Who are we?
The heat of a campfire at night, the THWONK! of an arrow hitting its target, the smell of bacon being grilled over a fire in the morning…
These are just some of the experiences you can have while enjoying the outdoors with your family at Gamehaven Scout Camp! Our camp staff has worked hard to make Gamehaven a place where everyone can come and enjoy being together in the outdoors, with none of the stress and hassle of a “high-adventure” experience.
Gamehaven Scout Camp has indoor toilets, showers, and handwashing (only during the warm season), electricity, cell service, and is less than a five-minute drive from any major convenience needed. You can take half an hour to run to Caribou in the morning, or to go to the Target down the road if you forget something. Order through certain delivery services and you can even get items delivered right to the camp parking lot!
Whether it’s your first time camping outside, or your one-hundredth, we want to make this a great experience for you; because our mission is to
Bring Outdoor Adventure to Everyone!
Camp Director - Brady Geary
Brady Geary (they/he) is the director of Gamehaven Scout Camp and works full-time for the Gamehaven Council as the Council Program Director. Brady’s first role on camp staff was as a Counselor-In-Training at Fred C. Anderson Scout Camp in Sommerset, Wisconsin. Since that point, they have served as a leadership trainer, kitchen manager, climbing director, and camp program director at various camps in the midwest. This is their fourth year as the Gamehaven Scout Camp Director.
Camp Caretaker - John DeStazio
John DeStazio (he/him) is the live-in caretaker at Gamehaven Scout Camp, responsible for facilitating check-in and check-out at camp, in addition to assisting with some maintenance and grounds work at camp. John is a veteran of Scouting with many jamborees, campouts, and memories from the United States and beyond.
Programs for Grades K-5
Polar Cub Adventures
Polar Cub Adventures (“Polar Cubs”) is a day-long outdoor adventure for families with youth in grades K-5.
There’s no better time to escape the indoors than during the winter! Your family can come enjoy a day of fun winter activities at Gamehaven Scout Camp. Activities are designed for young children, and involve plenty of indoor and outdoor stations, so you’ll stay warm and dry. Come for the hot chocolate, and stay for the sledding, snow forts, games, activities, and a hot lunch!
Plus attendance is FREE for all member youth!
Operation Icicle (Cub Weekend)
Operation Icicle is a weekend resident camp for youth in grades K-5 and their parents/guardians.
Operation Icicle Cubs is the best way to experience a weekend of intense winter camping, epic adventure, and crazy adventure this winter! You and your family will sleep in one of the heated Gamehaven Scout Camp lodges both nights, and participate in the Operation Icicle challenges over the day on Saturday and Sunday morning. Adventures change every year, but in the past have included camp-wide scavenger hunts, themed meals, dance parties, laser sledding, and so much more. This is an action-packed weekend, and it’s specifically designed for our Cub Scout members to enjoy.
Spring Family Adventure Day
Spring Family Adventure is a day-long outdoor adventure for families with youth in grades K-5.
Shake off that cabin fever, and meet us at Gamehaven Scout Camp for a day of fun and games outside. Cub Scouts can also participate in activities to earn camp-exclusive Range and Target Activities adventures before moving to the next grade level in June. The Spring Family Adventure day is led by our Emerging Camp Leaders committee, a group of young camp staff guided by experienced camp mentors.
Fall Family Adventure
Fall Family Adventure is a day-long activity program for families with youth in grades K-5. An optional overnight is also available.
Whether this is your first year as a Cub or your fifth, there’s something for you to do at Fall Family Adventure in Rochester, MN. Come for a day of fun games, activities, and more as we celebrate being Cubs together at camp. All of your favorite stations are here – range activities, pumpkin bowling, crafts, yard games, and more. And it’s FREE for all member youth in grades K-5 to come and attend!
Interested in a bigger adventure? Stay for the night and participate in evening games, supper, a campfire, and more. We’ll help you pitch your tent and enjoy everything camping has to offer. You’ll camp near our indoor showers and toilets, so you can be assured to have the comforts of home while out in your tent.
Programs for Grades 6-12
Operation Icicle
Operation Icicle (Scout Weekend) is a weekend-long camp for youth in grades 6-12.
What is Operation Icicle? It is the greatest, most challenging, and fun weekend of winter Scouting that you will ever have! The weekend is an opportunity for Scouts BSA to develop leadership, communication, teamwork, advancement, and other skills – plus to have a lot of fun! The program is limited to a small number of Scouts, to ensure that the groups get ample learning opportunities. Scouts can also choose to work on one of a number of merit badges. For more, see attached flier.
SOME MERIT BADGES MAY NOT BE COMPLETED AT CAMP – some have prerequisites or additional work needed.
All registrations include a commemorative patch and other take-homes, food, and indoor housing. Optional sweatshirts may be purchased during registration.
National Youth Leadership Training
NYLT is an intensive leadership skills development course for First-Class Scouts and above.
NYLT is an intensive course where youth teach youth leadership lessons and skills of leadership covering 14 core modules.
It is a training course that models the ideal unit where each day is a week in the life of a unit. Youth see youth modeling the leadership tools they are teaching, and the participants get to practice and hone the skills they are learning.
Operation Iron Scout
Operation Iron Scout is a brand-new weekend camping experience for youth in grades 6-12
Our pilot year of Operation Iron Scout is 2026! Come out to Gamehaven Scout Camp for an intense weekend of Scouting skills, team building, leadership development, and more. Scouts attending will work in teams to practice outdoorsmanship skills like during the days of the pioneers.
Camp Rentals
Gamehaven Scout Camp is located in Olmsted County, 5 miles southeast of Rochester, MN at 5015 Simpson Rd. SE, Rochester MN 55904. It consists of over 200 acres of land that ranges from a well-developed adventure area for day-long events and activities, to a rustic camp area for camping groups.
We offer facilities for day activities, group meetings, or overnight camping both indoors and under the stars. Whether you are looking for a corporate retreat or a cozy lodge, we have what you are looking for!
You can learn more about our facilities by visiting our booking site:
Full-Camp Rentals
Full camp or subcamp rentals must be booked through the Gamehaven Scout Camp Director, Brady.
Forms For Camp
Volunteer
It takes a village to run a successful Scout Camp! In addition to our professional staff, we are supported by many volunteer committees and work crews, who contribute time, talent, and money to make camp a success. Whether you can attend regular meetings, monthly maintenance days, or just help with projects here and there, we’re happy to have you at Gamehaven.
Volunteer Committees
GSC Steering Commission | A group of community leaders, scouters, and parents who provide guidance to Gamehaven Scout Camp committees and professionals. Application by invitation only.
GSC Relationship Council | A broad collection of engaged alumni, parents, scouters, and friends of the camp. Apply with Brady Geary.
GSC Properties Committee | The Camp Properties Committee is responsible for the safe, clean, and equitable upkeep of daily camp operations and activities. Apply with committee chair Brent Ferguson.
GSC Health, Safety, and Logistics Committee | The Health, Safety, and Logistics committee is responsibile for the upkeep of ‘program areas’ at camp and for the emergency and safety standards at camp. Apply with committee chair Rob Wilkinson.
Council Outdoor Programs and Camping Committee | The Outdoor Programs and Camping Committee (Colloquially the “Program Committee”) is responsbile for the facilitation of outdoor programming for member groups both at camp and outside locations. Apply with committee chair Johann Medcraft.
Work Groups
Grounds and Maintenance | Thursday AM | A group of volunteer retirees who perform essential grounds maintenance on Thursday mornings.
Project Spruce | First Saturdays | Dedicated to “sprucing” up the camp property, these alumni and community members perform needed upgrades to camp.
Work Weekends | Spring and Fall | Work weekends are large-scale weekends of service to the camp to prepare it for the summer and winter camping seasons.
Material Donations
Gamehaven Scout Camp welcomes donations of planned items and materials. Our camp annually spends over $50,000 on program materials, maintenance supplies, tools, equipment, and more to keep the property in shape and the programs fun. Thank you for considering helping us support providing high-quality outdoor experiences to the youth of our area through making a donation of items to our camp.
We are also support by the annual Gamehaven Council fundraising opportunities. Please consider making a donation to these today.
Emerging Camp Leaders
Explore Outdoor Recreation and Education Careers
Gamehaven Scout Camp is piloting a new older youth leadership program, the “Emerging Leaders Program”. This is an opportunity for youth and young adults ages 14-20 to participate in leadership growth and career development through the lens of outdoor education and recreation management careers. The program (which is similar to an extended C.I.T. program at summer camp) is open to all to participate in; with a capstone project and plenty of hands-on activities. If you have a young person interested in participating, fill out the form below. Due October 9th, 2025.