Trustworthy and loyal, Scouts always remain true to themselves. No matter where one goes, a Scout is always a Scout.

But never is a Scout more a Scout than when she or he is camping at J. Edward Mack Scout Reservation.

"I'm sure there are some places where kids can make crafts or practice archery," said Matt Klutzaritz, the Scout executive for the Pennsylvania Dutch Council of Scouting America, which oversees the operation of Camp Mack. "But to be able to do it all in one spot is kind of our attraction. Kids earn advancement through progression. One thing we know about kids is that you don't want to rain on their advancements. That keeps them in the program. Their parents see them becoming good people. What we're doing is building the leaders of tomorrow. We're building good people, we're building good parents and we're building good employees."

Located at 2 Scout Lane, Newmanstown, in Elizabeth Township, on the border between Lancaster County and Lebanon County, J. Edward Mack Scout Reservation is 1,100 Furnace Hill acres of trees, wildlife, nature and the great outdoors. The facility includes a lake, a pool, 25 miles of hiking trails, a shooting range, a dining hall, 11 camp sites for tenting under the stars and five cabins.

"The kids love the pool, especially in the middle of the summer," said Klutzaritz. "If you asked five kids what their favorite thing about Camp Mack is, at least three of them are going to give you different answers. In Lancaster County and Lebanon County, we have natural resources. But kids who live in towns and cities don't get a chance to do this stuff; they don't get a chance to be in the woods."

Among the favorite activities at Camp Mack are fishing, boating, swimming, archery, BB-gun shooting, crafts, human foosball, bike riding, pedal cars and campfires. There are no televisions at Camp Mack, and the cell phone reception is spotty at best, but the facility does offer Wi-Fi.

J. Edward Mack is open year-round but mostly visited during the warmer months.

"Throughout the year, things are happening there," said Klutzaritz, a resident of West Hempfield Township. "Primarily, the use of that property is for our Cub Scouts. Some of the Cub Scouts are camping for the first time."

At the height of the summer, as many as 250 Cub Scouts - boys and girls from kindergarten to fifth grade - frequent Camp Mack each week. Overall, thousands of people visit Camp Mack each year, including Boy Scout troops and other groups from all over Lancaster County and Lebanon County and as far away as Harrisburg and Allentown.

The J. Edward Mack Scout Reservation is the only Scouting America camp in Lancaster County and one of only a handful in the central Pennsylvania region.

"These young people are boys and girls," said Klutzaritz. "They're simply youth who have decided Scouting has a program they want to participate in. They're learning some skills they don't even realize they're learning. They're learning through fun activities."

The J. Edward Mack Scout Reservation was established in 1969 through a donation by Lancaster County businessman J. Edward Mack, himself a former Eagle Scout. It has been estimated that Camp Mack has impacted nearly 200,000 young lives in a wholesome manner during its existence.

"I want people to know we're here," said Klutzaritz. "When I talk to people about Scouting, if they know about it, they have a very high opinion of Scouting. But there are a lot of people who can't tell you anything about Scouting."

The Pennsylvania Dutch Council, which is headquartered at 630 Janet Ave., Lancaster, is one of 248 Scouting America councils in the United States. The local chapter serves over 2,000 youths from Lancaster County and Lebanon County.

"Scouting helps young people become productive and valued members of society," said Klutzaritz. "Scouting teaches you how to be a well-rounded person. Scouting teaches you things that schools can't."

For additional information, go to https://padutchbsa.org/camping/mack.