Join the Thunder!

 Greetings and Salutations!

The summer of 2021 is going to be the year of Adventure, Fun and Friendship at Camp Three Falls! And now is the time for you to become part of the team that will make the Roar of the Thunder happen once again! Several 2020 staff members and area directors have already turned in their applications and our administrative staff is already meeting and planning for our 2021 summer sessions. We have some exciting changes in the works, including increased salary ranges.

Click the link below to download the staff application. If you want to be part of the team fill it out now!

Here's the deal: We want to hire Area Directors by late November or early December -- and have a meeting/orientation/training session for Area Directors while most people are around during winter break. So if you are going to be over 18 next summer and are at all interested in being an Area Director, we need your application by October 31.

If you are not interested in being an Area Director, or are not old enough, you need to send the application in by November 30.

The application is a fillable PDF. It would be great if you could fill it out on your computer so it's easy for us to read. Then either email it back to camp3fallsstaff@gmail.com or send it/take it to the Ventura County Council office.

We will be interviewing Area Directors in late November. If you are away at school we want to try to talk to you while you're home for Thanksgiving weekend. Other staff interviews will take place in January.

Here's the link to the application form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15CWMax4tMk1ErTAuRq_ZxVMZd5qJGgI2/view?usp=sharing

Jerry Thurston

Camp Director

Larry Tuck

Program Director

Plan Now For Summer Camp in 2021

Plan now to attend Camp Three Falls for Scout Camp or Webelos Camp in summer of 2021, the 100th anniversary of Ventura County Council.

2021 camp dates are:

Scouts BSA

Session 1: July July 4-July 10

Session 2: July 11-July 17

Session 3: July 18-July 24

Webelos

Session 1: June 27-June 30

Session 2: June 30-July 3

You can download a flyer with more information here.

Summer Camps Cancelled

We understand how important summer camp is to Scouts and their families, and since the coronavirus struck and restriction orders were implemented in mid-March, we have worked hard to reimagine our camp program to meet health and safety standards under the current COVID-19 environment, while as much as possible retaining the look and feel of our traditional Camp Three Falls experience.

Unfortunately, we have arrived at the realization that while we are able to mitigate many of the health issues imposed by the coronavirus, it is at the expense of providing the program that makes Camp Three Falls so unique: our enthusiastic staff’s interaction with your Scouts and unit leaders.

Therefore, Ventura County Council has arrived at the difficult decision to cancel Camp Three Falls 2020 summer camp season, including both Scouts BSA and Webelos programs. A decision has not yet been reached on NYLT, which is scheduled to take place in late July/early August.

Leaders of units that have reservations will be contacted by the council do make arrangements to apply their payments toward next year's summer camp, transfer them to another council program, or to schedule a refund. If you have questions, you are welcome to call the council office at (805) 482-8938, or email us at camp3fallsstaff@gmail.com.

We look forward to welcoming you to camp in 2021 for the 100th anniversary of Ventura County Council.

COVID-19 Refund Policy

Summer Camp is perhaps one of the most significant events for boys in Scouting.  Attendance at camp provides some of the fondest memories, closest friendships and biggest boost to advancement along the trail to Eagle.  We are still optimistic that we will open camp as scheduled and our camp staff continues to prepare for your arrival.  Our 58 staff members are continuing to train and prepare to provide your Scouts the experience you expect at Camp Three Falls. 

Payments for camp are due in full at the end of April and we understand that there may be some concern regarding what will happen to your deposit and registration fees if we are unable to open camp as planned  Recognizing that the COVID-19 situation is fluid and we must be prepared for anything, we’ve updated our regular camp refund policy to accommodate refunds if it becomes necessary for the council to order the camp closed for the safety of our campers and staff.  We pray that never happens, but we must plan for any eventuality.

In order to alleviate any anxiety over what will happen to your deposit and registration fees if we are unable to open camp as planned, we want to share with you the Ventura County Council’s policy on refunds related to COVID-19:

General Cancellation Policy (COVID-related cancellations for summer resident camp)

Should it become necessary to cancel summer camp, your Pack or Troop will have three (3) options as to what to do with your unit’s deposit. You may:

1.    Apply your deposit (and any subsequent payments to date) to another week of camping this season or in the 2021 season at the current 2020 rate. This would apply to current, fully paid slots at the time of camp closure.  Additional slots added after closure would be at the 2021 rate available when they are added.

2.    You may elect to donate some or all of your deposit to the Council, to help alleviate some of the impact that this challenging event has had on Scouting and Camp Three Falls

3.    You may elect to receive a complete and timely refund of all monies paid by either check or credit to your unit custodial account (which can be used at the Scout Shop and/or toward future camping and program fees). 

Please note that these options will only become available to your unit if the decision or directive to close camp for part or all of the season made by the council leadership. Until that scenario becomes our “course of action,” previously stated cancellation policies of the council remain in place.  

The entire Camp Three Falls refund policy, including this amendment, is included in the attached document. The Policy is the same for Scouts BSA summer camp and Webelos Resident Camp.

Because we understand the importance of Summer Camp to our Scouts, we do not plan to close our summer camp.  We do have protocols in place for controlling and preventing the spread of communicable diseases in camp.  Our camp doctor and camp medics have reviewed and updated those protocols with the COVID-19 virus in mind to make certain we have the best strategies and information available to our staff.  We have changed and upgraded procedures we will use throughout camp to minimize the risk for all in attendance.  It is our goal to continue to support our Troops and Packs by helping unit leaders provide their scouts with superior program activities and to build memories that will last a lifetime.

Camp Three Falls - COVID-19 Update

Ventura County Council and the Camp Three Falls staff are as concerned as you are for the safety of our families and Scouting community. So, as we prepare to provide your Scouts with a summer camp experience that will create a lifetime of memories, we’re also taking extra measures to ensure that everyone stays safe and healthy at camp.

At this point in time we do not plan to close our summer camp.  We do have protocols in place for controlling and preventing the spread of communicable diseases in camp.  Our camp doctor and camp medics are reviewing and updating those protocols on a weekly basis to make sure we have the best strategies and information available to our staff.  We are also taking other steps to provide a safe and healthy environment for our campers including:

·      The institution of policies and procedures that not only meet all Center for Disease Control (CDC) and local health agency guidelines, but exceed them. We are monitoring the ever-changing situation; as guidelines change externally, we are updating our policies for the Camp accordingly.

·      We have hired a second camp medic and partnered with Medical Explorer Post 2911 to provide us with a CIT to assist our medics.

·      We are hiring a second assistant ranger to assist in cleaning common areas around camp more frequently (including portable restrooms.)

·      We have increased the number of handwashing stations near the dining hall and fort and implemented standards for Scouts to wash hands before entering the dining hall and throughout the day under the direction of all Area Directors and Camp Staff Members.

·      Campers will undergo a pre-event medical screening and will have their temperature taken before entering camp.

·      Medics will be visiting unit leaders in their camp sites to provide guidance on keeping our camp healthy and safe.

·      Cots and common shared areas in camps will be disinfected between camp sessions.

We will be sending out more information on how to complete health forms, medical dos and don’ts to prevent illnesses and our camp check-in procedure as we get closer to camp.  This year we are requiring all units to turn in their medical and waiver forms a week before they arrive to complete the pre-check-in process and reduce the wait in the parking lot created by the check-in bottle neck.   

If you are a unit from Ventura County, please remember that there are council campership funds available to attend summer camp at Camp Three Falls. No Scout should be denied an opportunity to attend summer camp because of his or her family’s financial struggles. Click here to find the Ventura County Council Campership Application.

We recognize that COVID-19 virus situation is fluid and we must be prepared for anything - channeling Lord Baden-Powell.  We do have a policy in place to provide refunds if it becomes necessary for the council to order the camp closed for the safety of our campers and staff.  

I hope this information helps to moderate the concerns of your leaders, scouts and parents, concerns we too have for our family and staff.

Jerry Thurston
Camp Director

Larry Tuck
Program Director

George Villalobos
VCC CEO

2020 Scouts BSA Leader Guide

The 2020 Camp Three Falls Scouts BSA Leader Guide is available to download from the Ventura County Council website.