Group Camping & Facility Use

Program overview

Weekend campouts and group retreats on the Arroyo Colorado, for Scout units and community groups alike.

Camp Perry is not only for summer camp. Throughout the year, troops, packs and crews come for weekend unit campouts, and the camp's facilities make it a natural fit for other youth-serving and community groups, too. On the banks of the Arroyo Colorado in Rio Hondo, it is one of the most accessible outdoor settings in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

According to the Rio Grande Council's Camp Perry page, facilities include campsites with canvas tents and cots, cabins, an ADA-accessible pavilion and campsites, showers and latrines, a dining hall, an amphitheater, a health and fitness gym, a STEM building, handicraft areas and a gaga ball pit. Groups can also add activities such as canoes, kayaks, shotgun and BMX bikes, listed by the council at $5 per person, with rifle pricing available from the council.

Opening the camp to the wider community was a key part of the ¡Adelante Con Camp Perry! capital campaign. Campaign materials planned 11 campsite pavilions, a handicapped-accessible site pavilion, a 6,000 sq ft health and fitness facility and new shower buildings, and projected that about one-third of users would be outside groups such as Boys & Girls Clubs, church and school groups and other nonprofits. For the latest on what has been built, see Project Updates.

Reservations are made through the council's reservation form, not through this independent website. Availability, fees, insurance and paperwork requirements, and the rules for non-Scout groups are all set by the council, so please confirm details with the Rio Grande Council. For directions and seasonal weather, visit Plan Your Visit.

Highlights

What’s included

Campsites and pavilions

Unit campsites offer room for patrols and families, and the capital campaign planned 11 campsite pavilions to give groups shade and a gathering spot for meals and meetings.

Accessible facilities

The council lists an ADA-accessible pavilion and campsites, helping Scouts, family members and group participants with disabilities take part more fully in camp life.

Dining hall

The camp dining hall can serve as a base for meals and indoor gatherings. Ask the council whether food service or dining hall use is available for your group and dates.

Amphitheater

The amphitheater is the natural home for campfire programs, flag ceremonies, worship services and group presentations, with room for an entire unit or larger gathering.

Health and fitness gym

A health and fitness gym gives groups an indoor option for games and activities, especially useful during the Valley's hottest afternoons or unexpected rain.

Cabins

Cabins offer a roof and walls for groups who prefer not to tent camp, or for leaders and participants who need a more sheltered option. Availability varies by date.

Details

Plan with confidence

A representative sample — actual schedules are published by camp leadership each season.

Fri 6:00 PMArrival, check-in and campsite setup
Fri 8:30 PMGroup meeting and night hike or games
Sat 7:30 AMBreakfast at the campsite pavilion or dining hall
Sat 9:00 AMMorning activity block: canoes, kayaks or range add-ons
Sat 12:00 PMLunch and a shaded rest break
Sat 2:00 PMGym, gaga ball, handicraft or service project
Sat 7:30 PMCampfire program at the amphitheater
Sun 8:00 AMBreakfast, reflection or worship service
Sun 10:30 AMCampsite cleanup, Leave No Trace check and departure

How to take part

Four steps to camp

Talk to your group leaders

Agree on dates, headcount, adult supervision and what you want to do at camp. Scout units should involve their committee; community groups should confirm who will be the lead contact.

Check availability with the council

Review the Rio Grande Council's Camp Perry page and calendar, then submit the council's reservation form. This website does not take reservations or accept payments.

Complete forms and requirements

Gather health forms, permission slips, insurance documentation and any add-on paperwork the council requests, and confirm trained adults for water or range activities.

Prepare and plan the program

Build a simple schedule, plan meals and gear, share directions from our Plan Your Visit page, and brief participants on camp rules and heat safety before departure.

FAQ

Group Camping & Facilities questions

Reservations are handled by the Rio Grande Council through its reservation form, linked from the council's Camp Perry page. Submit your preferred dates, group size and any facilities or activity add-ons you want to use. This independent website cannot take reservations, so all booking questions should go directly to the council.

The ¡Adelante Con Camp Perry! campaign envisioned about one-third of camp users coming from outside groups such as Boys & Girls Clubs, church and school groups and other nonprofits. Eligibility, fees, insurance and supervision requirements for non-Scout groups are set by the council, so contact the Rio Grande Council to discuss your group's plans.

The council's Camp Perry page lists an ADA-accessible pavilion and campsites. Accessibility of other areas and activities can vary, so if someone in your group has specific needs, contact the council in advance to discuss which facilities and programs will work best and whether any accommodations can be arranged.

Many Rio Grande Valley groups prefer the cooler months, roughly October through April, when daytime temperatures are more comfortable. Summer highs often reach the mid-to-upper 90s °F with heat indexes above 100 °F, so summer trips need careful heat planning. Check the council calendar, as summer and winter camp sessions may limit weekend availability.

Many units cook their own meals at the campsite, while dining hall use or food service may be available for some groups and dates. Options and pricing are set by the council, so ask when you submit your reservation. Either way, plan for plenty of drinking water and safe food storage in the Valley's warm weather.

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