Rancho Alegre

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Rancho Alegre
Rancho Alegre
Location MM 16.3 on SR-154, San Marcos Pass Road.
Website
http://www.lpcbsa.org/camping/rancho-alegre/15557

Rancho Alegre is the primary camping unit for Los Padres Council. It operates 12 months a year providing programs for Scouting, church and non-profit groups, and area schools. More information about or reservations for any of these programs can be made with the Camp's Administrative Assistant at (805) 686-5167, alegre@hughes.net, or at the respective web link given in the descriptive passages below.

Rancho Alegre is temporarily closed because of severe damage from the 2017 Whittier Fire. Camp plans to reopen in later 2019/early 2020.

Overview

Rancho Alegre is located in wooded oak foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountain Range of the Los Padres National Forest, approximately 20 miles north of Santa Barbara and 15 miles south of Solvang. The camp is at 2,000 feet elevation and covers 225 acres with areas having an inspiring view across the valley and Lake Cachuma.

Summer Camping at Rancho Alegre has been a tradition since 1964. There are at least two weeks of Boy Scout Summer Advancement Camp in July and at least one four day session for Cub Scouts. For a photo album of Boy Scout Summer Camp, click here.


Other Programs

Lifeguard Academy

Beginning in June with a one week Lifeguard Academy that trains Scouts and non-Scouters alike (must be at least 15 years old) for duties in lifesaving at a Scout Camp or a local pool.


Outdoor School

The Outdoor School is a popular environmental school year program which offers three and four day sessions for fifth and sixth graders attending with school teachers and companions. Students stay in cabins and learn about botany, geology, astronomy, animals, and Chumash history. They take hikes and learn about nutritious eating. To request a brochure for your school or to find out more, go to the website - [http:www.TheOutdoorSchool.org TheOutdoorSchool.org].

Camp History

2017 Whittier Fire

The Whittier Fire was a wildfire in the Santa Ynez Mountains, south of Lake Cachuma, along Highway 154 in Santa Barbara County, California in the United States. The fire was reported on July 8, 2017, at 1:43 pm.[1] Upon containment on July 28, the fire had burned a total of 18,430 acres (75 km2) and destroyed 16 homes.

In the afternoon on July 9, the fire burned down the Rancho Alegre Outdoor School. 46 of the 50 buildings at the scout camp were destroyed by the fire. [2] The fire remained "completely out of control", and sections of Highway 101 received evacuation warnings.[3] Later that day, it was reported that over 3,600 people had evacuated as a result of the Whittier Fire.[4]

Rebuilding Camp 2018

Nearly a year after the fire, Rancho Alegre is preparing to begin the reconstruction process and is holding a groundbreaking on Saturday to celebrate. Stantec, an environmental science and civil engineering firm with offices in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, has been a part of the recovery process since the beginning.

Officials said insurance would cover some of the costs to rebuild, but another $7 million is needed to complete the rebuild. The project is expected to be completed by October 2019.[5]

LBAC Council

Csp lpc.jpg

Los Padres Council (LPC) (local council #053) of the Boy Scouts of America operates this scouting district. It serves a San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties of Southern California.

See Also

References