"…I should be pleased to have you use my land in Westwood for camping, etc. and to do so with a feeling that it belongs to all. While the land is not very good for farming, it is more nearly wild country than any other place as near Boston with the woods extending unbroken for several miles…"

- Robert Sever Hale, 11 March 1918

While Hale Reservation is not officially a Scout reservation, it shares a common tie with the history of the Boy Scouts of America. The founder of the reservation, Mr. Robert Sever Hale, was also instrumental in starting the American Boy Scout movement in the early decades of this century. Mr. Hale began purchasing various lots in Westwood in 1918, and he immediately made the property available to the Boy Scouts as well as other youth groups. By 1927, Mr. Hale had acquired 59 parcels of land totaling 1,000 acres; the property became known as Scoutland. After Mr. Hale’s death in 1941, the reservation was renamed the Robert Sever Hale Camping Reservation in his honor. Nowadays, Hale Reservation is best known to thousands of young day-campers who attend dozens of summer camp programs held by non-scouting organizations like the YMCA. Nevertheless, Boy Scout troops, like ours, still continue to visit the reservation during the far quieter fall, winter, and spring seasons.

Overall, this weekend should be rather low-key in nature. Generally, the Senior Scouts will organize most activities with approval of the adult leadership. Scouts may choose to work on outdoor advancement requirements, explore the reservation in groups, or participate in other outdoor games or events. All Scouts and leaders will sleep in tents or under the stars (weather permitting) as there is no cabin. Cooking will be by patrol. Camp fires will be built with the permission of the reservation ranger.

All Scouts should arrive at the Cat Rock campsite at 9:00 AM Saturday morning, March 27^th. Transportation to and from the reservation is the parents' responsibility. Parents may utilize self-arranged car pools if they wish. All troop and some patrol gear will be transported to the campsite by the troop. Patrol Leaders will be responsible for transporting food and other patrol gear to the campsite. Directions to the Cat Rock campsite are attached.

All Scouts should arrange to be picked-up at the campsite at 8:30 AM Sunday morning, March 28^th. All Scouts and drivers will then return directly to the Scouthouse to check-in their tents and patrol gear before going home. Each piece of equipment will be inspected, and, if not clean, will be properly cleaned by the patrol members at that time. Tents will be unpacked, inventoried, checked, and, if wet, will be hung to dry in the attic, or, if dry, will be properly re-packed and then stored appropriately. After each patrol’s equipment and tents have been checked-in and approved, the patrol members will be dismissed. Although somewhat dependent on how efficient the check-in process proceeds, we expect to dismiss most Scouts before 10:00 AM.

March is a difficult month to determine what to bring on a camping trip, as weather conditions can vary widely. As a rule, plan on cold weather, especially at night. Bring a T-shirt, though, in case it gets mild. If there is snow on the ground, or if rain or snow is expected, scouts should have appropriate equipment - specifically footwear. Feet will get cold very quickly in the snow with just sneakers. Bring your scout handbook and whatever other tools you will need (compass, jackknife, etc.) if you wish to work on advancement requirements. There is no Trading Post or other place to spend money, so leave this behind. A personal equipment checklist for this trip is as follows:

___ sleeping bag (winter or summer with two (2) blankets)
___ pillow
___ ground cloth or pad
___ canteen or water bottle
___ flashlight with extra batteries
___ duffel bag, day pack, or back pack
___ plastic trash bags
___ hiking boots or equivalent
___ sneakers
___ socks (2 pairs)
___ wool socks (1 pair)
___ long pants (1-2)
___ shorts
___ long sleeve shirt (1-2)
___ T-shirt (1-2)
___ winter jacket
___ sweatshirt or light-weight jacket
___ poncho or light weatherproof jacket
___ hat (winter)
___ gloves/mittens
___ underwear (1 or 2)
___ long underwear
___ pajama or other heavy sleepwear (sweat suit)
___ hand towel
___ brush/comb
___ tooth brush and tooth paste
___ personal basic first aid kit (small)
___ Scout Handbook
___ Troop hat / Norwich hat (optional)
___ compass (optional)
___ jackknife (optional - usage requires Totin' Chip card)

Have fun at Hale Reservation!

FROM MEDFIELD:

1. ROUTE 109 EAST TO HARTFORD STREET ON LEFT (JUST AFTER LOVELL'S FLORIST).
2. HARTFORD STREET INTO DOVER, THEN WESTWOOD TO HIGH ROCK STREET (FUNERAL HOME
       ON FAR RIGHT-HAND CORNER, JUST BEFORE WESTWOOD CENTER).
3. LEFT ONTO HIGH ROCK STREET. FOLLOW TO END OF ROAD.
4. RIGHT ONTO DOVER ROAD AT END OF HIGH ROCK STREET. FOLLOW DOVER ROAD LOOKING
        FOR CARBY STREET ON LEFT ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM HIGH ROCK STREET.
5. LEFT ONTO CARBY STREET. FOLLOW CARBY STREET INTO RESERVATION ENTRANCE, PAST
        HEADQUARTERS BUILDING ON LEFT, AND THROUGH MAIN GATE. USE CAUTION AS THIS
        ROAD IS VERY NARROW.
6. PASS THE LARGE "CAT ROCK" FIELD AND PARKING LOT ON LEFT. THE "CAT ROCK"
        CAMPSITE IS ON THE RIGHT SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET AFTER THE PARKING LOT. USE
        CAUTION IF YOU CHOOSE TO DRIVE OFF THE PAVED ROAD INTO THE CAMP SITE AS CARS
        TEND TO "BOTTOM OUT" WHEN THEY LEAVE THE PAVEMENT.

FROM ROUTE 128/I-95: