Camp Catherine Hershey, Hershey, PA

For local Pennsylvania residents involved in youth development, scouting, or non-profit organizations, finding an affordable, well-equipped, and conveniently located outdoor facility for meetings, overnights, or events can be a perennial challenge. While the region is well-known for large-scale resorts and public parks, Camp Catherine Hershey, situated right near the heart of Hershey, PA, offers a specialized solution. This facility operates with a singular focus: providing a modern, yet rustic, camping and meeting environment specifically tailored for organized groups.

Camp Catherine Hershey is a unique community asset, run entirely by the volunteer-managed Derry Township Camping Association, Inc. This dedication to volunteerism ensures the camp remains an exceptionally cost-effective resource for the local community, continuing a mission that began decades ago. The camp provides a vital, secluded outdoor space where young people and their adult leaders can engage in activities, leadership training, and outdoor skills development without the high cost or lack of seclusion associated with commercial venues.

Critically, Camp Catherine Hershey is not a conventional public campground for individual families or vacationers. Its operational model is centered around facility rental for organized groups, and it is essential for local users to understand this distinction. This allows the facility to maintain low, reasonable rates and focus its amenities on group-based activities, such as lodge meetings, large tent camping, and specialized outdoor programming like archery training.

Introduction / Overview

Camp Catherine Hershey, often referred to simply as Camp Catherine, is a charming, four-acre, year-round camping and meeting facility nestled just north of the famous attractions in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The camp is not a commercial enterprise but rather a non-profit, shared-use facility managed by the all-volunteer Derry Township Camping Association, Inc. Its core mission is to provide an affordable, safe, and clean environment for organized youth groups, including Scouts BSA, Girl Scouts, school groups, and other non-profit organizations, to conduct both day camps and overnight activities.

The facility successfully blends rustic outdoor experiences—complete with wooded hiking trails and a border along the Swatara Creek—with essential modern amenities, such as an air-conditioned lodge and a fully stocked kitchen. This intentional mix is highly valued by groups who seek an immersive outdoor setting but require comfortable, modern spaces for cooking, meetings, and indoor activities when needed. This volunteer-driven dedication to quality facilities is what makes it a cherished resource for youth organizations across Central Pennsylvania.

Location and Accessibility

The camp boasts an excellent location in Lebanon County, making it easily accessible for groups traveling from Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon, and beyond.

Specific Address: 1275 Swatara Rd, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
Regional Convenience: Despite its secluded, rustic feel, the camp is located just minutes from major highways and the primary attractions of "The Sweetest Place On Earth," including Hersheypark. This proximity is a major benefit for visiting groups who wish to combine their rustic camping experience with local educational or recreational excursions.
Natural Setting: The four-acre site borders the scenic Swatara Creek, offering creek-side trails and opportunities for wildlife viewing, fishing, and watercraft activities, providing a true nature escape far enough away from the bustle of the town center to be quiet and peaceful.
Year-Round Access: The facilities are maintained for year-round use, allowing organizations to schedule winter camping trips, late-fall events, or early-spring meetings, which is a key distinguishing feature from seasonal commercial campgrounds.

Services Offered

Camp Catherine Hershey provides a wide range of facilities that can be rented individually or as a "Whole Camp" package, designed to support the varied needs of organized groups.

Air Conditioned Lodge: A substantial indoor facility that includes a fully stocked kitchen for preparing group meals, and a large dining, meeting, or sleeping area capable of accommodating up to 60 people.
Covered Pavilion: A large outdoor structure perfect for picnics, cookouts, and outdoor meetings, featuring a large dedicated BBQ area for group cooking.
Screened Adirondacks: Two screened-in shelters, each accommodating approximately 10 people, providing a covered, bug-free sleeping or meeting option, with immediate access to fire rings and picnic tables.
Designated Tent Camping Areas: Includes the main open field, which can easily accommodate dozens of tents, and several established Tent Platforms for off-ground camping.
Utilities and Comfort: Access to restroom facilities, a handwashing station, and potable water. Firewood is available on-site for a small fee to facilitate traditional campfires.

Features / Highlights

The unique features of Camp Catherine Hershey are tailored to support an effective and engaging outdoor group program:

Dedicated Program Areas: The camp includes a Game Area, Gaga Pit, Volleyball net, Horseshoe pits, and an open field for various team-building and sports activities.
Archery/BB Gun Range: A controlled environment for organizations to conduct specialized activities like Basic Archery Training, requiring an accredited certified instructor for use and proof of insurance.
Campfire Circles and Mini Amphitheater: Seven individual campfire rings, including a large Campfire Circle with an Activity Platform and a Mini Amphitheater/Chapel, perfect for ceremonies, skits, and large group gatherings.
Advancement Opportunities: The camp environment is ideally suited for organizations like Scouts BSA to work on advancement requirements, offering nature trails for orienteering and observation, and providing ample space for service projects necessary for high ranks like Eagle Scout.
Affordable Group Rental Rates: Due to the volunteer-managed, non-profit operational model, the camp maintains some of the most reasonable rental rates for this type of dedicated youth facility in the Central Pennsylvania region.

Important User Clarifications

Prospective local users should be fully informed about the intended use of this facility:

First and foremost, Camp Catherine Hershey is unequivocally a **tent camping only** facility. Despite any general public listings, the camp explicitly states on its site that it does not offer RV sites, hookups, or facilities for motorized campers. Its rustic nature is part of its appeal and mission. Secondly, the facility is designed for **group reservations only**, catering to the needs of organized youth organizations and non-profits, not individual families seeking a vacation spot. Reservations are required and confirmed by the Derry Township Camping Association, Inc., to ensure the facility meets its core mission. Finally, while the camp provides fundamental comfort amenities, groups planning multi-day stays should note that the facility does not currently have **dedicated shower facilities**, though this is a recognized need the volunteer association is working toward addressing through service projects.

Contact Information

All reservation inquiries and questions about facility rental should be directed to the camp association using the following contact information:

Address: 1275 Swatara Rd, Hershey, PA 17033, USA

Phone: (717) 298-0235 or Mobile: +1 717-298-0235

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

For local Pennsylvania communities, especially those invested in the future of their youth organizations, Camp Catherine Hershey is a profoundly suitable and necessary resource. It provides a unique and valuable combination of a genuinely rustic, secluded outdoor experience and practical, modern infrastructure like an air-conditioned lodge and full kitchen, which are often absent in more "rustic" Scout reservations. Its location, close to the Hershey area's attractions, makes it an ideal central hub for regional events, encampments, and training sessions. Because the camp is managed by a dedicated, local volunteer board, it ensures that the rental fees remain low, providing an accessible outdoor experience to all non-profit youth groups, regardless of their budget. By utilizing Camp Catherine Hershey, Pennsylvania organizations are not just renting a space; they are investing in the continued success of a local mission dedicated to nurturing the next generation of leaders in the great outdoors.