What brings troops back year after year is Camp Parsons’s excellent program and superior staff service. Explore below what our many program areas have to offer. See our full lineup of Merit Badges on our Resources page.
Aquatics
Pier Jump
A Parsons Trademark. You haven’t lived until you’ve plunged off the end of the pier into the glistening water below. This is a tide-permitting event.
Snorkeling
Discover the wildlife on the canal-bottom or even, perhaps, a sunken whale boat.
Swimming
There’s nothing like jumpin’ into the cool waters of the Hood Canal on a warm Parsons summer day at Swim Beach.
War Canoe
It takes true cooperation to make our 12-seater glide across the water.
Kayaking/Canoeing
A camp classic. Paddle your way around the boating area and take in the scenery that has helped make Parsons what it is.
Canoe Swamp
It’s swamp or be swamped in this chaotic canoe free for all. Head out into the water without paddles to try and tip competing boats
Whale Hunt
Compete against others in rowboats to capture the whale – just like Ahab!
SCUBA
We are excited to be partnering with JADE SCUBA Adventures to provide a SCUBA program for up to 12 scouts and adults each week of camp! Through this all-week program, participants will be able to complete the requirements for the BSA Scuba Award, SCUBA Merit Badge, and SDI Open Water Certification. Note: there is an additional fee for this program.
Sailing
An afternoon on Jackson Cove almost always brings with it a perfect breeze to fill your sails. Take out our small boats, or take one of our larger sailboats for a longer sailing excursion.
ATV Program
BSA ATV Safety Program
Youth who participate in this program will become a part of the ATV Safety Institute of America (ASI) Safe Rider Coalition. During the course of the week, they will complete several trail rides, practice tread lightly skills, complete a conservation trail project, and earn the ASI rider course certification.
Shooting Sports
Rifle Shooting
Work towards membership in the Dime Club, shoot your way to an NRA award, or try to split a card in half.
Archery
With expert shooting skills, you could earn a membership in the Robin Hood Society and start shooting at balloons, cards, or even for Society awards.
Tower
Climbing
Climb out of your comfort zone and conquer the heights. The view from the top is worth every sore muscle. Camp Parsons boasts a 30+ foot climbing wall with three separate climbs of varying difficulty. If you’re feeling especially adventurous, try the rope-climb challenge. Scouts must be 13 as of the date of the climb to use the tower.
Rappelling
What's the most fun way to get down from the top of the tower after you've climbed it? Rappelling, of course!
Bouldering
Though designed for scouts not old enough to climb the tower, the bouldering wall will test the mettle of even the most hardened athlete. See if you can make it all the way across to the infamous fourth wall.
Scoutcraft
Field Games
You name it you can play it… Frisbee, Soccer, Froccer, Volleyball, Capture the Flag, Captain’s Coming, Frisketball…
Cooking Demo
Like food? Come learn how to use a Dutch oven and cook yourself some tasty snacks.
Obstacle Course
Put your balance and strength to the limit. Record holder gets bragging rights.
Scoutcraft Challenge
Build catapults to launch rocks or get some extra special practice building fires, put your scout skills to the limit.
Craft Lodge
Patrol Flag Making
Get your flag ready for Friday’s Hullabaloo!
Crafts
Make lanyards, wood carving projects, leather working projects, and more.
Ecology-Conservation
Hikes
Venture into the more remote parts of our 440 acres and see old growth trees, spectacular views of Hood Canal, and a wide variety of flora and fauna. Hikes include the Nature Trail, Arboretum Trail, Mystery Beach, and hiking to the highest point in camp.
Fort Duckabush Tour
Visit our world-class museum and learn about out history dating back to 1919.
Nature Games
Nature Jeopardy, Who Wants to be an Eco-Stud, Predator Prey, and many more
Beach Combing
Visit and explore Parsons’s third beach. Look out over the canal and take in the breathtaking view, look down at your feet to find all sorts of sea life and artifacts, or skip rocks of the highest quality.
Eco-Stud
Work all week to earn this coveted award and wear the Eco-Stud Helmet of Destiny (if you don’t do it, then Clint the Cinder-block will win).
Scout Skills
Trail to First Class
Younger scouts can come to the Scout Skills area during morning advancement time to work towards Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class. Located behind Fort Duckabush.
Totin’ Chip/Firem’n Chit
Familiarize yourself with fire and blade safety. With the help of our staff, of course.
Special Events
Hullabaloo Patrol Competition
The renowned Hullabaloo is the culmination of your week of scouting and features a three part competition to determine the best troop in camp. This event kicks off with the Patrol Competition where enthusiasm and teamwork are the keys to success.
Polar Bear Pier Jump
We take the Polar Plunge to a whole new level. A quick jump off the Parsons Pier will wake you up better than coffee or any sugar-filled beverage. Head down to the Pier at 6:30 and break the still silence of the morning as you plummet into the water.
Early Morning Canoe Trip
Jackson Cove will wake up before your eyes on this jaunty canoe trek around the cove or to Octopus Point and back. The best chance to see the aquatic life of the Hood Canal is as the sun rises.
Camp to Cove Run
Take a brisk morning jog down Bee Mill Road to the Cove RV Store and back. The scenic run is on a two-mile round-trip course.
Early Morning Nature Hike
There’s nothing like strolling through the woods on a quiet morning, before the air is filled with the joyful chatter of scouts talking over their week’s adventures or the pops of the rifle range rip through the silence. Take in our nature trail in the stillness of dawn. You’ll hear sounds you’ve never heard before. You may even see some of our resident forest animals as they head out looking for their breakfast.
Early Morning Sip and Paint
Enjoy an early morning on the beautiful Puget Sound while sipping your cozy beverage of choice and painting with watercolors. Coffee and hot cocoa will be provided as you soak in your first morning at Camp Parsons with gentle morning sun, a relaxing atmosphere, and an opportunity to get to know others at camp.
Hullabaloo Relay Race
Shortly following the patrol competition, the highly competitive Relay Race challenges troops to run, swim and canoe to be the first one past the finish line.
Octopus Cup
Your troop’s four best paddlers will race a canoe to Octopus Point and back in an effort to win the admiration of the rest of camp and experience the coveted Octopus Cup Handshake.
Beach Bonanza
THURSDAY THURSDAY THURSDAY! Campwide pier jump where we take the end of the pier off so you can run and jump straight off. Music’s blasting and our world famous ‘kisky’ flows freely. On shore you can play dodgeball, basketball, Froccer (a combination of Ultimate Frisbee and Soccer), Twister, whiffle ball, or horseshoes.
Staff Performances
Campfires
Here All Trails End. . . From skits and songs to musical performances and scary stories, we put on a campfire that Lord Baden Powell himself would love!
Dining Hall Songs
Who knew singing at the top of your lungs could be so much fun!? Join in with the staff at lunch and dinner.
Parsons Production
Each summer we do a different half hour play based on a variety of classic stories. Previously, we have done Lord of the Ring (Buoy), Batman, The Avengers, and more.
Musicfest
If you weren’t there for Woodstock in ’69, make sure you make it to our staff’s musical performance. From electric guitars to ukuleles to our very own version of Stomp, we’ll show the definition of too much rock for one hand!
Adult Leader Activities
Training Sessions
We offer some training sessions throughout the week such as Safety Afloat, Safe Swim Defense, and Climb On Safely.
Tower Climb
We use you to test the strength of our ropes! Don’t worry, we haven’t lost anyone yet.
Adult Leader Rifle/Archery Shoots
This is a time for any of the adults in your troop to come and use our ranges and engage in some friendly competition with adults from other troops.
Belly Flop Competition
Bare your belly (or lack thereof) and flop during Thursday's Beach Bonanza!
Dutch Oven Cookoff
Each week, adult leaders have an opportunity to show off their outdoor culinary skills and woo the staff judges with their best Dutch oven recipes.
Parsons Open Whiffle Ball Golf Tournament
We don’t care what your score is, we just care how creative your club is! Spend all week designing your club, then hit a whiffle ball from hole to hole (please don’t hit anyone in the head!). The highlight of the week for adults.