our sister camp, Camp Split Rock.
We thank you for your interest in Camp Wanocksett and hope that you find this information useful. If you have any other questions, or would like any additional information, please reach out to any of us.
Where is Camp Wanocksett?
There are many great things to do and see in the North East, and we want to help you make them part of your Wanocksett Experience. We are centrally located to many of the exciting attractions of the historic and beautiful Northeast. We would love to work with you to make your time at Camp Wanocksett part of a great stay in New England.
Our Philosophy - What Makes Camp Wanocksett Unique?
We support the unit program by supporting your youth leaders. In fact, the daily or weekly schedule is not a program; it is an instrument for planning and for administering the unit program. Our schedule is a means by which your youth leadership can design and implement a program that meets the needs and wants of the unit. Patrol Leaders are responsible for signing their Patrols up for events throughout the week, as well as any other leadership tasks they may have.
At Camp Wanocksett, our program is designed to allow Scouts to work on advancement. We offer 60 different merit badges in a variety of subjects. Each year we add new badges to keep our offerings fresh and exciting! Our first year camper area offers “hands on” skill instruction that results in performance-based evaluation. Our merit badge classes are kept small and allow Scouts to get a personalized experience. Venturing Crews enjoy a personalized program they design with our Venturing specialists.
We pride ourselves in making Camp Wanocksett available to all Scouts and Scouters. Our facilities include an ADA compliant campsite and restrooms. We strive to make the program as accessible to all Scouts as possible. We routinely work with Scouts with vision, mobility, and developmental disabilities, who return year after year.
As a Nationally Accredited Scout Camp, Camp Wanocksett has met and exceeded every national standard and recommended practice for the last three decades. Our area directors are trained at BSA National Camping School, and we spend over 40 hours in staff training annually.
We sometimes hear our customers say “there’s just too much to do. My Scouts can’t do everything!” We pride ourselves in our ability to offer a fun and activity packed program day, while allowing Scouts to make decisions about which programs they attend. We believe that choices are something that Scouts should be able to make, and a skill that is becoming less common.
Our goal at Camp Wanocksett is to make sure that you and your unit experience the best program possible. Whether that means a unit canoe trip to Sagi Island, or outpost cooking, we will work with your unit to make sure your experience is exactly what you want.
The Wanocksett Staff is fully committed to including all Scouts in every aspect of the summer camp program. Often, meeting the needs of all campers requires minor adaptations of our facilities, staffing and instructional plans. Special menus, one-on-one instruction, accessible campsites, individual counseling and other provisions are available for Scouts or leaders because of physical disabilities, learning disabilities, medical conditions, dietary requirements, religious practices or other special needs.
Unit leaders should contact the Camp Director well in advance to outline the specific needs of Scouts and leaders in their troops.
Camp Wanocksett serves all of its meals in one sitting, in one dining hall, family style. We believe that coming together throughout the day and enjoying a meal together helps strengthen the troop and patrol methods. The staff eats with Scouts at each meal to talk about the day. Each troop or crew receives extra seats at their table to bring the Camp Wanocksett community to the dinner table.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, our staff is the key to our success. Our 7-week program allows our senior staff to return from college to a full summer of work. Our administration is full of teachers who help instruct our area directors on effective teaching models, including a Ph.D who runs our CIT program and teaches Citizenship in the Nation, and an Ed.D. who guest lectures for Chemistry merit badge. Our area directors are college students working towards careers in education, engineering, arts, business, communications, computer science, and counseling.
What Does a Week at Camp Wanocksett Look Like?
A week at Camp Wanocksett begins on Sunday afternoon and ends on Saturday morning. Our program strikes a balance between structured and unstructured time for Scouts.
Three periods of the day, Scouts attend instructional periods for merit badges or rank advancement. Patrol Centered Skilled Instruction provides an opportunity to develop together as a team and put the Patrol Method into practice. During the open program time in the afternoon, the entire camp is open to do anything you can imagine. Evening programs gather units together for some fellowship and special programs. Below you will see a sample weekly schedule.
Over the years, we’ve heard one complaint about our program – “The only problem with this camp is that there is so much going on you can’t do it all in one week!”
Camp Wanocksett strives to immerse Scouts in the outdoor experience. Campers live in canvas wall tents on wooden platforms. Each camper has a cot and mattress. There are no screens in the tents so mosquito netting is strongly recommended. Scouts should supply their own sheets and blanket, or sleeping bag and pillow. Each tent sleeps two Scouts. Tent assignments are left to the discretion of the individual troop. Footlockers, trunks, suitcases and backpacks are all appropriate for packing.
A week at Camp Wanocksett begins on Sunday afternoon and ends on Saturday morning. Our program strikes a balance between structured and unstructured time for Scouts.
Three periods of the day, Scouts attend instructional periods for merit badges or rank advancement. Patrol Centered Skilled Instruction provides an opportunity to develop together as a team and put the Patrol Method into practice. During the open program time in the afternoon, the entire camp is open to do anything you can imagine. Evening programs gather units together for some fellowship and special programs. Below you will see a sample weekly schedule.
Over the years, we’ve heard one complaint about our program – “The only problem with this camp is that there is so much going on you can’t do it all in one week!”
Patrol Time – Monday through Friday after we raise the flag together as a camp, Patrols sign up to do something together at 11am so they can strengthen the Patrol Method.
Open Program – The entire camp is open for Scouts and leaders to enjoy. Scouts are reminded to follow the Buddy System at all times – after all camp is much more fun when you are doing something together! During the afternoon time, a number of “Bonus” Merit Badges are offered. These are drop in sessions and Scouts do not need to sign up ahead of time.
Evening Program – Most nights of the week, another hour of open program takes place after dinner.
Sample Daily Program Schedule – Below is just a sample of what a day of program looks like at Camp Wanocksett. Each week, the Area Directors update their offerings based on demand from the previous week. This keeps the program innovative and always changing.
Selecting “On the Grid” Merit Badges
Monday through Friday, Scouts attend three structured periods; 9am, 10am, and 2pm. Scouts sign up in advance for the merit badge or rank advancement they want to work on. Although Scouts sign up before they come to camp, we never tell a Scout a badge is full. Instead we will open up additional sections of the badge or reorder schedules to make the best class sizes possible. The offerings below are from last year. Once our leader’s guide is published in January, the offerings for this summer will never change – this is our contract with the customer.
You’ll often hear the camp administration say “Scouts always get their first choice when they sign up”. As one of our staff commandments says “Customer Service is our All Consuming Focus” – we will never close a class due to size or tell a Scout the badge they want is full. Instead, we will open a second (or even third) section of the same badge in a period to ensure the most effective class size and instruction quality. Our merit badge registrar may reorder a Scout’s badges so they get the same badges they selected but with a more manageable class size. This ensures each Scout receives the badges they want at the level of instruction they deserve.
“Bonus” Merit Badges
The three class periods provide the bulk of our merit badge program, but Scouts will have the opportunity to earn other badges during open program time. Most of these badges take multiple classes, but they will always take place during the afternoon open program block or the evening program block. They are held in different areas throughout camp. This allows Scouts a more flexible schedule to earn badges they might not otherwise be able to. Scouts do not need to sign up in advance for Bonus merit badge classes. They can simply show up with a signed blue card from their unit leader and take the badge.
Dining Services at Camp Wanocksett is committed to excellence in food preparation and presentation. The operating philosophy of the Camp Wanocksett Dining Service is that no one will leave the dining hall with an empty stomach. For over two decades, we have contracted with the Café Services Food Service Company of Londonderry, New Hampshire. Café Services has consistently received rave reviews for their attention to detail and customer service attitude toward the needs of Scout. During the week, we serve three meals a day in the dining hall beginning with Sunday dinner through Saturday breakfast.
Waiters – Camp Wanocksett uses a “waiter” system in each unit to give Scouts an opportunity to learn and practice sanitary and considerate mealtime habits. Each unit is asked to send two waiters per table to each meal. Waiters arrive at the Dining Hall 15 minutes early to set the table for the meal, serve food to their table and ensure fair portions for all, and clean up following the meal. The waiter responsibility rotates throughout the week so that all Scouts share in this work equally.
Camp Menus – The camp menu runs on a two-week cycle. The specific menu that your Scouts and adults will be served will be confirmed at your unit’s pre-camp meeting. Changes to the menu take place during the late spring in consultation with the food service director, chef, and camp administration. A certified dietician has approved all meals on the menu to ensure that they provide an optimal level of nutrition and energy.
Dietary Restrictions – Camp Dining Services are able to accommodate specific dietary requests of a health or religious nature with sufficient notice. Communication is key; questions about allergies and food restrictions can be directed to the camp office once camp opens in late June.
The safety and well being of every camper is of utmost importance. The camp employs a full-time registered nurse, who lives at the camp, to provide medical attention if necessary. All camp staff are trained in first aid and the camp has a standing agreement for emergency services with the hospital in nearby Peterborough.
To ensure that the camp nurse is aware of the medical needs of every camper, we require that youth and adults submit a completed medical form showing evidence of a physical exam by a licensed health care practitioner within the last 12 months. This form should include physician’s orders for any medication. All medication is monitored and distributed by the camp nurse.
Each adult age 18 and older, staying in camp for the week, must complete the BSA’s Youth Protection and be a registered member. See the camp Leader’s Guide for more detail.
To maximize safety at the waterfront, each camper will be asked to demonstrate their swimming ability to the waterfront staff during their check-in procedure. Scouts will be rated according to their swimming ability, based on a standard swim test. Their swimming ability rating will help the waterfront staff to assess their skill level, provide instruction if necessary and maintain the highest safety standard during aquatic activities. Instruction is available for Scouts who wish to improve their swimming ability.
Meet the Camp Wanocksett Administration
At Camp Wanocksett, we pride ourselves in our staff; they are our secret to success. Our staff is supported by a camp administration that works year-round to ensure that each Scout that attends camp leaves having had the time of their life. This team embodies knowledge of camp, consistency, and a dedication to customer service that is second to none. Administrations don’t make summer camps though; their staff does. With over 500 combined years of experience, the staff returns year after year creating an over 86% retention rate each year.
Dan Megan – Camp Director – 36 Years on Staff
Entering his 17th year as Camp Wanocksett’s director, Dan Megan continues to help Wanocksett grow into another century of success. Prior to his tenure as director, Danny spent 10 years as the program director, and brings a program-centric attitude to his role. Dan’s mission is to make sure your Scouts have the best camp experience possible by expecting the staff to deliver a high customer service experience to the units. Outside of camp, Danny is an 8th grade civics teacher and Scoutmaster to his son’s troop.
Andrew Collins – Asst. Camp Director – 18 Years on Staff
Entering his 18th year as assistant director, Andrew has brought Camp Wanocksett into the 21st Century through online registration, pre-camp informational meetings, and various back office efficiency improvements. These have helped leaders register their Scouts for merit badge classes and listen in on key leader meetings without having to be in the New England area. Outside of camp, Andrew is a high school computer science & media production teacher He is an active volunteer within the Order of the Arrow serving as the Associate Section Adviser for Section E19 and as an adviser on the National Order of the Arrow Communications subcommittee.
Nick O’Connell – Asst. Program Director – 9 Years on Staff
Nick spent 2 summers at New England Base Camp in Milton, MA before joining us at Camp Wanocksett, He’s well rounded in the camp program, having worked in Brownsea, COPE and Climbing, Field Sports, and as the director of Scoutcraft, Rifle, Shotgun, and Shooting Sports. In his daily life, Nick worked in the Dedham High School Alternative Department under the direction of Kathy Megan, and is currently studying full-time to become a high school math teacher.
Ethan Graham – Asst. Program Director – 10 Years on Staff
Ethan started working at Wanocksett in 2016 as a junior staff member for the Range and Target Activities. Since then, he has held many different positions on camp staff, including Handicraft director, Rifle director and Communications director. Outside of camp, Ethan works as a Special Education Paraprofessional at Monty Tech, the high school he graduated from, and is working towards getting his full licensure to become a Special Education teacher.
Annie Souza – Counselor-in-Training Director – 7 Years on Staff
Annie started on staff as a CIT in 2013 and spent a few years working as Climbing staff and Trek Director. After a brief hiatus, she returned as the Climbing/Rappelling Director and now as CIT Director. Outside of Camp, Annie works as a high school Physics teacher at Monty Tech and serves as the council COPE/Climbing Committee Chair.
Adam Morse – Counselor-in-Training Director – 20 Years on Staff
Adam began working on the Wanocksett staff in 2006 as a CIT, and was a junior staff member in Ecology before becoming Ecology Director for two years. Adam also worked as Archery Director for a year, followed by three years as the Shotgun & Shooting Sports Director. Since 2016, Adam has been the CIT Director. Outside of camp, Adam works as a high school social studies teacher, and has recently completed his PhD in Cultural Geography.
Dan Fuller – Business Manager – 8 Years on Staff
Dan has been on staff since 2018 as a CIT, and worked as a junior staff member in Scoutcraft, until becoming the Scoutcraft director in 2022. Dan then shifted into the Business Manager position, and continues to work in this capacity. Dan has brought the trading post into the 21st century with an online shop available year-round. Beyond camp, Dan attends the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, studying Computer Science full-time with the goal of becoming a high school teacher.
Travel Directions
Camp Phone (Operates Year Round): 603-563-8550
Camp Wanocksett is located on the border of Jaffrey and Dublin, NH, at the base of Mount Monadnock.
- From MA Rt. 2 take exit 24 to Rt. 140 North.
- Follow Rt. 140 to Rt. 12 North in Winchendon, MA
- Follow Rt. 12 North to Rt. 202 North.
- Follow Rt. 202 North to Rt. 124 in Jaffrey, NH.
- Turn left on Rt. 124. Follow Rt. 124 approx. 3 miles
- Turn right onto Dublin Rd, at the sign for Monadnock State Park.
- Follow Dublin Rd. approx 3 miles to Camp Wanocksett
- The Camp Wanocksett parking lot is on the right.
Camp Visitors must check in at the camp office while Camp is in session. When Camp is not in session visitors should check in at the Ranger’s house across the street from the camp entrance.
Pre-Camp Orientation Meetings
Orientation meetings for Scoutmasters and Senior Patrol Leaders are held every Wednesday night during the summer. Leaders are asked to attend the meeting 2 weeks prior to their arrival at camp. The meeting with the camp administration will take place at 7 PM and be held virtually this summer. Refer the Leader’s Guide for the specific dates of the orientation meetings.
Youth Protection Reminder
All persons over the age of 18 staying in camp must be registered members of the BSA and complete Youth Protection Training - no exceptions.
Medical Form Pre-Check
Unit leaders should plan to submit their medical forms prior to the pre-camp orientation meeting. Our medical team will check your forms and flag any that are missing information. This will greatly expedite your check-in process. Medical Forms should be submitted by the Unit to the camp directly through mail or drop-off.
All campers and leaders must have parts A, B, & C of the BSA Annual Health & Medical History completed by a licensed health care practitioner. Part D-NH is required for campers who have an Epi-Pen or Inhaler.
Any prescription or over the counter (OTC) medications brought to camp must be in their original containers and accompanied by the State Authorization Form authorizing the camp health officer to dispense the medications. All medications will be held by the camp health officer except inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors.