Camp Potomac Unveils Resident Camp Plans for the Summer of 2024
Oldtown, MD—On April 12, the Boy Scouts of America, Laurel Highlands Council and the leadership of the Potomac District announced plans to reintroduce resident camp to Camp Potomac, located in Oldtown. The resident camp, titled Scouts at Work, is designed to introduce youth to a multitude of career opportunities.
“Scouts have the opportunity to work with skilled tradespeople, and professionals to learn the specifics about a particular career field, while at the camp,” stated Andy Mackert, Community Scouting Ambassador. “Over the next several years, there will be hundreds of thousands of job opportunities in the skilled trades as the current workers retire. Whether or not the Scouts chose to follow a skilled trades career, having the knowledge to make common repairs will benefit them as adults.”
The weeklong resident camp will introduce youth to 40 different careers fields, including sessions on masonry, carpentry, electrical, HVAC, veterinary medicine, and dentistry. Planning has been underway for several months in preparation for the announcement meeting. As a Scouts BSA Camping Program, the facility and program will need to meet the standards set forth in the National Camp Accreditation Standards. The Camp Director for this resident camp will be Brian Westfall, who has been very involved in both camping and Scouting in the Allegany County area for several years. Larry Mackereth a lifelong Scouting Enthusiast who currently serves as a Unit Commissioner, will serve as the Program Director.
“Much like a traditional Summer Camp, Scouts will earn badges, have an opportunity for some fun and fellowship, but they will also be working to develop skills and foster an interest in a future career opportunity,” stated Mackert. “We are excited to bring a summer resident camp experience back to our local Scouts and look forward to a full camp in 2024.”
Reserve your child’s spot at Scouts at Work Camp on our website.
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The leadership of the Potomac Council closed resident camp at the facility in 2013, prior to merging with the Laurel Highlands Council in 2015. The Laurel Highlands Council is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and serves youth in the Allegheny, Beaver, Bedford, Cambria, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, and Washington counties in PA; Allegany and Garrett counties in MD; and Grant, Hampshire, Hardy and Mineral counties in WV. If you or someone you know is interested in scouting, please visit our website contact the Cumberland Service Center at 301-729-1300.
About the Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America, Laurel Highlands Council provides programs of character development and values-based leadership training to nearly 9,000 youth in our local region. We prepare young people be to “Prepared. For Life.®” For more information on the Laurel Highlands Council, please visit lhcscouting.org.
