The Scouters' Winter Campout is a weekend-long camporee for registered adult Scouters. You camp as a patrol, compete in games designed by SWC staff, and go home knowing how to take your own unit camping in the cold — safely, and with a good time had by all.
Registered volunteers, 18 and over. No youth participants.
January 8-10, 2027 (backup dates: Jan 22-24)
North Georgia — campsites assigned in registration order.
Founded by the Silver Comet and Foothills districts of the Atlanta Area Council. Open to Scouters around the world.
SWC exists for one reason: too many units stop camping between November and March because it's “too cold.” SWC proves otherwise.
For a weekend, adult leaders experience the program the way their Scouts do — as a patrol, with a name, a yell, a totem, and a flag. You cook your own meals, set up your own campsite, compete in games, and get judged on all of it. Nothing is a lecture. Everything is done.
Leaders leave with cold-weather skills they can hand straight to their unit: how to sleep warm, how to cook in the cold, how to run a game that teaches something, and how to plan a January campout that Scouts will actually ask to repeat.
A general outline of the weekend. The official schedule for each year is posted in the Participant Packet.
Arrive
3-6 PM
Check In
Patrol leaders collect the patrol packet and turn in rosters and totems.
7 PM
Presentation Boards
Units display what they have been doing, for others to borrow ideas from.
7 - 9 PM
Cracker Barrel
Coffee, snacks, and fellowship.
9:15 PM
Patrol Leaders Meeting
11 PM
Taps
Learn, Play, Serve
8:30 AM
Morning Assembly
Flags, costumes, totems, patrol cheers. Skits encouraged.
9:45 AM
Games
Five new games designed by SWC staff on rotation: Scout skills, problem solving, and teamwork challenges.
2 PM
Good Turn Project
A camp-wide service project for the camp.
6 PM
Campwide Dinner
Patrols decorate a table in the dining hall and bring their meal to dine with the group. Patrols host 2 staff members for dinner.
8 PM
Campfire and Awards
Skits, songs, and the legendary claw ceremony. Game awards announced.
After
Night Hike, Star Study
11 PM
Taps
Closing
8:30 AM
Interfaith service
With a collection for the World Friendship Fund.
9 AM
Closing Assembly
Honor Patrol and Spirit Patrol awards and farewell.
10 AM - Noon
Break Camp
Pack out, check out, and head home by noon.
Everything at SWC happens at the patrol level. Units bring their own patrol or can combine to form one. Leaders without a patrol can find one to join!
6-10 People
That is a patrol. More than ten? You can split into two patrols— you can still camp together and share a table.
Patrol Theme, Totem, Flag, and Cheer
Patrols arrive with all four. Totems are exchanged with game staff and traded with other patrols all weekend. Totems and flags are judged and part of your patrol's overall score.
Patrol Leader Responsibilities
The patrol leader carries the medical forms and insurance copies for every member, plus provides two copies of the patrol roster at check-in.
Your Patrols Cooks and Camps
You plan meals, set up your own site, and bring your dinner to the dining hall Saturday night.