summer camp

Special Diets Form

Camp Mack does its best to accommodate anyone with special dietary needs or allergies, but this can only be done if we are given advance notice. For any scout or adult with any special food needs, a summer camp special dietary needs form must be completed and submitted with their medical form. Forms turned in upon arrival will be accepted and the kitchen staff will try their best to accommodate, however provisions may not be able to be met.

Download the form here.

Background Checks

All adults must have the following background checks completed and uploaded prior to camp. They are all free and take about 1-2 weeks to be returned.

*Please note for the 3rd one, if you've lived in the state for the last 10 years, you do not need to do the FBI check, just print out the form and sign it. You will also need a witness to sign that you've lived in the state for the last 10 years.  Also, if you already have these clearances for other purposes (school, volunteering, etc), you should just be able to login & print out the results. 

1. Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance

2. Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check

3. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal History Background Check (required for all employees and some volunteers) Volunteers use code: 1KG6ZJ
   OR
   Download Council PA Resident Volunteer Waiver for Volunteers who have resided in the Commonwealth of PA for the past 10 years. You can submit the Disclosure Statement for Volunteers in lieu of the fingerprint based FBI Clearance.

Youth Protection Training

All adults staying overnight at camp are required to have current Youth Protection Training. Please log in to your my.scouting.org account to complete or verify your training is up to date. Please provide your completion certificate to pack leadership for upload to the camp website. 

Click here to take the training.

(requires My.Scouting.com login, please create if you do not have one)

Swim Test

We complete swim tests prior to arriving at camp (usually with the Troop in May) to help speed up this process. If you are unable to make the date/time of the test, swim tests are offered on the first day of camp for all campers. These tests are important to ensure safe aquatic activities and required for all adults & youth who wish to swim and boat while at camp. 

The three swimmer ability groups are swimmer, beginner, and non-swimmer.  

 •The swimmer test demonstrates the minimum level of swimming ability required for safe deep-water swimming. It is also required for a scout to take any of the Aquatics merit badges. 

 *Swimmer Test Requirements:*

Jump feet first into water over the head in depth, level off and begin swimming. Swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen or front crawl (freestyle); then swim 25 yards using an easy, resting backstroke (hands in water). The 100 yards must be completed in one swim without stops and must include at least one sharp turn. After completing the swim, rest by floating.  

• The beginner test demonstrates that the Scout is ready to learn deep-water skills and has the minimum ability required for safe instructional and recreational activity in a confined swimming area in which shallow waters, sides, or other support are less than 25 feet from any point on the water.  

*Beginner Test Requirements:*

Jump feet first into water over the head in depth, level off, swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume swimming as before, and return to starting place.

• All Scouts and Scouters who do not complete the beginner test or who choose to not  participate in any test are classified as non-swimmers. All non-swimmers should be encouraged to take swim lessons to improve their swimming ability and become comfortable participating in water activities.  

More information can found on this BSA page about under the category for Safe Swim Defense.