Camp Perry
Summer & Winter Camp
Week-long resident camp for Scouts BSA troops, with merit badge sessions, patrol campsites in canvas tents, dining hall meals and evening campfires, plus a Winter Camp session in the cooler months.
1927
Year Camp Perry began
5
South Texas counties served by the council
$6.1M
Adelante Con Camp Perry campaign goal
15,000+
Youth per year envisioned at full build-out
Tap to explore the master plan
A Whole New Experience
Nearly a century of fun and adventure on the Arroyo Colorado
For generations, Camp Charles F. Perry has provided fun and adventure for the youth of the Rio Grande Valley and Scouts from far and wide.
To carry the camp into its next century, the Rio Grande Council launched the “Adelante Con Camp Perry!” major gifts campaign — a $6.1 million plan for new facilities, program areas and endowments that give tomorrow’s youth a whole new camping experience.
- Oldest continuously operating Boy Scout camp in Texas
- Serving Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Willacy & Zapata counties
- Open to Scouts and community youth organizations
Programs & Services
What youth experience at Camp Perry
Six program areas — from week-long summer camp to leadership courses and group retreats. Click any program for schedules, safety standards, what to bring and FAQs.
Cub Scout Adventures
Cub Summer Family Adventure and Cub Adventure Weekends bring Cub Scouts and their families to Camp Perry for age-appropriate archery and BB guns, crafts, nature, STEM and plenty of outdoor play.
Aquatics & Waterfront
The swimming pool, aquatics docks with canoes and kayaks, and a fishing dock on the Arroyo Colorado, run under Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat with swim classification for every participant.
Shooting Sports
Archery, rifle and shotgun ranges run by certified instructors and range safety officers, following Scouting America age rules, plus a BMX bike track available as an adventure add-on.
Leadership Training
Camp Perry hosts leadership programs for youth and adults, including National Youth Leadership Training, Wood Badge, Order of the Arrow events such as the Pow-Wow weekend, and the Council Camporee.
Group Camping & Facilities
Scout units and community groups can use Camp Perry's campsites, pavilions, dining hall, amphitheater, gym and cabins for weekend campouts and retreats, with reservations made through the Rio Grande Council.
9,500 sq ft air-conditioned dining hall
State of the Art Facilities
Interactive camp map
A comfortable place for nutrition and learning
With the help of the community, the campaign set out to provide state-of-the-art facilities where the leaders of tomorrow can learn and grow. Its signature project is a new air-conditioned dining hall with large porches overlooking the Arroyo Colorado — a welcome refuge from South Texas summer heat.
New Dining Hall
Air-conditioned, with porches on the water.
Health & Fitness
6,000 sq ft multipurpose facility.
Major Gifts Campaign Project
Adelante Con Camp Perry!
Below are the first-phase improvements planned to enhance the experience of youth at Camp Perry, as published in the original campaign materials.
- 1$2,000,000New Air-Conditioned Dining Hall
- 2$350,000Waterfront
- 3$600,000Health and Fitness Facility
- 4$450,000Three Shower and Bathroom Facilities
- 5$200,000Staff Cabins (8 cabins)
- 6$300,000New Swimming Pool / Remodel Pool House
- 7$225,000Campsite Pavilions (11 pavilions)
- 8$25,000Handicapped-Accessible Site (1 pavilion)
Campaign total
$6,100,000
Authorized by the council board in September 2016 after a feasibility study. Pre-campaign commitments exceeded expectations, and dining-hall construction broke ground soon after.
- 18 new facilities & 12 pavilions
- 3 refurbished facilities & a new pool
- Maintenance and campership endowments
Here’s to the next 100 years
Countdown to Camp Perry’s centennial year
Camp Perry was acquired in 1927 — just one year after the Rio Grande Council received its charter. The camp’s 100th year arrives in 2027.
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Camp Moments
Life at camp, from sunrise to campfire
Get Involved
Help push Camp Perry forward
Every contribution of time, talent or treasure helps open camp to every eligible young person in the Valley.
From the Blog
Guides for families, leaders & alumni
In-depth articles on camp history, safety, nature and preparing for summer camp in South Texas.
Wildlife of the Arroyo Colorado: Birds, Reptiles and Plants Scouts Can Spot at Camp Perry
Green Jays, Great Kiskadees, kingfishers and protected Texas tortoises share the banks of the Arroyo Colorado with Scouts. Here is how to find them, identify them and stay safe around them.
Heat Safety at Summer Camp: A Rio Grande Valley Guide for Scouts and Leaders
South Texas summers are hot and humid. Learn how the heat index works, how to hydrate and schedule activities, and how to recognize and respond to heat illness at Scout camp.
Camp Perry History: Inside Texas's Oldest Continuously Operating Scout Camp
From a 1927 gift of family land on the Arroyo Colorado to a multimillion-dollar rebuild and an approaching centennial, here is the story of Camp Perry and the Rio Grande Valley Scouts it has served for nearly a hundred years.
FAQ
Common questions
Camp Charles F. Perry is a Scout camp on the banks of the Arroyo Colorado in Rio Hondo, Texas. It has been owned and operated by the Rio Grande Council since 1927 and is known as the oldest continuously operating Boy Scout camp in Texas.
No. Campaign planners expected about one-third of all participants to be outside groups such as Boys & Girls Clubs, church groups, school groups and other nonprofits. Reservations are handled by the Rio Grande Council.
Registration, dates and fees are managed by the Rio Grande Council. Talk to your unit leader first, then use the council’s official Camp Perry page. Our Plan Your Visit guide helps you prepare.
Give through the council’s official donation channels, join the alumni community, volunteer at work weekends, or simply share your Camp Perry memories with us. See Ways to Give.
Have a question about Camp Perry?
Planning a troop visit, researching camp history, or looking for alumni friends? Send us a note and we’ll point you in the right direction.