About

Welcome to Nobscot Scout Reservation

History

This website is provided by the volunteers of the Nobscot Alumni Association and the Nobscot Hammer Crew to assist Scout Troops and Cub Packs get the most out of their visit to Nobscot Scout Reservation.

It is designed to help you match your group’s size, interests and experience levels with the available facilities at Nobscot. Detailed information and photos are provided for each Tentsite, Adirondack/Lean-to site, Cabin, Pavilion or Lodge.

Many of the members of the Nobscot Alumni Association have been coming to Nobscot for eons – some over 50 years! We’ve hiked every trail; used every pump and latrine; helped repair every cabin, adirondack and tent site. We’ve even measured distances to every cabin from the parking lot and captured GPS coordinates. It’s all here on this website.

Our mission is to help ensure that future Scouts gain the same outdoor educational experience that we and thousands of others have enjoyed at Nobscot since 1928. Enjoy!

About Nobscot

Since 1928, thousands of Scouts and visitors have enjoyed Nobscot Scout Reservation’s forested, environmental uniqueness year-round. To this day, Nobscot continues to provide Scouts with the best hiking trails and wilderness camping experiences available in eastern Massachusetts. Whether you are hiking, tenting, enjoying a lean-to or cabin, Nobscot provides Scout units with an outdoor experience that’s hard to find anywhere else.

Located in Sudbury/Framingham, MA, the Reservation is comprised of over 450 acres and owned by Mayflower Council, Scouting America. A dramatic woodland and open space, Nobscot is a true, urban oasis and is one of the largest tracts of privately owned, undeveloped land within 20 miles of Boston. Our Council enjoys a unique partnership with Sudbury Valley Trustees who invested in a stewardship program in 2008 to permanently protect 303 acres of Nobscot.

The Nobscot Experience

From the top of Nobscot Mountain (el 602’) to the lowlands, the terrain is varied and includes large fields, flat wooded campsites, heavily forested rolling hills, streams, ponds, rugged slopes and superb observation vistas including Tippling Rock (el 426’) where you’ll find outstanding views of Boston on a clear day. Animals abound – from countless birds, racoons, deer, fisher cats and flying squirrels. On rare occasions, you may even hear of the occasional bear lumbering through in its quest for blueberries.

And for sure, Nobscot has played a prominent role in history from the days when Native Americans lived and roamed in the area to the Revolutionary period when well-known figures lived on the property. Indeed, our own Order of the Arrow Tantamous Lodge was named after Tantamous or ‘Jethro’, a prominent Native American spiritual healer who lived at Nobscot with his family in the mid 1600’s.

Nobscot is a ‘short-term’ camp vs. a fully staffed summer camp. Cabins, lean-to shelters, and tentsites dot the landscape and acres upon acres of forested land. Indeed, our Northwest Territory provides a unique backpacking and hiking experience for a true Leave No Trace camping experience.

Nobscot is a wilderness camp, which means that you backpack your gear in. No private vehicles are allowed beyond the parking lots. The entire Reservation is supported by regularly-tested water wells and several latrines. Key structures can also be rented to provide electricity, running water, toilets and showers when needed. Nobscot facilities may be available for rent by your insured organization.

When combined with our other Council camps, Nobscot provides a Scouting experience that truly rounds out a Scout. Boys and girls are encouraged to join any of the Scouting America programs, including Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA in order to take advantage of Nobscot Scout Reservation.

Whether you enjoy the quiet stillness of a snow-covered landscape, the magnificent colors of a crisp New England fall day, the symphony of spring peepers or a night studded with summer’s fire flies, it’s hard to beat the Nobscot Scout Reservation Experience!

About This Website

This website was developed by volunteers of the Nobscot Alumni Association.

For Hikers & Day Visitors – Check out Plan Your Visit for helpful tips.
For Scouts & Scouters – We’ve included a host of information that should answer most of your questions about your Nobscot overnights.
Your Nobscot adventure starts Here!

Please use the Feedback links at the bottom of each web page to forward suggestions and corrections to the Nobscot Alumni Association.

About the Nobscot Alumni Association

The Nobscot Alumni Association (NAA) volunteers are committed to preserving Nobscot’s forested, environmental uniqueness to ensure that future Scouts will have the same outdoor educational experience enjoyed by thousands. We recognize that we are accountable for the stewardship of one of the largest, privately-owned, undeveloped properties within the Greater Boston area. We acknowledge that our stewardship should include passive and programmatic community outreach and safety for all. As stewards of Nobscot, the NAA endeavors to assist with the maintenance, capital needs and promotion of the Reservation with positive values and ethics. Above all, we will strive to maintain the unique character of Nobscot Scout Reservation
The Nobscot Alumni Association was established for current and former Scouts, Explorers and Scouters who have a passion for Nobscot Scout Reservation. If you have a history with Nobscot and were positively impacted by your experiences or if you were recently introduced to our unique property – then the NAA is for you so simply email join@nobscot-reservation.org.

What does the NAA do?

Developed a first-ever Nobscot Long-Range Plan
Conducted a comprehensive Facilities Audit
Expanded the Nobscot Hammer Crew of weekly volunteers
Established the Nobscot Trail Crew for older Scouts
Hosts spring and fall workdays
Developed a Facilities and Camp Usage Report
Provides ongoing Marketing for Nobscot
Created this Guide to Nobscot website
Established Friends of Nobscot for the general public

Volunteer Effort

While Tuesdays are our scheduled work days, on any other given day, you will find 3-4 crew putting in volunteer overtime. The Hammer Crew completed a complex roof on Haynes Lodge in the fall of 2025 and we estimated that project along utilized 500-600 hours. We don't track specific hours worked, but with the average Tuesday crew size at the start of 2026, we estimate that we are contributing 8,000-10,000 hours per year or 4-5 full time equivalents - all focused on making Nobscot better.

Our Current Crews

Within the Nobscot Alumni Association are several “crews” of volunteers, working on specific areas:

Hammer Crew - Open to adult outdoor enthusiasts and former Scouts who show their passion for Nobscot by working regularly as volunteers on building maintenance/repair/improvement projects and on forest management activities and in addition to the main crew also support the following Crews.
1. Trail Crew - Open to older Scouts, Venturers and Order of the Arrow (OA) Members and adults who learn and donate trail building and trail maintenance skills from experienced outdoorsmen.
2. Woodchucks - Open to those with an interest in removing hazardous trees from around buildings and trails that may create a danger for those enjoying the Reservation. Must be certified by taking and maintaining the Scouting America Chainsaw certification.
Program Crew - Open to adult Scouters who provide ongoing program for Cubs, Scouts and members of the public.
Campmaster Corps - Open to Adult Scouters who provide camp oversight – typically on weekends when there are Scouts in camp. They act as hosts at the Welcome Center in the Campmaster Headquarters in Base Camp and provide check-in, guidance and information contact.

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