Aquatics on Stillwater Lake

Stillwater Lake is one of the greatest attractions at Camp Minsi. The 314-acre lake provides a variety of aquatic activities – including swimming, sailing, canoeing, rowing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

The area is also home to our newly expanded Waterfront Interactive Zone which includes water trampolines, climbable icebergs, and more. A popular event at the Waterfront is the weekly early-morning “Frigid Froggy” plunge into the lake. Another unique attraction is our giant “voyageur canoe” that can hold over 30 Scouts.

Merit badges offered at the waterfront may include Swimming, Lifesaving, Small-boat Sailing, Canoeing, Rowing, and Kayaking.

Citizenship & Communications (Cit-Com)

This program area helps Scouts develop their communication skills with the Communications merit badge. It also allows Scouts to explore their role as a citizen in their country and in the world through the Citizenship merit badges.

Many Scouts on the trail to Eagle will develop their skills and understanding of their duty to their country and to others at the Cit-Com area.

Dining Hall

Napoleon Bonaparte is quoted as saying 'An army marches on its stomach'. The same is true of Scouts at camp. Camp Minsi has an experienced cook and kitchen staff that provides Scouts and Scouters with three delicious and healthy meals every day.

Ecology-Conservation (Econ)

At our Ecology-Conservation area, better known as “Econ,” Scouts get investigate the natural world. The area offers a variety of merit badges along with nature hikes, conservation projects, astronomy demos, and fishing opportunities.

Merit badges offered at Econ may include: Environmental Science, Exploration, Fish & Wildlife Management, Fishing, Forestry, Soil & Water Conservation, Weather, Mammal Study, and Reptile & Amphibian Study.

Handicraft

Handicraft focuses on a wide-range of arts and crafts. A popular area for Scouts of all ages, Handicraft allows Scouts to build skills in such areas as basket making, leatherworking, wood carving, and more.

Merit badges offered at Handicraft may include: Art, Basketry, Leatherwork, Pottery, Textiles, Space Exploration, and Wood Carving.

Health & Wellness

The Health Lodge is Camp Minsi’s first aid center. In addition to providing medical support to those in need, the area also provides meaningful instruction with several first aid and safety programs. The programs offered by this area help Scouts to be prepared by learning the actions that can be helpful and needed before, during, and after an emergency.

Merit Badges offered in the area may include: First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, Athletics, Sports, Personal Fitness, and Public Health.

High Adventure

If you are a thrill-seeker looking for outdoor challenges and fun, then look no further than Camp Minsi’s Afternoon Adventures. These programs provide a variety of unique outdoor adventures in the heart of the Poconos! Each day Scouts set-off for an afternoon of fun - including whitewater rafting, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, climbing, zip-lining, and much more. These are great options for older Scouts or Venturing crews looking for something new and exciting to do at camp.

• Learn more about High Adventure options

Quartermaster Crew

This area focuses on building a variety of trade and technical skills. Build a sense of personal pride and achievement as they learn how to safely and successfully build, repair, fix, and engineer.

In addition to offering some trade skill merit badges, the Quartermasters is your place to go for service projects, tools, and campsite supplies throughout the week.

Merit Badges offered in the area may include: Engineering, Home Repair, Metalwork, Painting, Plumbing, Welding, and Woodwork.

ScoutCraft

ScoutCraft is the place to develop and showcase your outdoor skills - including camping, cooking, pioneering, orienteering, wilderness survival and overall outdoor living. Special programs include: Leave No Trace awareness training, cooking demos, woodsman events, vast pioneering projects, outposts, hikes, and much more.

Merit badges offered at ScoutCraft include: Camping, Cooking, Fire Safety, Geocaching, Orienteering, Pioneering, Indian Lore, Hiking, Backpacking, Wilderness Survival, and Signs, Signals & Codes.

Shooting Sports

Shooting sports is a fun way for Scouts to exercise minds as well as bodies, developing a steady hand, a good eye, and a disciplined mind. These programs provide instruction and opportunities in archery, rifle shooting, and shotgun shooting. In addition to merit badge instruction, the area offers daily open shoots open to all Scouts and leaders.

Sports & Recreation

Being involved in an athletic endeavor is not only a way to have fun, but it also is one of the best ways for each Scout to live up to their promise "to keep myself physically strong." This area offers merit badges in addition to daily sporting and athletic activities for Scouts and Scouters.

Merit badges offered in this area include: Sports, Athletics, Game Design, Chess, Theater, and Personal Fitness.

Trail to Adventure (TTA)

The Trail to Adventure is Camp Minsi’s first-year camper program. Throughout the course of the week, Scouts will build skills necessary to succeed in Scouting while completing requirements for the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class while building teamwork, leadership, and other Scout skills.

Activities include an introduction to Scout camp; knife, axe and saw safety (Totin' Chip); first aid; swiming and water rescues; knots and lashings; flag etiquette; sports and games; a 5-mile hike; plant identification; fire safety (Fireman Chit); cooking; and a special overnight outpost.

• Learn more about the Trail to Adventure

Trainings & Adult Leader Programs

Training helps adult leaders deliver quality Scouting experiences to their youth. Leaders can utilize their time at camp to get trained (and have fun) with a variety of adult leader training opportunities. This is a great opportunity for leaders to get these essential trainings completed.

Trainings available at Camp Minsi include: Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS), Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, BSA Paddle Craft Safety, BSA Swim & Water Rescue, and more.

Camp Minsi also offers the Scout Leader Merit Badge, a special program that encourages leaders to take part in some fun and challenging activities throughout the week.

Your Campsite

Camp Minsi features twelve centrally-located Troop campsites with capacities that range from 10 to 90 campers (depending on the size of your troop). Each campsite is equipped with standard BSA canvas wall-tents on raised wooden platforms. Tents hold two cots that provide housing for a Scout and their buddy.

Each site also includes a newly remodeled comfort station with private flush latrine facilities and running water. A troop canopy, picnic tables and fire circle provide communal areas as well.