Upcoming Events at the Ranch
D-A 75th Anniversary Camporee
September 26-28, 2025
[FLYER]
Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts + AOL visiting
D-Bar-A Ranch | Metamora, MI
Since 1950, D-Bar-A-Scout Ranch has been providing quality scouting experiences for Scouts, Schools, and Churches from Southeast Michigan and around the Midwest. D-Bar-A is located about an hour north of Detroit, MI or 50 minutes west of the bridge that connects Sarnia, ON and Port Huron, MI. The ranch consists of just under 1,800 acres of breathtaking wilderness, 3 spring fed lakes, a herd of horses, longhorn cattle, and other livestock, 28 heated cabins with kitchens, a large central kitchen and 3 dining pavilions, and 11 tent sites. Program facilities include a 32 foot climbing tower, Bouldering Wall, two shooting sports areas to accommodate BB Guns, Archery, Sling Shots, Rifles, Shot Guns, Pistols, and Muzzleloaders, 2 firebowls, Fishing, an observatory, several Nature Centers, and 11 miles of the Pedro hiking trail system. Equestrian camps and ride opportunities exist throughout the year for a unique camp experience.
D-bar-A Scout Ranch
880 E. Sutton Road | Metamora, MI 48455
Phone: (313) 723-1694
Ranch Foreman: Joe Smith
Camp Director: Marie Becvar
Head Ranger – Steve Bailey
Ranger – Stephen McGinty
Camp Chair: Tom Griffin
Properties Chair: Don Balmes
Program Chair: Jasmine Crampton
WEEKEND PROGRAM
The D-Bar-A Scout Ranch Weekend Programs consist of a variety of horseback riding, shooting sports (archery, BB guns, slingshots, rifle, shotgun, and muzzle loaders), swimming, boating, climbing, astronomy and more! We are your premier equestrian camp and more!
We try our best to have as many programs available as possible each weekend, but unfortunately cannot always guarantee all of them at this point. So, please call or email the Camp Director.
We will open the gate and the main office at 6pm on Fridays to begin checking in units. Please arrive no later than 9pm. If you foresee a late arrival, or need to make other arrangements, please let us know in advance by calling our Ranch Manager at (517) 940-4699 One Unit Leader must check-in at the Martin Building (the first building with the red roof) upon arrival to camp.
At the time of check in, you will review the camp policies and make any final arrangements for program activities. You will also select a check out time so the Ranger or Campmaster can review the facility prior to your departure on Sunday.
*A minimum number of 8 participants must be signed up for the weekend for a program to run due to costs
Our current group rate pricing for all of our amazing programs can be viewed or downloaded below.
See more details on our horse programs below the price guide.
D-Bar-A Group Rate Pricing
Expand the areas below to explore our options.
WEEKEND HORSE PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES
D-Bar-A Scout Ranch staff is uniquely qualified to present several programs for our youth to learn more about horses and about life on a working ranch. From the introductory Horsemanship Merit Badge to the fully immersive Ranch Hand Experience, your scouts will have an unforgettable experience.
Note: The Horsemanship Merit Badge must be scheduled at least 90 days prior to the desired weekend.
Corral Rides – $15 per Scout/per hour ($25 standard rate per person)
For riders of all ages, we offer this great introduction to Horseback Riding. Up to 20 participants can take advantage of this opportunity in a 1-hour time-slot. Held at our Corral near the barns, participants ride horses while an adult leads the horse around the Corral.
Trail Rides – $35 per person/per 1.5-2 hour block ($45 standard rate price per person)
Participants will get to view the Ranch from Horseback. Each ride, with instruction times, lasts for 1.5-2 hours.
Hay Rides – $5 per person/per 1 hour block ($7 standard rate per person)
Participants will get to view the Ranch on a traditional hay ride. Each ride lasts for 1 hour.
PHILMONT TRAINING PROGRAMS
TRAINING TRAILS TO PHILMONT
Being PREPARED for a Philmont Expedition is IMPORTANT! Let our trained volunteers & staff at D-Bar-A Scout Ranch help you by selecting 1 of 2 AMAZING Training Trails. We have 2 different program events, both to prepare units, Scouts and Scouters for their Backpacking Trek or Cavalcade at Philmont Scout Ranch.
Who Can Attend:
Any member of a Scout BSA Troop, Venture Crew, Sea Scout Ship or Exploring Post.
| Trail | Dates | Cost |
| Backpacking Training Trail to Philmont | April 11-13, 2025 | $50/person |
| Cavalcade Training Trail to Philmont | May 16-18, 2025 | $250/person * |
| Cavalcade Training Trail to Philmont | September 12-14, 2025 | $250/person * |
* $400/person to register for BOTH weekends of Cavalcade
SUMMER HORSE PROGRAMS
RANCH HAND
Program for Registered Scouts *
Spend a week learning what it takes to work at a Ranch! Also referred to as our Wrangler in Training program, this allows Scouts the opportunity to spend a week learning what it takes to work at The Ranch! Help the D-Bar-A Ranch Staff care for our herd of horses, long horn cattle, and burros in this once in a lifetime adventure! You will learn to bend & weld metal, work on farm machinery, learn horse care, and do repairs around The Ranch!
Participants, in this full-immersion program, will earn the Horsemanship, Farm Mechanics, Veterinary Medicine, Painting, Metalworking, and Welding Merit Badges, in addition to taking part in all aspects of running the Ranch from maintenance to horse care.
Learn how to rope, ride, spend a night under the stars with the horses and even participate in a true cattle drive!
You will work alongside the ranch staff on the 1700 acre farm. You will learn to bend and weld metal, work on farm machinery, and do repairs around the ranch.
Participants should be at least 13 years of age and First Class, and have some riding and camping experience. Except for your personal camping gear, D-bar-A Scout Ranch will provide everything that you will need including food and cooking equipment.
A current Scouting America Health & Medical Record, parts A, B and C, including a Doctor’s signature, is required.
* One session is open to the Public
2025 Cost:
$450/participant/week
Capacity 10 per session
2025 Dates:
Session 1: June 15-21, 2025
Session 2: June 22-28, 2025
Session 3: July 6-12, 2025
Session 4: July 13-19, 2025
Session 5: July 20-26, 2025 (Open to the Public) *
Mark your Calendars for 2026! Stay tuned for registration and more details.
2026 Dates:
Session 1: June 28 – July 4, 2026 – Full immersion for Scouts BSA (50 youth)
Session 2: July 5 – July 11, 2026 – Capacity 16
Session 3: July 12 – July 18, 2026 – Capacity 16
Session 4: July 19 – July 25, 2026 – Capacity 16
Session 5: July 26 – August 1, 2026 – Open to the Public
SCOUTS BSA SUMMER CAMP INFO
TRAIL TO EAGLE AT D-BAR-A SCOUT RANCH
TRAIL TO EAGLE
The Trail to Eagle (TTE) program is a specifically designed program for the older Scout to give them the [TTE Eagle] opportunity to work on the merit badges they need to finish the Eagle Scout rank requirements. It is a one week, highly structured program held at D-bar-A Scout Ranch and Scouts must be at least 1st Class rank by Fall of the current year and at least 13 years old or older.
Pedro Trail
Ready for a hike around D-Bar-A ranch? There are three portions of the famed “PEDRO Trail” to meet every group’s needs. Take the trail in the noted direction on the map, or take the famed ORDEP Trail if you go the opposite direction. Trail is well blazed.
RED LOOP: 1.6 miles (parking: shoulder of the road between Arrowhead and Tall Timbers cabins)
BLUE LOOP: 2.4 miles (parking: south of Hilltop cabin, on the right)
YELLOW LOOP: 6 miles (parking: main lot north of Thomas Trainor museum)
Check in at the Thomas Trainor Scout Museum before heading out on the trail. Trail resale items will be sold there.
Upcoming Events at D-bar-A
June, 2025
ELLIOT FAMILY CAMP
You have the ability to reserve a site during your troop’s visit to summer camp
Available May 1st through October 1st
Each RV campsite is equipped with water, sewer, and electricity.
Amenities Include:
Laundry, showers, a common area, and has access to the camp’s trading post when it is open.
$35 per night
Each adult during the summer months must be registered with the Boy Scouts of America, have up to date Youth Protection, and a clearance letter from the MDHS
Contact us for availability and to book.
ADOPT A HORSE
Your Adopt-A-Horse Sponsorship is a unique opportunity to make a difference by directly helping one of our horses. Your generous donation will help provide for food, board, medical treatment, training and other costs that are directly associated with the care of your sponsored horse. Maintaining and caring for our horses is a very time consuming and costly endeavor.
Your Adopt-A-Horse Sponsorship makes it financially possible for us to provide for our D-Bar-A horses by keeping them safe, providing a long, healthy life and delivering a once in a lifetime experience for our youth. Sponsors make a generous contribution to assist with the care of a specific horse they personally select. These donations go directly toward the expenses for that animal. Sponsorships put a financial dent in the care and feed costs for each horse. Our goal is to secure a sponsor for each of our very special D-Bar-A horses!
