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Located on Loon Pond, Sabattus, Maine, this council property is now used primarily for Abnaki District events. Camporees have been held at Camp Gustin since at least 1947. Originally established as a Boy Scout camp in 1948 through a generous donation by the Gustin family, Camp Gustin has long been a hub for scouting and community activities. The land features stunning natural landscapes including Loon Pond and Curtis Bog. The camp was sold to the Androscoggin Land Trust’s in 2022.
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| By Susan Mekher
Memories of Maine Magazine Deeded to the Boy Scouts in 1948, this 100 acre forested land with roughly 300 yards of frontage on Loon Pond is a seemingly remote, pristine camping area, with towering trees, a sparkling brook, wetlands, and a just-right sized pond for swimming, canoeing, and fishing. Camp Gustin is located in Sabattus, conveniently accessible to troops based in Lewiston, Auburn, Lisbon Falls, and other small communities. Close to Interstate 95, just a few miles from Lewiston, Gustin has proved to be an ideal spot for camporees, skill-based lessons, and year-round camping. Without a mess hall or bunkhouse, this scout property simulates wilderness conditions where boys immerse themselves in nature on land bought specifically for that purpose. 'The Boy Scout tradition has been around in Maine since the early 1900's, and in the early 1930's, Charles Gustin, a Sabattus resident, was highly pleased with and impressed by what his two sons, George and Lewis, were learning and experiencing with the Boy Scouts at Camp Hinds in Raymond. In order to enhance his sons' and their friends' outdoor experiences, Gustin purchased 100 acres of undeveloped land around Loon Pond, expressly for the purpose of Boy Scout use, knowing that generations of boys and men would learn to appreciate and feel comfortable in nature while developing friendships, camaraderie, social skills, and important values. |
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Dean B. Zaharis Created: May 10, 2025 Last Update: May 14, 2025 Send comments to: FriendsOfHinds@gmail.com |