Camp Oljato, located on Huntington Lake in
the Sierras, is the Boy Scout Camp run by the Pacific Skyline Council.
Huntington Lake is one of the best small sailboat locations in the
U.S. and regattas of sailboats flying colorful spinnakers race up and
down the lake on summer weekends. There are many campsites and rustic
cabins on the eastern, southern and northern shores. However, the
western shore is uninhabited except for two Boy Scout camps that are
accessible by boat. Camp Oljato is the largest camp and occupies the
most scenic location: it has its own beach and docks for launching
sailboats, motor boats and canoes.
The camp is located uphill from the beach and offers majestic views
eastward, over the lake and up into the surrounding mountains. Oljato
has various campsites, named after native Indian tribes, that house 10
to 20 platforms with canvas tents. Usually there is a fire pit in each
campsite with nearby "facilities" cleaned by various Boy
Scout troops each day. A communal mess hall is located near the
General Store and other buildings where merit badge classes are
offered. There are also remote, protected areas for archery and
shooting. The Oljato Yacht Club, downhill, offers swimming and boating
to those scouts who've passed a swimming test - no easy feat
considering the water temperature is about 60º!
Troop 57 attends two weeks of camp during the last two weeks of
July. Boys usually travel by chartered bus on Sunday morning and
return early Saturday afternoon two weeks later. Most scouts earn at
least 6 merit badges at camp while participating in daily scouting
life. This includes raising the colors each morning and retiring them
at night, enjoying campfires after dinner in the campsite and enjoying
the stars, bears and wilderness! Oljato
is largely a scout-run camp: camp staff and Merit Badge counselor
positions are filled by older scouts from a wide variety of troops;
most of these scouts have achieved Eagle Rank. Troop 57 leadership
positions, including Senior Patrol Leader and Patrol Leaders, are
filled by scouts chosen in our May elections. Each week there are also
four to five Troop 57 Assistant Scoutmasters and volunteer dads who stay in
camp to provide overall supervision. The troop's
campsite, Cheyenne, accommodates about 40 people so early registration
for camp is recommended!
Other Useful Information for Camp Oljato
