Paddle Craft Weekend at Gerber Scout Reservation

Join us for a weekend dedicated to all things Paddle Craft!
The Gerber Scout Reservation staff & volunteers will be offering you a choice of taking a Merit Badge (chose between Kayak MB & Canoeing MB) OR taking the Paddle Craft Safety Training. Here’s how it will work:
Scouts will choose between the Canoeing Merit Badge or Kayaking Merit Badge. Both are great merit badges to increase skill & comfort levels on the Michigan lakes and waterways.
Anyone (adult or scout) can chose to select the Paddle Craft Safety training. The Scouting America Paddle Craft Safety Training builds upon the safety lessons learned in Safety Afloat training to include the skills, as well as the knowledge, needed for a leader to confidently supervise canoeing or kayaking trips on flat and moving water. This training is also required for any adults that would like to run Swim Checks!
Everyone should plan to check in at the Gerber Scout Reservation Trading Post on Friday night. Please be sure to bring your Health Forms to check-in! They will be collected and returned at pick up. All Participants (scouts or adults) must either provide a valid Swim Classification Record with "swimmer" dated after 1/1/26 OR plan to take the swim test on Friday night at 7pm. Individuals that need to take the swim test should plan to arrive at camp no later than 6pm.
Classes will start at 7:30 pm on Friday, so please plan accordingly and let us know if you expect to arrive after 7:30 pm. Everyone should have dinner before you arrive. Cracker Barrel on Friday is the snack provided.
Participants will be released on Sunday after breakfast is finished and the campsite is cleaned. Parents can plan to meet them back at the Trading Post by 9:30am.
We have 3 options for meals & housing. You may select different levels for different people in the same group:
Full Service = Sleep in a cabin, 4 Meals and 2 Cracker Barrels provided by our excellent kitchen staff & training (Merit Badge or Paddle Craft Safety Training)
Classic Package = Bring you tent & join us on the group campsite, 4 Meals and 2 Cracker Barrels provided by our excellent kitchen staff & training (Merit Badge or Paddle Craft Safety Training)
Training Only (Merit Badge or Paddle Craft Safety Training) = Your unit reserves their own accommodation directly through Gerber (both cabins & campsites are currently available) and provides all of their own meals. Participants join the group for instruction on Friday night & Saturday.