First Time at SWC
Preparing for your first SWC experience
Deciding to go to SWC is an easy "yes". Round up a few fellow leaders to camp with, pack warm, and show up ready to jump in! That is really all it takes to start. The rest of this page walks a first-timer through the details, in the order you'll need them, so nothing catches you off guard.
Who Is This For?
Adult Scouters, Age 18+
Registered Scouting volunteers only — no youth participants.
PAtrol MEthod
Patrols of 6-10 Scouters
Minimum of 6 Scouters per patrol is recommended to play the games. Recruit some leaders to join the fun!
COST
$35 per person
Covers the whole weekend at Woodruff. Register and pay as a patrol.
When
January 8-10, 2027
Every January, SWC hosts one event weekend. Back up dates for hazardous weather: Jan 22-24, 2027.
great place for beginners
No experience required.
There's no single right way to do this. Some units jump in and build a great patrol out of nothing but first-timers. Others send a few people to camp with a seasoned patrol for a year and use what they learn to start their own the next. Either approach will serve you well.
"I've never camped in the cold."
Neither had most veterans at their first SWC. Do some research, talk to someone who has been, and review the cold weather camping tips on this site.
"Our patrol can't find six people."
We've got you. Start by posting on the SWC Facebook page to see if anyone would like to join your patrol. Recruit parents from your unit who would like to be more involved. And, of course, reach out to our Registrar and ask for help.
"My Scout skills aren't strong."
The games are teamwork first. Some are skill-based, some are problem solving, some are simply fun. Camaraderie and Scout Spirit are just as important as skills.
"First-timers can't win anything."
Every attendee earns a bear claw, and the Honor Patrol score rewards participation and spirit as much as game results. The awards a nice, but the true value is in the event itself.
From the Veterans
Six Things We'd Wished We'd Known
Small decisions that make a large difference by Saturday night.
Let your Scout Spirit shine!
A costumes, props, flags, totems, and good patrol cheer on Saturday morning sets the tone for a high-energy weekend! Spirit Patrol votes are cast by patrol leaders who remember you.
Warm sleep starts below your bed.
An insulated sleeping pad (or two) helps the sleeping bag keep you warm. If you use a cot, insulate the area underneath to prevent heat-loss. Learn more and ask questions on the SWC Facebook page.
Overpack socks.
Wet hands and feet make you feel even colder. To stay warm, bring spares of both, change them during the day, and dry them overnight. If your toes are cold in your insulated boots, it's time to change your socks.
Assign patrol jobs early and plan ahead.
Cook, quartermaster, flag, totems, skit. Patrols who divide the work early enjoy Saturday far more.
Take pictures. Share ideas.
Camp gadgets, table settings, and menus you can run with your own unit in February.
Walk the campsites.
Visiting other patrols, trading totems, and looking at their gadgets is where most first-timers learn the most.