Highland Forest County Park offers primitive tent camping for youth groups at the Cedars tenting area. For the annual Scout-O event, the orienteering club reserves the entire campground; you do not need to contact the park office.
- You can arrive any time after noon on Friday, or any time on Saturday.
- Troops are free to choose any site that is not already claimed when you arrive. It’s fine to spread out into as much space as you need.
About camp:
- You can drive directly to your campsite to unload. There is also a large open field for parking.
- Fallen wood can be collected for campfires. Some firewood may be provided. Firewood brought in from outside is not allowed.
- Water is not near the campground, but is onsite at the north end of the park, in the cluster of buildings near the park entrance. The highest (partly on the hill) of these buildings is the old park office or Shale building. Around the back of this building is a door that will open, leading to a short corridor at the end of which is a hose you can use to fill water containers.
- Latrines and warming huts are at intervals along the camp road.
- Anything else you need, bring with you.
Finding camp:
Head south on the main park road to a large wooden sign that says 14. We’ll also have smaller signs that say Camping. Turn right down the hill. The road is unpaved but drivable. Keep straight past the first left turn and continue to follow the road. The second large open field on your left is your landmark: past this point, you have arrived at the campground. Campsites are on both sides. Choose any vacant site, or as many sites as you need.
In the diagram below, the large building labeled HQ Shelter is no longer there, but the warming huts (WH) and latrines (T) are. Sections 1 and 2 are in better repair than 3 and 4.
Questions or need help:
Members of the orienteering club will not be in the camping area, but will be in one of the cabins (Pines Camp in 2024) if you need us. Call or text Stacy Pendell, 315-729-2894, or Shawn Forney, 315-383-6392.
More info
The park has complete information about youth camping. Ignore the parts about reservations and fees; the fee is $20 per troop, paid along with your Scout-O registration.