Camp John H. Ware, 3rd located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, was first opened in the 1950s.
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Scouting Camp - part of the Horseshoe Scout Reservation - owned and operated by the Chester County Council, BSA
This camp offers excellent facilities for year-round camping and Cub Scout overnight summer programs. Camp Ware offers summer camp opportunities for all levels of Scouting including a week of traditional Boy Scout camp, Boy Scout Science and Radio camp, Webelos overnight-resident advancement camp, Cub Scout overnight-resident camp as well as year-round weekend camping.
03/11/2026
Hello Camp Ware friends! Nate and I are at the Tristate camp conference learning many new things about how to make your summer better! Can you help us out and talk to anyone you know ages 14+ and have them apply to be camp staff for the summer?
Camp Ware is in urgent need of staff for this summer! No staff now means no fun later!!!! Talk to anyone you know that’s old enough! And psssst if you know of anyone that will be 14 before June 30 of next year let me know. I’m looking to surprise them with an invitation this summer to come work with us next year!!!!
Please join Camp Ware in welcoming back as Commissioner Will Warram. This year marks his 30th year on camp staff, that's three decades of campfires, songs, skits, and Jubilee.
Will is the cat who just keeps coming back! When you see him around camp this summer, be sure to say hello as nothing makes him happier than catching up with old friends and making a new ones along the way. Let's have a great summer 2026 on our Island adventure
02/24/2026
We’re excited to welcome back our Program Director, Joe Bertz, for his 6th summer at Camp Ware. Get ready for a summer packed with island adventures, sun-soaked fun, and tropical vibes. Summer 2026 can’t come soon enough!
01/26/2026
Camp John H. Ware 3rd would also like to welcome Paul to our side of the Horseshoe Scout Reservation!
We currently have openings for key roles including BB range director, Handicraft Director, and Health and Fitness Director. Additionally, Scouts BSA aged youth are encouraged to apply as instructors in all departments at https://cccscouting.org/camping/summer-camp-staff/.
Secure your opportunity for a Cast-a-Ware island adventure this summer.
01/05/2026
It's that time of year again to reserve your spot at Camp John H. Ware 3rd!
If you are 15+ (14 for CIT) you can go here to apply as staff: https://cccscouting.org/camping/summer-camp-staff/
Working at summer camp is the best job on the planet! You'll have fun, make friends, and get a tremendous amount of Vitamin D!
This year's theme Cast-a-Ware :-) Think tropical islands! All the water you can drink!
12/01/2025
Camp Ware is excited to announce that Kerri Lea McFadden will be serving as Camp Director this upcoming summer! Please join us in congratulating and welcoming her to the role.
Kerri Lea is an experienced youth program leader with over 20 years of experience working with young people and more than a decade directing Cub Scout Day Camp. She specializes in creating safe, engaging, and memorable camp experiences.
She has planned and led large-scale youth events—including the Cub Scout Spookoree—managing themes, activities, volunteers, logistics, and safety. These events strengthened her skills in creative programming, crowd management, and designing activities that appeal to a wide range of ages.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Maryland, which supports her strengths in safety planning, crisis response, and youth behavior. Her background also includes teaching science to homeschool students for 8 years and working in Cecil County Public Schools for 4 years, providing a strong foundation in child development and hands-on learning.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, journaling in her planner, and spending time with her pets —who won’t miss her this summer because they’ll have her husband and adult (or nearly adult) children wrapped around their paws.
08/20/2025
Cub Spookoree is at Horseshoe this October!
Weekend 2 is sold out, but more spots remain for weekend 1! We are also looking for staff! Join the Spooky Fun!
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Camp John H. Ware, 3rd located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, was first opened in the 1950s. Camp Ware offers summer camp opportunities for all levels of Scouting Webelos overnight-resident advancement camp, Cub Scout overnight-resident camp as well as year-round weekend camping.
The Horseshoe Scout Reservation opened for the first camp season in 1927. Chester County Council purchased the Camp Horseshoe property from the Reynolds Family, who occupied the land since the late 1700's. At the time the property was a haven for moonshiners operating illegal stills. When officials from the Council first visited, it is said that the moonshiners fled the camp having mistaken their uniforms and campaign hats for those worn by Pennsylvania State Troopers.
In 1932, Council purchased the Lewis Family property. Originally a buffer for Camp Horseshoe, the Lewis Property became an Explorer Base for the growing number of scouts in 1957. By 1958, a new headquarters building, Lawrence Lodge, was constructed and dedicated to E. Hibberd Lawrence, who had been a farmer in Avondale. Two permanent campsites were added to this developing Explorer Base. They were named Lewis and Clark, and Frontier (now Jubilee, and Hawkeye). One was an Adirondack site, and the other a tent site. A large cook shelter in each site provided meeting and eating space.
The Jubilee Year of Scouting, in 1961, prompted the renaming of the Base to Camp Jubilee. Scouts could attend Camp Jubilee for a six-day camping experience for $16 per day! Pool construction was completed in 1965, and all were able to swim.
The 75th anniversary year of Scouting, 1985. Jubilee was renamed Camp John H. Ware, 3rd, in honor of Senator Ware, of Oxford. He served as Council President from 1957 - 1961.
Since 1985, Camp Ware has hosted exciting programs, including the Handicapped Camporee (now the Camporee for Scouts with Special Needs), the International Jamboree of Polish Scouts in Exile (with 1200 Boy and Girl Scouts from around the world), and has hosted Scouts from Ireland (in 2000 and 2015).
We are happy to host you as you become part of Camp John H. Ware 3rd’s and the Horseshoe Scout Reservation’s history.
