Troop 1 Mendon

Centennial Camporee

Unit Leader Guide

Everything your unit needs to plan, pack, arrive, and participate — October 9–11, 2026 at Inman Hill, Mendon, MA. Print it, hand it to your committee, and bring a copy to camp.

Subject to change. Check mendoncentennialcamporee.org for the latest version before the event.

Download .ics Calendar

At a Glance

Event Dates

  • Friday, October 9 — Arrivals & Kickoff
  • Saturday, October 10 — Main Program Day
  • Sunday, October 11 — Community Exhibitions, Awards & Departure

The camporee is a two-night camp (Friday–Sunday). The earliest overnight arrival is Friday, October 9 — no on-site camping before then; units depart Sunday afternoon. The event runs rain or shine. Expected attendance: ~300 youth and adults.

Sunday night into Monday (Columbus Day) is an optional town camping & local celebration — a community event organized by the town, not part of the Scouting camporee or unit registration.

Location & Parking

Inman Hill Wildlife Conservation Area & Quissett Wildlife Management Area
Mendon, Massachusetts

  • Event & overnight parking (primary): 98 Inman Hill Road, Mendon, MA 01756
  • Alternate / backpacking parking: Henry P. Clough Elementary School or Miscoe Hill Middle School — when coordinated with the committee

Fees at a Glance

  • $50 per Scout — early rate, through August 2, 2026
  • $55 per Scout — August 3 to September 25 (registration closes Sept 25)
  • Free — public day visitors (exhibits, no registration)
  • Comped — volunteers

Register & pay through Mayflower Council. Full details under Registration & Fees below.

Registration & Fees

Registration and payment are handled through Mayflower Council’s online system. Register your unit together, and register early — the rate rises after August 2 and registration closes September 25. Here is what unit leaders need to know:

Rates & Deadlines

  • $50 per Scout — early rate, register through August 2, 2026
  • $55 per Scout — August 3 to September 25, 2026
  • Registration closes September 25, 2026 — no registrations after this date
  • Public day visitors: free — welcome to the Sunday historical & public-safety exhibits, no registration
  • Volunteers: comped — meals, t-shirt, and patch; camping spot if staying overnight

Refunds & Cancellation

  • Cancellation and refund terms are shown during checkout on Mayflower Council’s registration site
  • The event runs rain or shine — it would only be cancelled for a declared state of emergency, ground too unsafe to park (storm flooding), or an active hurricane threat
  • Dry conditions may mean a fireless weekend (per the Fire Chief), but the event continues

Details in the FAQ.

Financial Hardship

No Scout turned away for lack of funds. If cost is a barrier for your Scout or unit, email info@mendoncentennialcamporee.org — the 1926 Committee handles every request confidentially.

Before You Arrive

📅 A pre-camp info session for unit leaders will be held in September 2026 (date and format to be announced). We’ll walk through check-in, the schedule, and safety/emergency procedures, and answer your questions. Watch the homepage updates and your email for the confirmed date.

Health Forms (AHMR)

  • BSA Annual Health & Medical Record, Parts A and B, required for every participant
  • Part C (physician signature) is NOT required for this event (it is under 72 hours)
  • Unit leaders bring physical copies to check-in — forms are not collected, but must be available for on-site medical staff
  • Staff, volunteers, and anyone not attending with a unit present their own AHMR (Parts A & B) to the camp health officer at check-in
  • At check-in, tell the health officer about any allergies, medical limitations, or life-threatening conditions in your unit
  • Medications travel in their original labeled containers; life-threatening meds (epi-pens, inhalers) may be carried by the Scout
  • Download the current form at scouting.org/health-and-safety/ahmr/

Roster & Paperwork

  • Print your unit roster (youth and adults attending)
  • Keep your registration confirmation email handy — it has your unit’s 8-character confirmation code
  • Collect signed parental consent for any specialized activities (details released at registration)

Backpacking Units

A small contingent hikes in Friday evening. Space is limited — early/special registration required; contact the committee before registering. Coordinate vehicle parking (Clough Elementary or Miscoe Hill Middle School) and your trail start point with the committee in advance.

Leader Pre-Event Checklist

Work through this with your committee in the months before camp. Your checkmarks save automatically in this browser — or print this guide and check them off on paper.

  • — register here
  • — FAQ packing checklist
  • — Event Rules
  • — Emergency Action Plan
  • — Program Overview

Arrival & Check-In

Standard Unit Arrival (Open Field)

  • Check-in opens: Friday afternoon, October 9
  • Drive to 98 Inman Hill Road, Mendon, MA 01756 and follow posted event signage to the designated arrival lane
  • Parking attendants will guide you to the field camping area
  • Check in with the unit liaison at event headquarters on arrival
  • Set up in your assigned camping zone — stay within assigned boundaries
  • Vehicle movement is restricted after check-in; follow staff instructions

Backpacking Arrival

  • Arrival: Friday evening, October 9 (early/special registration required)
  • Suggested trail start points (examples only): Henry P. Clough Elementary School, Quisset Road, Daniels Farm, Hop Brook, and others coordinated with the 1926 Committee. Final routes are confirmed in June 2026.
  • Hike in with everything needed for the full weekend (pack-in/pack-out)
  • Check in via radio or at event headquarters on arrival at the backpacking zone
  • Space is limited — contact us before registering

What to Bring to Check-In

  • Registration confirmation email (with your unit’s 8-character confirmation code)
  • Unit roster
  • BSA Annual Health & Medical Record (Parts A & B) for all participants — not collected, but must be available for on-site medical staff
  • Signed parental consent for any specialized activities (details released at registration)

On-Site Headquarters

  • Event headquarters tent is centrally located on site
  • First aid station at headquarters
  • 24-hour administrative support during the event weekend
  • Unit liaison services and event updates posted here
  • Lost & found managed at headquarters

Camper Security & Visitors

  • Each unit leader verifies their roster at check-in; HQ tracks who is on site all weekend.
  • Registered Scouts and leaders receive a wristband at check-in for the camporee — it identifies who belongs in the program and camping areas, and is not issued to day visitors.
  • Public day visitors are welcome during the day for the town historical and public-safety exhibits in the designated community zones, and depart by evening. The Scout camping areas are clearly demarcated, separated, and kept off-limits to the public, managed by our volunteer corps; only registered Webelos and Scouts BSA take part in the camporee program.
  • A minor is released only to a parent/guardian or a person the parent has authorized in writing — arranged through the unit leader and HQ.
  • Report anyone who seems unauthorized or out of place to HQ; staff respond per the Emergency Action Plan.

Your Campsite

Fires, Stoves & Cooking

  • Campfires and open flames only in portable fire pits — raised metal fire pans or other approved, contained units. No ground fires.
  • All fires are subject to Mendon Fire Department Chief approval that weekend — dry conditions may mean a fireless weekend, but the event continues
  • Camp stoves are allowed in event-approved cooking locations; follow fire department and event staff instructions
  • Units cook their own breakfasts and dinners at their campsites (see Meals & Food on Site)

Site Care & Sanitation

  • Camp only in your assigned camping zone; stay within event boundaries and follow posted instructions
  • Leave No Trace: pack out all trash and fully restore your campsite before checkout
  • Portable restrooms (at least one seat per 30 campers) with hand-sanitizing stations are placed around the field, including an ADA-compliant unit (see Accessibility). There are no showers at this event.
  • Drinking water: potable water is available at marked water points — but arrive with about 5 gallons per unit to get started. Bring a refillable bottle (1+ liter per person) and drink from your own bottle/cup — no shared cups.
  • Vehicle movement is restricted to approved windows and access routes

Event Rules

Full rules are on the Camper Resources page. Every unit leader should communicate these four to their troop before arriving:

  • Campfires & open flames: Portable fire pits only — no ground fires. Subject to Fire Chief approval that weekend. Exceptions require advance Committee approval.
  • Leave No Trace: Pack out all trash; fully restore your campsite before check-out.
  • Site boundaries: Camp only in your assigned zone; follow all posted instructions and staff direction.
  • Vehicle movement: Restricted to approved windows and access routes — follow parking staff on arrival.

Full Event Rules →

Program Overview

The full day-by-day schedule with all times is on the Schedule page. Key anchors for your unit's planning:

Friday, Oct. 9 — Arrivals

Check-in opens Friday afternoon. Backpacking contingent arrives Friday evening at trail start points. Night hike and optional evening activities.

Saturday, Oct. 10 — Main Program

9:00 AM Opening Ceremony — 9:30 AM Scoutcraft rotations begin — 3:00 PM Relay competition — 7:30 PM Centennial Campfire

Sunday, Oct. 11 — Community Day & Departure

9:00 AM Camp-wide rocket launch — 10:30 AM Public exhibitions open (community welcome) — 12:30 PM Awards & closing ceremony — afternoon pack-out & departure. Check out with headquarters before departing — see Departure & Checkout.

Sunday Night → Monday — Town Camping

Optional town camping & local celebration Sunday night into Monday (Columbus Day). A community event organized by the town, not the Scouting camporee — details on the Register page.

Saturday: Scoutcraft Station Rotations

Saturday’s core program is a rotation through six hands-on Scoutcraft stations. Each patrol completes three stations in the morning (9:30–11:30 AM) and three in the afternoon (1:00–3:00 PM) — about 30 minutes each — then competes in the Scoutcraft Relay (3:00–4:30 PM). Full station details are on the Activities page.

The Six Stations

  • Primitive Fire Building — historical fire-starting; boil-water race
  • Camp Cooking — trail meals (eggs & muffins in an orange)
  • Knots & Lashing — build an A-frame “walker” and cross the pit
  • First Aid Carries — injured-camper carries & a litter-transport relay
  • Vintage Tent Building — pitch a 1920s A-frame tent
  • STEM: Things That Fly — flight & aerodynamics (details being finalized)

Five stations are fully detailed; the STEM station is still being built out by the program team.

Help Your Patrols Prepare

  • Brush up on four knots & lashings: shear lashing, square lashing, clove hitch, two half-hitches
  • Practice laying and lighting a fire that boils water fast
  • Practice first-aid carries — one- through four-person carries and the litter carry
  • All consumables and materials are provided at each station — patrols just bring themselves and water bottles
  • Most stations are scored by patrol — emphasize teamwork

Full Schedule with Times → Full Station Details →

Meals & Food on Site

Units Cook Their Own

Units handle their own breakfasts and dinners at their campsites all weekend. Plan menus, bring stoves and fuel, and use only event-approved cooking locations and portable fire pits (see Your Campsite).

Lions Club Snack Bar

  • Saturday: open 10:30 AM–2:30 PM
  • Sunday: breakfast option on site

Troop 1 Trading Post

Grab-and-go snacks and candy for purchase, all weekend.

Volunteers

Volunteer meals are comped, along with a t-shirt and patch — and a camping spot if staying overnight. See the Volunteer page.

Food Safety & Trash

  • Keep cold food below 40°F in coolers, cook to safe temperatures, and wash hands and surfaces before and after handling food.
  • Store all food and scented items sealed and away from tents so you don’t attract animals.
  • Trash: bag your own and carry it to the marked collection points; pack out anything that doesn’t fit (Leave No Trace).
  • Backpacking units: use animal-proof food storage and pack out all food waste.

Safety, Emergency & Key Contacts

On-Site Emergency Support

  • For any emergency: Call 911 first
  • Mendon Police (non-emergency): (508) 478-2737
  • Mendon Fire (non-emergency): (508) 473-5330
  • A designated medical officer, with at least one nurse on site at all times and Mendon Fire as backup
  • Several volunteers Red Cross / Wilderness First Aid certified (listed on the event roster)
  • First aid station at event headquarters

Event Headquarters

  • Located centrally on the Inman Hill site
  • 24-hour administrative support during the event
  • Unit liaison services, lost & found, and event updates
  • All medical issues should be reported here

Committee Contact

info@mendoncentennialcamporee.org

Emergency contact details for the event weekend will be distributed to all registered unit leaders prior to October 9.

Severe Weather Policy

The event runs rain or shine. Programming may be adjusted for safety during severe weather. Severe weather notifications will be communicated to unit leaders at headquarters. Scouts should follow the two-deep leadership and buddy system at all times. See the full Emergency Action Plan.

Youth Protection & Supervision

  • Every unit camps with two registered adult leaders (21+), including a registered female adult for any unit with female youth.
  • All adults must have current Youth Protection Training.
  • No one-on-one contact between adults and youth — keep interactions in the open and observable.
  • The buddy system applies at all times; backpacking groups follow the “rule of four” (at least four people, two of them adults).
  • Suspected abuse is reported to law enforcement and Mayflower Council immediately.

Mental & Emotional Wellbeing

  • Camp is not the time to change a Scout’s medication — keep routines steady and note current meds on the AHMR.
  • Don’t leave medical or emotional-health information off the AHMR; it helps our staff support your Scout.
  • If a Scout is struggling, talk to HQ staff — we can connect you with support, including a chaplain or professional resource if needed.

Departure & Checkout

Checking Out

  • Sunday, October 11 is departure day; units break down their sites and depart Sunday afternoon after the closing ceremony (optional early breakdown 7:00–9:00 AM, per the schedule)
  • Pack out all trash and fully restore your campsite — Leave No Trace applies to every site
  • Check out with event headquarters before departing
  • Vehicle movement follows the same approved windows and routes as arrival — follow staff direction

Lost & Found

Lost & found is managed at event headquarters during the event. Items are held for two weeks after the event, then donated. Sweep your campsite carefully before checkout — and label gear before camp.

Accessibility & Special Needs

What to Expect On Site

  • Terrain: unpaved roads and rolling field — not fully ADA-accessible across all areas
  • Accessible drive-up camping is available for participants who need to stay close to a vehicle — arrange in advance with the committee
  • An ADA-compliant portable restroom will be on site

Tell Us What You Need

Email info@mendoncentennialcamporee.org about any special needs ahead of registration — mobility, dietary, medical, or anything else — and the committee will work with your unit. Financial hardship requests are handled confidentially (see Registration & Fees).

Maps & Directions

Driving Directions

  • Event & overnight parking (primary): 98 Inman Hill Road, Mendon, MA 01756
  • Alternate / backpacking parking: Henry P. Clough Elementary School or Miscoe Hill Middle School (when coordinated with the committee)
  • GPS coordinates: 42.0779° N, 71.5493° W
  • Follow posted event signage on arrival
  • Parking attendants will guide you to the field camping area

Open in Google Maps

Camporee graphic map showing the Inman Hill event layout.

Registration Is Open

Register your unit through Mayflower Council — the $50 early rate runs through August 2, then $55; registration closes September 25.

Register Your Unit Full Schedule FAQ