About SWC
Hands-on winter camping training for Scouters
The Scouters' Winter Campout is a weekend-long winter camporee for Scout leaders. You spend it camping as a patrol and working through games, and you leave knowing how to bring cold-weather camping back to your own unit.
Who
Adult Scouters
Registered volunteers, 18 and over. No youth participants.
WHEN
One weekend, every January
January 8-10, 2027 (backup dates: Jan 22-24)
District
Open to All Adult Scouters
Founded by the Silver Comet and Foothills districts of the Atlanta Area Council. Open to Scouters around the world.
The Weekend Schedule
Friday evening to Sunday noon.
This is a general outline of an SWC weekend. The official schedule for each year is posted in the Participant Packet.
Friday
Arrive
3-6 PM
Check In
Patrol leaders collect the patrol packet and turn in rosters and totems.
7 PM
Presentation Boards
Units display what they have been doing, for others to borrow ideas from.
7 - 9 PM
Cracker Barrel
Coffee, snacks, and fellowship.
9:15 PM
Patrol Leaders Meeting
11 PM
Taps
Saturday
Learn, Play, Serve
8:30 AM
Morning Assembly
Flags, costumes, totems, patrol cheers. Skits encouraged.
9:45 AM
Games
Five new games designed by SWC staff on rotation: Scout skills, problem solving, and teamwork challenges.
2 PM
Good Turn Project
A camp-wide service project for the camp.
6 PM
Campwide Dinner
Patrols decorate a table in the dining hall and bring their meal to dine with the group. Patrols host 2 staff members for dinner.
8 PM
Campfire and Awards
Skits, songs, and the legendary claw ceremony. Game awards announced.
After
Night Hike, Star Study
11 PM
Taps
Sunday
Closing
8:30 AM
Interfaith service
With a collection for the World Friendship Fund.
9 AM
Closing Assembly
Honor Patrol and Spirit Patrol awards and farewell.
10 AM - Noon
Break Camp
Pack out, check out, and head home by noon.
Patrols
The Patrol Method
Everything at SWC happens at the patrol level. Units bring their own patrol or can combine to form one. Leaders without a patrol can find one to join!
6-10 People
That is a patrol. More than ten? You can split into two patrols— you can still camp together and share a table.
Patrol Theme, Totem, Flag, and Cheer
Patrols arrive with all four. Totems are exchanged with game staff and traded with other patrols all weekend. Totems and flags are judged and part of your patrol's overall score.
Patrol Leader Responsibilities
The patrol leader carries the medical forms and insurance copies for every member, plus provides two copies of the patrol roster at check-in.
Your Patrol Cooks and Camps
You plan meals, set up your own site, and bring your dinner to the dining hall Saturday night.
Invite a Representative
Want to bring SWC to your unit directly? We're glad to send a representative to visit, introduce the campout, and answer whatever questions your leaders have. It's a low-key way to help your Scouters picture the weekend and decide if it's for them. Just fill out the form below, and we'll be in touch to set it up!