Kittatinny Mountain Scout Reservation (CLOSED)--More information

Information for Kittatinny Mountain Scout Reservation (CLOSED) (Other)

Camp address	Contact Information
22 Struble Rd Branchville, NJ 07826 Forecast for this area (at weather.com)	Website

Map using camp address (sometimes accurate)	Map using coordinates: (always accurate)
Mapquest™ Road map Suremaps™ Topo map	No lat/lon coordinates in database...but here's how to add them!

Comments for Kittatinny Mountain Scout Reservation (CLOSED)

Owned by the Central New Jersey Council, KMSR has been providing Scouts with a quality summer camp experience for over 50 years. Our 5 week program offers special emphasis on First Year campers and Senior Scouts, thereby making it a great summer camp for Scouts of all ages. With 5 lodges and 2 lean-to sites as well as tent sites, it is a retreat for year-round Scouting activities as well. Located on the edge of Stokes State Forest and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, it is within hiking distance of the Appalachian Trail. Along with our other council camp Yards Creek SR, it makes a great start/end point for a 2 day AT hike.

(posted on Feb 9,2001)

Great Camp Nice Facility

(posted on Apr 19,2001)

--Many tent sites, lean-to areas and cabins
--Miles of trails in nearby Stokes State Forest (including the Appalachian Trail)
--Excellent fishing in Lake Ashroe
--A sports and event field
--Campfire area
--Boy Scout Summer Camp
--A trading post that provides snacks, sodas, Scouting patches and Scouting equipment

(posted on Jul 1,2001)

This was a fantastic camp when I was a Scout in the 1970's. It was well maitained and had plenty to do. I can't wait for a chance to get back there and check it out again.

(posted on Nov 12,2006)

I first camped here in 1983. I thought it didn't get any better untill I served on staff in 1986. I had gone to this camp every year till 1987 and enjoyed every visit. The times we spend at camp generate memories we keep for a life time. I am now a Scoutmaster in So Fla. and would love to bring my boys here.

(posted on Jun 22,2007)

Just returned from Camp Kittatinny (KMSR)(July 07). From an adult perspective, the camp was ill prepared to recieve our large group of Scouts and Adult Scouters. The Camp Staff boasts a sign "2006 Most Improved Camp" I had to ask myself as the unit leader, most improved compared to what? If the spectrum is zero to 100, most improved could be derived by hitting a 10. So I suppose it could be correct...

The Youth Staff was basically clueless as to where things were and who was in charge of what program areas. The Merit Badge Couselors disregarded many of the prerequisites the Scouts brought with them to camp for merit badge sign-offs. Although, some, not many, of the Staff had the right attitude and tried as they might to correct the deficiencies. Our site had a water feature (Leaky water pipe spraying)during the entire week, and when we told the staff about the issue, they told us we had to fill out some report to get it fixed. Totally UNSAT!

The dining facility was small as was the quantity. The taste of the food was adequate and served by the staff. Although they never served seconds until the Leaders really complained. Also, the Staff never got very excited about the meal time when usually the kids get to sing songs and paticipate in some sort of annimation during Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Not what I have been exposed to.

The Field Uniform (Class A) was never required for the presentation or retirement of our nations colors. They never did the pledge of allegiance during the opening colors until my SPL insisted it be done as is proper. Good on him for calling this out to the Staff.

Heard lots of negitive comments from other leaders, not sure if they will post but the program director when confronted with the issues had a very hostile and begrudging attitude and was kind of rude. Not what I expected from the District and Council level Scouters.

All in all, I can not recommend this camp to other Scouts and Scouters, as much as I would like to. A great Summer Camp experience can keep a Scout interested in Scouting or conversely the experience can turn them off really quickly to Scouting in general.

Recommend the Central New Jersey Council Executives and Council Camping Committee take a really close look at how this camp is being run and correct the deficiencies before the end of summer to prevent any others from having a bad experience.

(posted on Jul 19,2007)

I just returned from a week at the Camp as an Adult Leader and have a few comments. First off, this was my first experience at a BSA Camp. I found the Camp a bit run down, leaky pipes, dirty restrooms and showers, trails not well maintained, gutters not cleaned, fire pits not maintained, tents not fitted to platforms, and tarps not properly strung. One of the more disturbing comments that I heard was, "I have been coming here for ten years and some things have been broken for that long". I found the COPE and Mountain Man program was not well thought out. The "high-adventure hike" was a 2 miles walk down a road, complete with cars, when the AT is only one mile away. The overnight was a canoe trip 100 yards across the lake. The last day no event happened. The food wasn't bad and I believe the chef did a great job with what he had to work with. Overall, this wasn't a terrible experience for my first time, but listening to other Leaders, I'd have to rate it as poor. I did find the Adult Camp Staff defensive, but they did try to make a few improvements: singing at meals and second servings. I was also dismayed at the lack of respect at Colors, no Class As, no Pledge or Allegance, and horseplay. I think this Camp has potential, but needs some outside oversight.

(posted on Jul 19,2007)

Sorry to hear the last two comments about KMSR. I attended my first year as a Scout when it was still Camp Sakawawin and then throughout the 70's as KMSR, serving on Staff for several years. I hope the Staff and those responsible take these notes to heart if they are representative of reality, and make improvements for next year. KMSR has a long rich tradition in Scouting and should be a top notch camp every year!

(posted on Aug 14,2007)

FYI, as of 2010, KMSR is no longer offering a resident camping program. http://www.cnjcscouting.org/camp_closure2010.pdf

(posted on Jan 4,2012)

The Central New Jersey Council has dissolved. Camp is currently closed but plans were underway to revert the property back to the state of New Jersey. As soon as we learn if the camp is once again open for group camping we will post those details here.

(posted on Apr 3,2014)

There have been no posts to this site in over 3 years The camp may now have been turned over to the the State. Seems a shame. It had a great heritage. I attended summer camp as a scout in 1961 and 1962 and then was on the staff in 1963, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970 and 1972, spending in total, more than 1 year of my life there. We typically had 200. - 300 scouts there a week, for 8 weeks each summer. We touched many young lives that truly enjoyed and benefited from the experience. I did as well. There was a full time ranger residing at the camp year round and the Sakawawin Lodge- Order of the Arrow had regular work weekends to maintain the camp. That was a long time ago when more boys were actively involved in the movement. Det H. Joks. Contact me at Jokslaw@aol.com

(posted on Jan 29,2018)

(If you have questions about this camp, don't ask them here! Comments simply get added to this page. If you need a human response, use the contact information above to address your question to the appropriate folks).

Post a new comment?
Guidelines for posting comments Your Email address?

If you include your own email address, it will be stored (along with the comment) in a temporary file. Your email address will be deleted after the comment is approved by a site administrator.

If the administrator has questions about what you wrote, the email address can be used to contact you. We do not keep, sell, or give away your email address to anyone. Once again, we delete your email address at the same time we add the comment.

If you have questions or comments about this camp database, or wish to submit a correction or request, please email the Camp Database Administrator

NOTE! The above is not a contact email for information about Kittatinny Mountain Scout Reservation (CLOSED). This is the email for the volunteer who runs the scoutcamp.org camp database.