Carruth Scout Preserve

For organizations throughout the Baton Rouge metropolitan area and beyond, finding a dedicated, secure, and well-maintained property for outdoor activities is a crucial element of successful youth programming. Carruth Scout Preserve, a 99-acre property located conveniently in Port Allen, Louisiana, is one of the premier resources serving this need.

Owned and operated by the Istrouma Area Council, this preserve is specifically designed to support the goals of youth organizations, particularly Cub Scout Packs and Scouts BSA Troops. It offers a structured yet natural environment perfect for both day events and overnight tent camping. Unlike public campgrounds that cater to general recreation, Carruth Scout Preserve is an institutional facility focused on leadership development, outdoor skills training, and group cohesion.

The Preserve has seen significant improvements in recent years, ensuring that its facilities are modern, clean, and functional for groups of all sizes. It strikes a desirable balance, being large enough to allow groups to spread out and engage in authentic outdoor adventures, but small enough to remain easily navigable and manageable for adult leadership. For those in West Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes, Carruth offers a reliable, purpose-built location to take their units into the Louisiana woods.

Carruth Scout Preserve is located in West Baton Rouge Parish, off Rosedale Road, near the community of Port Allen, LA 70767. This specific geographical positioning is one of the Preserve’s strongest advantages for local users.

The camp is highly accessible for the vast majority of the Istrouma Area Council’s members, being situated approximately 20 minutes from the heart of Baton Rouge. This short commute is essential for weekend campouts, training sessions, and day-long activities, minimizing travel time and maximizing program time. The location offers a necessary retreat into nature without requiring hours of driving.

General Location Information:
The property is located off Rosedale Road in Port Allen, LA. While specific unit directions will be provided upon reservation, the proximity to major roads leading out of Baton Rouge makes it simple to access. The 99-acre size provides ample buffer from the surrounding residential and commercial areas, ensuring a true woods experience while maintaining convenient access to emergency services if needed. The site's convenience makes it a true local treasure for outdoor group programming.

Carruth Scout Preserve is equipped with essential facilities to ensure a comfortable, hygienic, and productive experience for camping groups, specifically designed to meet the needs of youth organizations.

• Reservation System: Campsite and facility reservations are managed centrally through the Istrouma Area Council, ensuring groups have dedicated, scheduled access to their reserved areas.
• Large, Covered Pavilion: The Preserve features a substantial covered and lighted pavilion. This is a highly valuable resource for groups, serving as an ideal space for large assemblies, training sessions, rainy-day activities, or community mealtimes.
• Modern Restroom Facilities: The camp provides separate, updated restrooms for boys and girls. The cleanliness and functional state of the sanitary facilities have been a recent focus of improvement.
• Private Shower Facilities: Each of the separate restrooms is equipped with a large private shower, a key convenience factor for groups staying overnight or participating in strenuous, dirty activities.
• Ample Campsite Availability: The Preserve offers a combination of large, clean campsites for easy set-up, as well as several more wooded sites for groups desiring a more rustic or challenging tent camping experience. It can accommodate any size pack or troop campout.
• Hiking Trails: The property maintains plenty of woods and hiking trails specifically for outings, ensuring that the primary outdoor programming—like orienteering or nature study—is fully supported.

The key features of Carruth Scout Preserve center around its successful delivery of core outdoor skills and group programming in a controlled environment:

• Prime Baton Rouge Proximity: At only 20 minutes from the city, the Preserve minimizes logistical hurdles, making it a viable option for even single-night campouts or short after-school programs.
• Purpose-Built for Youth Groups: The entire 99-acre layout, from the camp road structure to the pavilion placement, is designed for safe and efficient management of youth groups, allowing adult leaders to focus on instruction rather than property navigation.
• Enhanced Infrastructure: Recent improvements, including updated plumbing, renovated buildings, and improved electrical access (likely in common areas), ensure a modern standard of safety and comfort for all users.
• Versatility in Camping: The availability of both open, large campsites and more challenging, wooded sites allows leaders to select the ideal environment based on the age and skill level of their group, supporting progressive skill development.
• Ready for Training and Day Events: The large, lighted pavilion is a major asset, providing a dedicated, usable space that can be reserved for training events, leader orientations, or larger district-level activities, rain or shine.
• Focus on Traditional Scouting: The extensive wooded areas and maintained trails provide the necessary backdrop for classic scouting activities, including fire-building, shelter construction, knot tying, and nature-related merit badge work.

As a facility operated by the Istrouma Area Council, all reservations, inquiries, and contact for Carruth Scout Preserve are handled through the Council’s central office.

Camp Address (General Location):
Rosedale Road, Port Allen, LA 70767, USA

Istrouma Area Council Office Address (Primary Contact Location):
4307 Bluebonnet Blvd Suite # B
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809

Main Contact Phone (Reservations & General Inquiries):
(225) 926-2697

Groups interested in reserving a campsite or the pavilion at Carruth Scout Preserve should contact the Istrouma Area Council office via phone for the most up-to-date availability and reservation fee schedule.

For Louisiana groups, especially those in the Baton Rouge region, Carruth Scout Preserve is the definitive choice for structured, safe, and skill-focused outdoor education.

Carruth Scout Preserve is worth choosing because:

• Unbeatable Local Convenience: Being only 20 minutes from Baton Rouge dramatically reduces the barrier to entry for frequent camping and outdoor practice, making it easier to manage logistics and increase attendance.
• Institutional Security and Safety: The property is managed by a dedicated youth organization, ensuring adherence to high standards of safety protocols, leadership requirements, and site maintenance—a significant advantage over many public-access parks.
• Optimized for Group Programming: The facilities, particularly the large, covered pavilion and the dual-style campsites, are directly suited to group training, dining, and activity implementation, allowing your leaders to be more effective.
• A Focus on the Outdoors, Without Sacrificing Comfort: Recent upgrades to the restrooms and the addition of private showers mean that groups can enjoy an authentic, primitive camping experience while still having access to clean, modern sanitary facilities.