Camporee Site
Northwoods Scout Reservation

Northwoods Scout Reservation is owned by the Chief Okemos Council, Boy Scouts of America.  It has been the home of the council's Boy Scout summer camp program since 1963.  It covers 632 acres (256 hectares) including a 90 acre (36 hectare) lake that was named Arrowhead Lake by the Scouts because of its shape.  Access is available to two other lakes.

There are 11 campsites in the main part of the reservation north of the lake, with water piped to each campsite, and 4 outpost campsites along the east and south shore of the lake that use hand pumps for their water supply.  Scouts in the outpost campsites often travel back and forth to the main part of the camp in rowboats and canoes.

The waterfront includes three swimming areas, 30 boats, 30 canoes and 6 sailboats.  Boating equipment with be supplemented for the Michigan International Camporee.  A modern nature center provides one of the largest collections in the area for the study of natural wood lore specimens, rocks and minerals, and small animal specimens.  The rifle range offers the opportunity to shoot a .22 caliber rifle, a shotgun, or a black power rifle.  The archery range offers both target shooting and a field range.  Northwoods has inner tubes that can be used for a tube trip on the Rifle River and trail bikes that can be used to explore the camp and surrounding area.

The loon has become the symbol of Northwoods.  Arrowhead Lake is home to as many as 7 of them.  There is a family of hawks in the camp and eagles visit from time to time.  Wild turkey roam the woods and at most any time you might see deer, beaver, muskrat, otter, porcupine, raccoon, fox bob cat, and skunks.  Coyote can be heard in the distance.  Scouts are able to fish in Arrowhead Lake for pike, perch, small mouth bass, rock bass, sunfish and blue gills.

There are 4.5 miles (7.2 km) of dirt roads that can be used to hike around the camp and many more hiking trails that take you through areas of hills, valleys, fields and wetlands.  Natural areas are forested with white birch, oak, elm, maple, ash, beech, cherry and basswood trees.  Wild raspberry and blackberries are found in the late summer.

The land that is now Northwoods has been visited by many different people over the years.  Indians from several different tribes probably fished and hunted there.  It is likely that French explorers, fur traders, and missionaries were the first white men to visit the area in the late 1600s or early 1700s. In the late 1800s, the entire area was logged by Michigan lumberjacks.  The legend of Paul Bunyan developed not far from the camp.  With the many visitors that Northwoods has had in the past, it is appropriate that Scouts from all over the world will gather there for the Michigan International Camporee.

Northwoods Scout Reservation | | Northwoods Scout Reservation Weather