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MTC - Camp Minsi
About
Camp Minsi
Learn About Camp Minsi's Ecology

The Ecology of Camp Minsi

Landscape

Camp Minsi is located on the shores of Stillwater Lake atop the Pocono Mountains in Pocono Summit, Pennsylvania. The landscape of the area surrounding Camp Minsi is composed mainly of broad, flat, swampy areas intermixed with low hills covered with a northern hardwood forest.

Camp Minsi encompasses more than 1,200 acres of relatively flat Pennsylvania woodlands at the summit of the Pocono Plateau. The 314-acre Stillwater Lake, a man-made lake, is now a central feature to the natural landscape of the area.

Natural History

About 20,000 years ago, a giant sheet of ice at least one mile thick covered the area. Evidence of the glacier is the very rocky soil that is called glacial till and the abundance of bogs. Much of the surrounding area is characterized by sphagnum moss bogs, evergreen trees and thin, moist, rocky soil. The first humans to the area found dark forests of evergreens and seemingly bottomless swamps and bogs. Due to the logging of the forests in the 1800s, large portions have regrown with a mix of deciduous trees mainly American beech, plus many species of oak and red maple trees.

Plants

Common tree species are American beech, black cherry, bear oak red maple, sugar maple, white pine, eastern hemlock and various birches. Hay-Scented Ferns, Lowbush Blueberry, and Princess Pine cover the forest floor.

In early May, before any trees have leaves, serviceberry trees flower. In mid-June, the plentiful mountain laurel blooms, followed in late-June to early-July by rhododendron. In mid-July, highbush blueberries bear fruit, providing a feast for bears and birds (and Scouts).

Interesting plants like the carnivorous pitcher plant, cotton grass and many sedges inhabit the bogs. The carnivorous plant yellow bladderwort lives in some of the bogs and in Duck Puddle. In the underwater portion of the plant, small sacks trap tiny aquatic animals.

Wildlife

Common species found in the area include are white-tailed deer, black bear, beaver, turkey, squirrel, chipmunk, muskrat, mink, fox, and raccoon.

Blackburnian warbler, red-breasted nuthatch and northern waterthrush are common to this habitat. In the spring, spotted and Jefferson salamanders and wood frogs flock to the bogs to breed.

Black bear are occasionally present in the areas surrounding camp. Black bear normally avoid people, but bears dependent on eating human food can become slightly aggressive when people get between them and food. If you come in contact with a black bear, try chasing it away by making loud noises like yelling or banging a pot. Notify the camp ranger if you have difficulties with a bear. Never approach a bear and be especially wary of mother bears and cubs.

Fish

The common fish in the 314-acre Stillwater Lake are bass, pickerel, yellow perch, catfish and sunfish. The tailwaters of Stillwater Lake flow to compose Tunkhannock Stream and offer home to Brook and Rainbow trout as well.

Climate

Pocono weather can vary widely from one town to the next. The mountainous terrain often causes more localized weather. 

Pocono Summit gets an average of 48 inches of rain per year (the US average is 37"). Snowfall is around 67 inches.

The average daily high in July is around 80°F. The average daily low in January is 14°F.  Camp Minsi is located at an elevation of 1,800 feet above sea level; nights at the higher altitude can be cold during any season; July sees an average nighttime low of 59°F.


Additional Resources:

 

 

 

 

Monthly meeting of the Council Commissioner team - meetings are hybrid - we meet at the Council office, and would love to see you there if you can...
Please see the "More Information" link to register or copy and paste the URL on the flyer below.  This is a GREAT opportunity for all...
The Monroe District Monroe Eagle Board meets every third Thursday of the month to meet with Scouts seeking approval for Eagle projects and for the...
National Youth Leadership Training will be held September 20-22, 27-29, 2024 at Camp Minsi, Pocono Summit, Pa A training designed for youth in...
  Click Here for printable event...
Space is limited. Registration closes as soon as we reach capacity. ...
National Youth Leadership Training  weekend two. Please go to https://www.minsitrails.org/event/3032250 to register   This is...
All Districts are welcome!  Please see flyer below and link below for event information and registration. You can click on "More...
Minsi Trails Alumni Association Day at the Range  Event Date Saturday Sept 28th 2024 Location- Camp Minsi Rifle range 9:00am till...
SAVE THE DATE Warren District Awards Dinner is open to all adult scouters from Warren District packs and troops.   Enjoy a meal together...
Please Join us for important planning for the Northampton district.   Join Zoom...
Carbon/Luzerne Meetings The District Roundtable and a combined Commissioner/Committee meeting will be held at Tweedle Park in Weatherly every...
Having Trouble With This Site? Please make sure you are using a device that is NOT an iPhone/iPad/Mac Safari browser Yes - we think that's...
Monroe District Meetings and Roundtable Join us every second Thursday of each month at 6pm for our in person/zoom Roundtable and District...
Please join us for the Warren District Committee Meeting. All units are asked to have a representative present, but all are welcome to...
Everyone is Welcome to attend for the weekend or Saturday only.  If you are a new Scout who just joined, you are welcome to attend Saturday...
Warren District is having a fall Bonfire! Hot dogs, hot chocolate and a lot of fun will be served.  Bring your favorite skit or song to...
Monthly meeting of the Council Commissioner team - meetings are hybrid - we meet at the Council office, and would love to see you there if you can...
The Monroe District Monroe Eagle Board meets every third Thursday of the month to meet with Scouts seeking approval for Eagle projects and for the...
Join us for the Council Wide Roundtable.    Locations and Theme will be announced...
MINSI TRAILS COUNCIL FALL CAMPOREE Scouts embark on an exhilarating journey to test their survival skills in a simulated post-apocalyptic world...
Register now!! Scout Movie night is back at Mahoning Drive-In Theater! It'll be a Halloween double feature with Hocus Pocus and Teen...
 Monroe District will be having a Trail to Eagle informational session.   Who: Any Scout of Star or Life rank, their...
Save the date!  Scout Night with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms is October 26th 7:05...
   2024 Wood Badge Reunion Dinner...
Please Join us for important planning for the Northampton district.   Join Zoom...
Carbon/Luzerne Meetings The District Roundtable and a combined Commissioner/Committee meeting will be held at Tweedle Park in Weatherly every...
Monroe District Meetings and Roundtable Join us every second Thursday of each month at 6pm for our in person/zoom Roundtable and District...
Please join us for the Warren District Committee Meeting. All units are asked to have a representative present, but all are welcome to...
Join us to learn all about Lehigh District and Scouting resources in our area. Oh, and you  may also turn in your charters and...
Monthly meeting of the Council Commissioner team - meetings are hybrid - we meet at the Council office, and would love to see you there if you can...
The Monroe District Monroe Eagle Board meets every third Thursday of the month to meet with Scouts seeking approval for Eagle projects and for the...
 MORE....

PROFESSIONAL OFFICE HOURS OF OPERATIONS:
(610) 264-8551
10 AM – 5 PM (Monday  – Friday)
Closed Saturday & Sunday

 

SCOUT SHOP HOURS OF OPERATIONS:
(610) 264-8551
10 AM - 5 PM  (Monday-Friday)
10 AM - 2 PM (Saturday)
Closed Sunday

FOR SERVICE CENTER CLOSURES - REVIEW COUNCIL CALENDAR 
 

ADDRESS
991 Postal Road, Allentown, PA 18109