Camp Minsi Spring Service Days

Camp Minsi depends on the service and support of volunteers to help us sustain our property and provide quality camping facilities.

To help us prepare for the summer camp season, we have planned several work weekends at Camp Minsi. Hosted by the camp staff and Venture Crew 940, these events are open to any registered adult Scouter who wants to get involved and lend a hand.

• Saturday, March 16, 2013
• Saturday, April 20, 2013
• Saturday, May 18, 2013 (Beaver Weekend)
• Saturday, June 8, 2013

Work projects take place from 9am to 5pm, with lunch available to all volunteers.

While we welcome anyone willing to lend a hand with a variety of projects that will be going on throughout camp, we are particularly looking for adults with chainsaws (and the skills to use them) to help with clearing storm-damaged and fallen trees throughout camp.

If you are interested in joining us for one (or more) of our spring workdays, or if you have any questions about how you can get involved, please contact us at campminsi@gmail.com.

2013 Merit Badge Guide

Camp Minsi's 2013 Merit Badge Guide is now available! This detailed guide includes everything you need to know about the merit badge programs offered at camp this summer – merit badge schedules, pre-requisite requirements, merit badge descriptions, and much more! While summer camp is still months away, it is never to early to start planning and preparing. Get your Scouts prepared and excited for summer camp by sharing this great resource with your unit today! You can access the 2013 Merit Badge Guide at www.campminsi.org/badges. If you have any questions about the advancement opportunities at Camp Minsi, please feel free to contact the program director at CampMinsiPD@yahoo.com.

Summer Camp 2013 Leaders Guide

It is hard to believe that it is already time to start thinking about summer camp 2013! We are extremely excited for the 2013 summer camp programs and can't wait to help you begin the planning process. This summer we are preparing a variety of new programs while continuing to build on our lasting traditions.

The 2013 Camp Minsi Leaders Guide is the first resource to answering your summer camp questions. This guide is full of essential information and forms for unit leaders.

The 2013 Camp Minsi Summer Camp Program Guide will be available on our website by the end of January 2013. This guide will include: merit badge information, program schedules, and details on other activities happening during your week of summer camp.

On behalf of the entire 2013 Camp Minsi staff, we'd like to thank you for choosing Camp Minsi; and we look forward to sharing a memorable summer with you and your entire unit.

Yours in Scouting,

Lisa Empfield Camp Director CampMinsiCD@yahoo.com

Greg Larson Program Director CampMinsiPD@yahoo.com

Download the 2013 Leaders Guide

2013 Pre-Camp Events - Mark Your Calendars!

For more than 100 years, the tradition of "Be Prepared" has been the motto of the Scouting movement. As such, we have planned several events to help you get prepared for the 2013 summer camp season. Please be sure to mark your calendars for these important pre-camp meetings and events.

Summer Camp Informational Meeting: Thursday, March 7, 2013

Minsi Trails Council will be holding an informational summer camp meeting for unit leaders on March 7, 2013 at Northeast Middle School in Bethlehem, PA. The gathering will start at 6:30PM, with the meeting starting promptly at 7:00PM. The purpose of the meeting is to share information with unit leaders regarding the council's summer camp programs. This meeting also gives leaders an opportunity to ask any questions, connect with other leaders, give feedback, and meet some of our key staff members. All unit leaders are invited to attend this meeting. If you are have any questions, or need directions, please contact the Minsi Trails Council office at 610.264.8551.

Beaver Weekend: Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19, 2013

Beaver Weekend is a unique opportunity for service, fellowship, recreation, and camping! Take the opportunity to bring your unit to Camp Minsi for the weekend. You can explore the camp, meet the staff, participate in open programs, and give back to Camp Minsi and Scouting through friendly service. This event is completely free! All we ask in return is that your unit gives a few hours of service to the camp on Saturday. Lunch on Saturday will be provided for all who are participating in the weekend. If your unit decides not to make a weekend out of it, you are invited to come just for the day on Saturday to participate in some of the fellowship events and service projects. If interested, please register your unit as soon as possible. A registration form is located in the resources section of this site.

Pre-camp Leader's Meeting & Luncheon: Saturday, June 15, 2013

Camp Minsi will hold an informational meeting on Saturday, June 15, 2013. This meeting will be held at Camp Minsi in the Dining Hall starting at 12:00PM. A complimentary lunch will be served as well. This meeting allows us to ensure that all leaders have the accurate and up-to-date information and to answer any questions you may have about your week at camp. You are invited to remain after the meeting to tour camp or check out your campsite. Please do your best to have your unit represented at this meeting. If you are unable to attend, please contact Lisa Empfield, the camp director (campminsicd@yahoo.com), so that she can answer any questions and distribute any vital information to you.

2013 Summer Camp Brochure

Click on a page to enlarge.
- Download Brochure (.pdf) -

Camp Staff 2013: The Experience of a Lifetime

Are you tired of the same old routine? Are you looking for an exciting summer job? Did you know that Camp Minsi offers exciting opportunities in a variety of summer camp staff positions? Being on camp staff provides a unique and rewarding outdoor work experience. Staff applications are now being accepted for the 2012 summer camp season at Camp Minsi! You can fill out the online staff application at campminsi.org today.

Why Apply for a Camp Staff Job?
Here are a few of the countless reasons that are frequently expressed:

• To make lots of new friends with Scouts from your area, other states, and even other countries.
• To share your skills, talents and knowledge with others.
• To spend a summer in the great outdoors where nature prevails.
• To acquire experiential education (learning by doing) and new skills that will last a lifetime.
• To be a key part of an effective team.
• To build and apply leadership skills.
• To undertake and fulfill meaningful challenges.
• To work with youth and adults of all ages.
• To give something back for the opportunities you have received.
• To live in a wholesome environment based on the Scout Oath and Law.
• To be paid (and receive food and lodging) in return for something challenging and fun.
• To grow and be considered for jobs of greater responsibility.
• To have lots of fun!

National standards require that all paid Scout camp staff members be at least 15 years of age. The Boy Scouts of America is an equal opportunity employer that hires both males and females, as well as people of all ages and ethnic groups, diverse cultures, and abilities. Staff members must be, or become, registered members of the Boy Scouts of America. Salaries are based on position responsibility with consideration given to the individual's qualifications and experience.

Camp Minsi also offers an outstanding Councilor in Training (CIT) program designed for Scouts ages 14 and older. The program helps prepare Scouts that may be interested in serving on staff in the future with experience, service, excitement and leadership training. The program is 100% free and allows Scouts to get a taste of what it's like to be a summer camp staffer. The program gives Scouts a taste of what it is like to being a member of the Camp Minsi staff.

Interested applicants can complete the online staff application located at CampMinsi.org. For more information regarding summer camp staff, how to apply, or for information on current or anticipated openings, feel free to contact us.

Camp Minsi 2012 End of Summer Infographic

Download Full Infographic

View Original 2012 Infographic

Mark Your Calendars! - Important Dates for 2013

The 2012 summer camp season has come to a close, but we're already hard at work preparing for 2013. Please be sure to mark your calendars with these important camp dates. You can register your unit for summer camp by contacting Field & Camping Secretary Jane Chase at the Minsi Trails Council office (610-465-8568 or Jane.Chase@scouting.org).

Camp Minsi Fall Scout Expo (October 13, 2012)

Summer Camp Informational Meeting (March 7, 2013)

Camp Minsi Beaver Weekend (May 17-19, 2013)

Summer Camp Pre-Camp Leader's Meeting (June 15, 2013)

Summer Camp Week 1 (June 23 – 29, 2013)

Summer Camp Week 2 (June 30 – July 6, 2013)

Summer Camp Week 3 (July 7 – July 13, 2013)

Summer Camp Week 4 (July 14 – July 20, 2013)

Summer Camp Week 5 (July 21 – July 27, 2013)

Summer Camp Week 6 (July 28 – August 3, 2013) * Week full - registration closed *

More information and details on the 2013 summer camp programs will be released in late-2012 and early-2013 right here on campminsi.org.

Camp Minsi 2012 Fall Scout Expo

You don’t have to wait until next summer to experience all the fun of camp! Come to Camp Minsi on October 13, 2012 for Camp Minsi's Fall Scout Expo.

Scouts of all ages are invited to Camp Minsi for a fun-filled day of Scouting events in beautiful outdoors of the Pocono mountains. Cub Scout dens, Boy Scout troops, Venturing crews, and families can come to camp for Camp Minsi’s first annual fall open house and open program day. Hone your skills at the shooting ranges, use a two-man saw, throw a tomahawk, enjoy a guided nature hike, taste some fresh Dutch oven cooking, stamp leather crafts, go fishing in Stillwater Lake, and much more!

The Camp Minsi summer camp staff will be on hand to run a variety of open programs and special events for Scouts – including ScoutCraft programs and shooting range events. Plus there will be lots of special presentations and demos (to be announced) throughout the day as well.

In addition to previews of the upcoming 2013 summer camp program, Scouts who may have left camp with a partial in a merit badge will have an opportunity to meet with councilors at the Summer Camp Merit Badge Completion Station to show proof of their missing requirements and work to turn their “partials” into a “completes.”

You don’t just have to come for the day; your unit can make a weekend out of the event! Camping opportunities are available. Reserve a campsite and enjoy a whole weekend of fall Camp Minsi fun.

Activities include:

ScoutCraft:

Pioneering Projects

Tomahawk Throwing

Lumberjack Games

Leatherworking

Cooking Demos

Branding

Leave-No-Trace Demos

Fall Nature Hikes

Fishing

Shooting Sports:

Archery

Rifle Shooting

Shotgun Shooting

BB Guns

Paintball Action Course

Muzzleloader Shooting

Dining Hall:

Food (including pizza, hotdogs, snacks, beverages, and more!)

Camp Minsi Trading Post

Summer Camp 2013 Preview

High Adventure Information

Camp Staff Information

Merit Badge Completions

When: Saturday, October 13, 2012 (9AM to 5PM)
Where: Camp Minsi (Pocono Summit, PA)
Who: All Scouts, Scouters, & families
Cost: $7.00 per Scout

- Download Flyer & Registration Form -

Boy Scouts' Camp Minsi offers fun and futures

From The Journal of the Pocono Plateau (July 13, 2012)

Joshua Halbfoerster munches his lettuce as Scout Craft Section
participants learn how to cook Monkey Knots in Dutch ovens.

"They don't get homesick at camp, they get campsick at home," describes Director Lisa Empfield of the Boy Scout experience at Camp Minsi. The Pocono Summit summer camp, nestled in the woods off Route 940 brings Scouts from as far away as Long Island and Maryland for a week long experience, earning merit badges in education-based programs geared to teach life skills.

Over 1,000 campers a season enjoy program areas such as Ecology-Conservation, ScoutCraft, and Communications, exposing 11 to 18 year olds to environmental sciences, outdoor cooking, and even public speaking.

Camper days begin with an optional 6:30 a.m. Frigid Froggy Swim followed by a 7:45 flag ceremony and breakfast. Scouts are responsible for ensuring they attend classes for badges so off they go for the day to sites featuring athletics, aquatics and shooting sports.

Scouts take notes during a Weather Class outside the
Ecology-Conservation Lodge at Camp Minsi July 10.

A crowd favorite, the Muck Hike, takes Scouts on a trek through the swamp. "A Scout is clean but not afraid to get dirty," read t-shirts recipients eagerly purchase upon completion.
Camp directors and volunteers spend their summer vacations bringing various career talents to the site. Teacher and program director Greg Larson says, "We're not just having fun in the woods," listing professions including plumbing and carpentry that are taught in the Ranger Crew. He adds, "When they leave the program they are ready for life."

Registered Scouts are welcomed with their troop or on their own. Social development flourishes as individual campers are invited into a troop for the week.

Waterfront skills in boating and swimming are a crowd
pleaser at Camp Minsi.

Building a bridge to adventure, adult-led Cub Scouts prepare to cross over into self-sufficient Boy Scouts during Minsi's final week of camp. The new Bridge to Adventure program invites the younger Scouts to experience what's in store as they evolve into Boy Scouts with activity badges including Forester, Geologist and Craftsman.

Empfield considers Minsi's $315 fee exceptional when compared to the other sport and summer camps, as it includes food and accommodations with goal driven activities to earn merit badges. She invites Scouts to visit the website at minsitrails.com/camping or call their council office and pick a week!