Horse Programs
Saddle Up
Experience the adventure of horsemanship with one of the largest horse herd in Scouting America. Our dedicated Wranglers are ready to guide riders of all ages and abilities, offering year-round programs that foster responsibility, empathy, and confidence. Whether you’re joining us for a weekend ranch ride, a summer camp program, or our unforgettable high adventure Horse Trek, every ride is a chance to build character and bond with these incredible animals. Discover the life-changing benefits of horseback riding—on the trail and beyond.
Meet Daniel Lawson, Our New Head Wrangler
If ya’ll thought cowboys were a thing of the past, think again. Daniel’s the real deal and he’s thrilled to saddle up as our new Head Wrangler. Check out his bio below.
More About Daniel
Born in Temple, Texas, Daniel grew up in a big, lively family with five sisters. When he was five, his family moved to Portland, Oregon, then to Montana for a stretch, before eventually settling back in Portland, where he finished high school. Those early moves felt like adventures, and they taught Daniel to make friends quickly and always look for the good in new places and people—something that’s become a big part of who he is.
Horses and ranch life have always felt like home to Daniel. Since December 2022, he has operated Lawson Ground to Saddle in Philomath, Oregon, where he has taught horsemanship to riders of all levels and trains young horses to be safe, steady, and competitive. From feeding and caring for the herd to helping a rider gain confidence or watching one of his horses shine on the trail—this work keeps him busy and fulfilled.
In summer 2024, he served as Head Wrangler at Butte Creek Scout Ranch, leading trail rides, managing the horsemanship program, and caring for our 70-horse herd. Daniel had a similar role with the Girl Scouts in Philomath in 2022. Along the way, he has also worked on ranches in Oregon, Montana, and Minnesota—real-deal cowboy work like cutting hay, fixing fence, moving cattle, irrigating, and running big equipment. I’ve sorted, tagged, and vaccinated more cattle than he can count.
Daniel graduated from Bend Challenge High School in 2009 and holds certifications in CPR, Equine First Aid, Wildland Firefighting, and Scouting America Youth Protection. He’s also a Certified Horsemanship Association Wrangler. He spent a year working as a behavior specialist at Acadia Montana Child Aid, helping kids with serious challenges—a job that taught him a lot about patience and connection, lessons he carries into every part of his life.
Daniel’s a hardworking guy who loves teaching and tries to keep things positive, friendly, and fun. He says he’s truly honored to serve as Council Head Wrangler and to continue sharing his passion for horses with Scouts, Scouters, and all who come through Butte Creek and Camp Baldwin. Come ride with us—there’s a place in the saddle waiting for you!
Resources
Weekend Rides
Butte Creek Scout Ranch
On most weekends from September through April, horse rides are available for Scouting units and other groups. Rides are in and around the vast, beautiful property of Butte Creek Scout Ranch. For Scouts BSA youth and Webelos/AOL ranks. Webelos must have a 1:1 youth to adult ratio.
There are 3 ride options, a morning half day ride, an afternoon half day ride, and a full day ride. Each ride has a maximum of 30 riders with a minimum of 10 riders needed to run each ride.
weekend ride reservations
Be Prepared! Make sure to dress for the weather and wear sturdy pants and shoes. Lunch is not provided, be sure to bring a day pack with snacks, a water bottle, and a change of clothes if necessary.
lil’ buckaroo
Butte Creek Scout Ranch
A fun introduction to Horsemanship for Cub Scouts!
Give your Cub Scout an unforgettable introduction to horsemanship! Open to Wolfs, Bears, Webelos, and AOL ranks, Little Buckaroos covers the fascinating history of horses, safe handling practices, grooming, horse care, and a wrangler-led basic riding skills course.
Classes are held in a covered riding arena most weekends from September to May. Each two-hour session has morning and afternoon options, with a small group size of 10 Scouts max per class. A minimum of 6 Scouts is needed to run each session, so sign up early and secure your spot!
A Parent/Guardian must accompany each youth.
lil’ Buckaroo Reservations
Be Prepared! Make sure to dress for the weather and wear sturdy pants and shoes. Lunch is not provided, be sure to bring a day pack with snacks, a water bottle, and a change of clothes if necessary.
Horse Trek
Butte Creek Scout Ranch 
Camp Baldwin
Embark on the Horseback Ride of a Lifetime
Saddle up for an unforgettable ten-day journey across 165 miles of breathtaking wilderness! Join fellow Scouts as you ride through the majestic Mt. Hood Wilderness, learning the art of horse-packing, wilderness survival, and soaking in cowboy tales from Head Wrangler and our team of experienced wranglers.
Each day brings new adventures, from trail riding to chuck wagon-style meals, with nights spent under the stars (or your tent) as crickets serenade and bullfrogs croak. Two treks run every summer: Eastbound in June (Butte Creek to Baldwin) and Westbound in August (Baldwin to Butte Creek). This is more than a ride—it’s an epic Scouting adventure!
Horse Trek Upcoming events
Lottery opens Nov 1st & closes Nov 30th.
Click the event title to learn more & enter lottery.
Participants are selected through a lottery system. To be eligible, you must be at least 13 years old and a registered member of Scouting America by June 1st. While prior experience with horses, including the Horsemanship Merit Badge, is recommended, it is not required.
Butte Creek Scout Ranch
Summer Programs
Cub Scouts in 1st to 3rd grade can enjoy an exciting three-day summer camp filled with activities like horseback riding, archery, BB range, and gold panning, all designed for adventure and fun!
Camp Baldwin
Summer Programs
Scouts BSA youth ages 11-17 can experience a thrilling week at Camp Baldwin with real rock climbing, overnight horseback treks, and exhilarating rafting adventures.
Be a Wrangler
Venture Crew 492
Become a part of the Butte Creek Wrangler Association, a Venturing Crew passionate about horsemanship and equine education. Led by our Council Head Wrangler and Cowboy Poet, Daniel Lawson, this crew offers hands-on experience with horse care, trail riding, and the skills of true wranglers. For anyone with a love of horses and the outdoors, Crew 492 is a perfect place to learn, grow, and help out. To join or learn more, contact Daniel Lawson today!
be a supporter
Join us in supporting our herd of 60 horses! Through the horse programs at Butte Creek Scout Ranch and Camp Baldwin, youth gain invaluable life skills, including self-confidence, respect, trust, communication, balance, leadership, and personal growth. To learn more about how you can support and get involved, click below.
Thank you for helping us keep these opportunities alive!
If you want a better horse, you need to become a better you.
Contact
Camping Department
Cascade Pacific Council Office
(503) 225-5701
492.camping@scouting.org
Impact for Generations.
Prepared for Life.
This is more than a motto. It is a manifesto. It is our promise to the community and to every parent and child who Scouts with us. By Scouting in the Cascade Pacific Council (CPC) of Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America), every youth can learn to make an impact on the world around them and be more prepared for career and life.