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= Griswold Scout Reservation =

Griswold Scout Reservation (GSR) is a 3500 acre reservation for Scouting located in Gilmanton Ironworks, New Hampshire and operated by the Daniel Webster Council of the Boy Scouts of America. GSR consists of two camps, Hidden Valley Scout Camp and Camp Bell, which both run an eight-week camping program during the summer where Scouts stay for a week with their units.

Hidden Valley
From 1961 to 1970, Hidden Valley served as a Scouting camp for the Norumbega Council (centered in Waban, Massachusetts, now a part of Knox Trail Council). In the fall of 1970, the camp was sold to the Daniel Webster Council and an additional 1,000 acres were soon purchased and added to the property. The purchase was made possible through the generosity of Earle A. Griswold, one of New Hampshire’s most distinguished citizens and a long time supporter of the Daniel Webster Council. Hidden Valley Scout Camp opened for its first season in 1971 and has been providing quality Scouting for over 40 years.

Camp Bell
In 1925, the Manchester Council, Boy Scouts of America purchased 38 acres on the shores of Guinea Pond and opened Camp Manning, hosting 144 campers its first season. When this council was replaced by Daniel Webster Council in 1929, it was decided to continue to use Camp Manning as the council’s camp.

By the 1932 season, the camp had expanded to 100 acres and 305 campers. Scouting in New Hampshire continued to grow and in 1945 it was decided to expand facilities and programs at Camp Carpenter in Manchester and to sell Camp Manning, which was not readily expandable.

In 1949, the property became Camp Leo, a camp for the YMCA, which flourished in the 1950s and 60s. In 1988, Camp Leo closed. Daniel Webster Council purchased the property again in 1990. Renamed Camp Bell, the property became a part of the Griswold Scout Reservation, adjacent to Hidden Valley Scout Camp. Camp Bell opened for its first season in 2000.