About Us
The mission of the AdvanceCamp is to support educational opportunities for youth and to provide an effective program that: develops personal/mental/emotional fitness, gives opportunities to develop self-reliance, develops a keen respect for the basic rights of others and prepares scouts for participating and giving leadership within their community and world.
AdvanceCamp began in 1998 when a scout talked to Steve Hoagland because he had a number of partials of unusual merit badges from summer camps he had attended. He wanted to finish them but could not find a merit badge counselor for them. The first camp was held at Contra Costa Fairgrounds in Antioch, then Contra Loma Park in Antioch, then Ambrose Park in Bay Point before returning to the Contra Costa Fairgrounds. In our first year there were about 300 scouts and only about 15 merit badges. AdvanceCamp moved to the Solano County Fairgrounds in 2019.
Since our inception, AdvanceCamp has served over 30,000 scouts. We have over 200 counselors, offering 60 merit badges trailhead advancement. We also offer adult leader trainings.
AdvanceCamp is run by registered volunteer Scouters who serve without compensation. 100% of all funds collected goes towards the program.
To learn more about Volunteering, click here
While AdvanceCamp offers a camp to get counselors with Boy Scouts to earn merit badges, it is not affiliated with Boy Scouts of America. We are dedicated to the ideals of scouting and the process and procedures that Boy Scouts have set forth. We are a registered 501(C)(3) non-profit organization.
Board of Directors
AdvanceCamp is run by registered volunteer Scouters who serve without compensation. 100% of all funds collected goes towards the program.
| Executive Director | Steve R. Hoagland, Sr. executivedirector@advancecamp.com |
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| Founded AdvanceCamp with the help from adult volunteers in the Delta District in 1999 BSA notables: Began scouting: 1965 Assistant Scoutmaster; Committee Chair Troop 48; Charter Organization Representative Troop 48; District Committee Program Chair- Delta District, Black Diamond District; District FOS Chair- Muir District BSA Awards: Eagle Scout Troop 267 (1974); District Award of Merit (2003); Silver Beaver (2010); Outstanding Eagle Award (2013) Children in Scouting: Steven (son), Eagle Scout (2001) |
| Vice-President & Aquatics Director 
| | Mike Long diveboy01@comcast.net Joined AdvanceCamp Board: 2013 Began scouting: 2001 Pack 134 El Sobrante BSA notables: Den Leader Tiger Cub through Webelos Pack 134 (2001-2005); Pack Committee Chair Pack 134 (2003-2005); Assistant Scoutmaster Troop 100 (2006-2009, 2012-present); Crew Advisor-Philmont Scout Ranch (2009, 2012); District Training Team-Herms District (2012-present); District Camporee Chair-Herms (2012-present); District Eagle Board of Review Member- Herms (2013-present) BSA Awards: District Award of Merit (2013) Children in Scouting: Son, Michael (Eagle 2012) |
| Finance & Registration Director | Marcia Molina advancecampregistration@yahoo.com |
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| Joined AdvanceCamp Board: 2017 Began scouting: 2008 in Pittsburg, CA BSA notables: Founding member and Advisor of Crew 48, Pittsburg. Former Assistant Scoutmaster Troop 48, Pittsburg; Former Associate Advisor for Communications for the MDSC Venturing Officers Association; Former Associate Advisor for Communications Western Region Area 3 Venturing Officers Association BSA Awards: Council Venturing Leadership Award (2010); Area 3 Venturing Leadership Award (2017) Children in Scouting: Son, David, Eagle Scout 2011 |
| Merit Badge Staff Director | Steven A. Hoagland advancecampstaff@gmail.com |
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| Joined AdvanceCamp Board: 1999 BSA notables: Eagle Scout 2001 |
| Trailhead Director | Richard Byle gryphon97@gmail.com |
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| Joined AdvanceCamp Board: 2022 U. S. Navy Veteran (1976-1984) Began Scouting in 1964, Pack 342, Santa Clara Council BSA Notables: Cubmaster, Pack 15; Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 48; Scoutmaster, Troop 48 BSA Awards: Arrow of Light (1967), Pack 342; Philmont Scout Ranch: Mountain Man Trek (1970); Order of the Arrow: Miwok Lodge (439) Brotherhood; Eagle Scout, Troop 346 (1973), Santa Clara Council Children in Scouting: Son, Matthew (Life Scout 2016) Other Volunteer Work: American Diabetes Association; Tour de Cure (Napa Valley); Dogs for Diabetics, Concord, CA. |
| Board Secretary & Food Services Director | Maria Salazar-Vega Maria.salazar10@yahoo.com |
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| Joined AdvanceCamp Board: 2018 Began Scouting: 2010 BSA Notables: Assistant Advisor Crew 48 Children in Scouting: Son, Alex, Eagle Scout (2015) |
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| Building Coordinators Director | Deborah Long diveboy01@comcast.net |
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| Joined AdvanceCamp Board: 2013 Began scouting: 2001 Pack 134 El Sobrante BSA notables: Den Leader Tiger Cub through Webelos Pack 134 (2001-2005); Staff MDSC Woodbadge (2009); Pack Advancement Chair Pack 134 (2003-2005); Assistant Scoutmaster Troop 100 (2006-present); Philmont Training Center Attendee (2009); Coordinator-Herms District Den Chief Training Team (2009-2012); Scoutmaster Troop 623( 2009-2012); Program Chair Herms District (2011-2013) BSA Awards: District Award of Merit (2011); Silver Beaver (2018) Children in Scouting: Michael (son); Eagle Scout (2012) |
| Logistics Director 
| Andrew Gonzalez andrew141767@gmail.com |
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See all that AdvanceCamp is doing for scouting!
