Camp Noyo
Camp Facebook Page
About the Camp
Camp Noyo is a Redwood Empire Council owned and operated camp located between Fort Bragg and Willits. Its exact location is at mile 16 of the Skunk Train, sandwiched in the Noyo River valley. The clear blue waters and the tall redwood trees make Noyo the picture perfect camping location for any Scout unit. Camp Noyo was first used for Boy Scout Resident Camp from 1933 until 1955. It was then used in the 1970s as an outpost camp, and reopened for Resident Camp again in 2008. The camp has the capacity for 80 campers and 20 staff members, making it a very small camp. Its diminutive size gives campers many opportunities that they would not receive at larger camps. No fighting to get into the merit badges you want! In addition, the staff is able to custom tailor the Camp Noyo experience to fit the needs of each unit in camp. Does your unit need more cooking instruction? We can send staff members to assist in meal preparation. Does your unit need additional camping training? Send them on the overnight hike to learn more advanced camping skills. If your unit’s request is possible to do at camp, we will do our best to fulfill that request.
While Camp Noyo is an extremely remote camp, it does have a modern shower house and toilet facilities (with hot water provided by wood burning boilers), as well as a camp kitchen. The oldest building on camp property is an outhouse left over from when our camp was a logging camp—it is available for use by those rugged individuals who do not wish to enjoy the modern luxury a flush toilet provides. The camp has a superb balance between a rustic back country feel and a comforting front country feel making it perfect for the new and experienced camper alike. 
Program Offerings
Aquatics
Noyo’s Aquatics program offers swimmers the chance to become stronger swimmers and to educate themselves in safe swimming and boating techniques. Snorkeling and Kayaking certification classes are offered in addition to Swimming, Lifesaving, and Canoeing Merit Badges. For adults, the new Paddlecraft Safety and Swimming & Water Rescue Certifications are offered. These classes are new BSA requirements for any unit based water activities. Open boat and open swim is also offered daily while at camp, including Thursday night’s illustrious “No Paddle” Night.
Eagle Claw
Camp Noyo offers an excellent program for first year Scouts. Each morning of camp, Scouts are able to drop in at the Eagle Claw area to complete a wide assortment of Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class requirements ranging from first aid, to knot tying, to the swimming requirements. Eagle Claw is a rewarding program that allows a Scout to complete requirements that are difficult to earn outside of a summer camp environment—all while having fun with other Scouts their own age.
Handicraft
Our Handicraft program offers campers the resources to be able to earn Basketry, Leatherworking, Woodcarving, and even more handicraft related Merit Badges. Campers will also be able to use the skills learned to be able to make ridiculously large neckerchief ties.
Nature
Scouts are able to become one with the outdoors at Camp Noyo. Campers can take a hike down the nature trail during Nature Merit Badge, complete Environmental Science, learn about mammals, insects, and reptiles, the weather, and energy from our comprehensive Nature program.
Scoutcraft
Campers are able to put the “outing” back in “Scouting” with our Scoutcraft program. The Scoutcraft program offers a number of “entry level” and more advanced Merit Badges for Scouts of all ages. The entry level Merit Badges include Camping, Cooking, First Aid, Orienteering. The advanced Merit Badges are Emergency Preparedness, Pioneering, and Wilderness Survival. The Scoutcraft program is designed to prepare Scouts for a wide range of outdoor activities. Adequate preparation is the key to safety in the outdoors; this fact is the reason why Scoutcraft should be a part of every summer camp experience. Our Wilderness Survival class does not focus on surviving comfortable, but instead focuses on the uncomfortable 
aspects so that Scouts will not panic if they are ever put in an actual survival situation. Our Emergency Preparedness class focuses on teaching Scouts how to prevent and prepare for emergency situations because preparation is the key to mitigating the after-effects of an emergency.
Shooting Sports
All three shooting merit badges are offered at Camp Noyo. Scouts are able to shoot pointy sticks using bendy sticks while completing the Archery Merit Badge, practice their marksman skills during the Rifle Merit Badge, or blast clay targets out of the air during Shotgun Merit Badge. Proper safety skills are also emphasized during each of these classes, as well as education on how to properly clean and store the arms. Campers are also given the opportunity during the week to shoot the largest and loudest of all guns in camp—black powder.
Miscellaneous
The following activities are also offered at camp:
- A dutch oven chili cook off where every patrol has the opportunity to compete to make the best chili in camp.
An overnight hike where Scouts will be able to adventure outside of camp and enjoy fellowship around a small campfire and a night out under the stars.
- Friday afternoon, every patrol will compete against each other in a series of camp wide games centered each of the program areas of camp.
- We offer both the Railroading and American Heritage Merit Badges. These are two merit badges that mesh very well with the history of our camp.
- Senior patrol leaders will be given the opportunity to organize a camper led campfire Wednesday night. Staff will provide the campfire fun Sunday and Friday nights, along with ridiculously large fires.
- Campers will have numerous opportunities to challenge the staff to competitive games, such as capture the flag.
Leave No Trace 
Camp Noyo is the ideal place to learn, practice, teach, and reteach Leave No Trace. The Boy Scouts of America incorporated Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics to ensure the continued history of our camps and the entire planet. Scouts and Scouters at Noyo practice a different principle of Leave No Trace’s seven principles each day. Whether new or experienced in conservation, they enrich their understanding and skills through various programs, classes, and activities on the sparkling waters and bright forests of the Noyo River. Practicing good outdoor ethics at Noyo is a real treat; there is no other camp small enough where each Scout can see for himself the impact his decisions make on the natural world. Scouts are challenged to follow each day’s principle of Leave No Trace so they not only become better followers, but better teachers of environmental stewardship for the years to follow.
Food
Each patrol will cook five breakfasts and four dinners. The food and the equipment for each meal will be provided by the camp commissary. Staff will also eat their dinners with the patrols. This method of food preparation allows the campers to strengthen the patrol method and learn to work together as a group and share camp responsibilities. Eating dinner in camp with staff members will also allow campers to bond with, and learn from, our experienced staff outside of the merit badge class environment.
Camp Masonite Navarro Layover
Units attending camp will have the choice of extending their stay in Mendocino County by staying at Camp Masonite Navarro before or after their stay at Camp Noyo. Units will have the opportunity to engage in a number of high adventure activities such as ocean kayaking or deep sea fishing while at Camp Masonite Navarro.
Concluding Words 
We may not be the largest camp by any physical measure, but in terms of experience and knowledge, our staff is monumental. Come enjoy the Noyo River. Come enjoy the shade of a tall redwood tree. Come enjoy our numerous unique program offerings. Come enjoy the friendship and fellowship that comes with a small camp size. You can find a place for you at Camp Noyo whether you love swimming or shooting, basket weaving or lashing.Noyo is a wonderful place, a magical place, and a place filled with a love for all things related to the Scouting experience. The camp experience is a great experience, and Camp Noyo is a great place to enjoy that experience. We strongly encourage every unit to take advantage of our program opportunities and spend a summer with us along the majestic Noyo River at Camp Noyo.
Train departs from Fort Bragg, please visit the Skunk Train website for the current train schedule or call them at (707) 964-6371.
To reserve this camp for your unit’s personal use, please contact us at (707) 546-8137 or email our Council Director of Camping.