Goshen Scout Reservation has wilderness, and with that comes wildlife. Both to ensure our safety and minimize our impact on the environment, it is important to understand and respect the wildlife around us.
Bears sightings in camp are rare, but as the Virginia Black Bear population is growing, it is important to be aware of them. Here is some information from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries on Black Bears.
Small Mammals, often reffered to as "mini bears" due of thier similar affinity for human food and smellables, are far more common visitors in camp sites. To protect your site, we strongly reccomend thoroughly cleaning up any food waste and not leaving open containers of food in the patrol site. Also, remember to bring your trash to the dumpster or designated location at each camp each night.
Bees and Wasps
Bees and wasps play an important role in the ecosystem in and around Goshen by pollenating plants. In general, stings can be largely avoided by staying on established trails to avoid inadvertantly stepping on a yellow jacket nets. If you find a bees nest in a hazardous location, please alert the Staff at your camp.
*Any scouts with known bee-sting allergies are advised to discuss with their doctor prior to Camp whether they should carry an epinephrine auto-injector with them.