Niagara Falls is more than just the impressive Horseshoe and American Falls. Cave of the Wind, a scenic trolley, Maid of the Mist and a nightly light show add to the experience. Four Mile Creek State Park, situated on shores of Lake Ontario, has 275 campsites, including group sites. The state park is a 15-minute drive from Niagara Falls providing scouts with a convenient yet serene camping option for visiting the falls.
For a weekend of water activities not many places in upstate New York compare to Wellesley Island State Park, located in the Thousand Islands area. The Minna Anthony Common Nature Center has a museum, miles of hiking trails, three miles of shoreline, a 36-foot canoe and environmental programs for students and scouts. The state park has the largest campground in the area, including designated group sites for scouts. The watery world offers a marina, boat rental, swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking.
Looking for a scout weekend getaway in the winter. Then The Wild Center is your destination. Situated in the heart of the Adirondacks, The Wild Center has exhibits, nature trails, live animals and information about the surrounding wilderness. Everyone gets free snowshoes and a free guided tour of the complex with paid admission -- $15 for adults and $9 for children, as of March 2011. Special rates are available for groups. The Wild Center is only 30 minutes from Lake Placid where scouts have an opportunity for snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing and learning about the outdoors in winter; and hiking, swimming, caneoing and kayaking in the summer. The area around Lake Placid has plenty of campgrounds like the Lake Placid-Whiteface KOA and Yogi Bear Jellystone Park. The Wild Center is open year round.
Scouts have been descending 156 feet into the earth at Howe Caverns since 1929. Howe Caverns has become a favorite upstate New York attraction. Three tours -- Traditional, Lantern and Adventure -- take visitors into the depths of the cave to witness shimmering limestone walls, enormous cavern chambers and an underground river. Above ground is a museum, biking and hiking trails, gemstone mining for visitors and dining options. Reservations are required for scout groups. Howe Caverns is open year-round.
