From Timber to Troop Camps — A Century of Adventure on the Pocono Plateau
Long before Scouts arrived at Stillwater Lake, the forests of the Pocono Plateau echoed with the sounds of saws, sleds, and ice saws. Over time, the land transformed — from bustling lumber camps and frozen harvest fields into a place of discovery, fellowship, and outdoor challenge. Today, Camp Minsi stands as a living legacy of that transformation — a place where history, nature, and Scouting spirit meet.
Discover How Camp Minsi Came to Be
The story of Camp Minsi stretches back long before the first Scout pitched a tent on Stillwater Lake. These Pocono mountains and forests have seen centuries of change — from the rise of the lumber trade and the frozen ice-harvest days on the lake, to the early Scout camps along the Delaware Water Gap and the creation of the beautiful reserve we enjoy today.
Each chapter of this journey shaped the land and the spirit of Scouting that still thrives at Camp Minsi. Follow the timeline below to trace how industry gave way to wilderness, how new camps took root, and how Stillwater Lake became a place where generations of Scouts learn, grow, and serve.
Every trail has a beginning. Explore the path that brought Camp Minsi from Pennsylvania’s rugged past to its vibrant present.
1800s – Early Industry
Rise of the Lumber Industry
Before Scouts ever camped at Stillwater Lake, the surrounding forests echoed with the rhythm of Pennsylvania’s lumber boom. Timber from these hills fueled the growth of nearby towns and cities, reshaping the landscape and carving the first trails that would later lead to Camp Minsi.
1900s – Ice Harvest Era
Ice Harvesting on Stillwater Lake
After the forests had been cleared, Stillwater Lake found a new purpose — ice. Each winter, local crews carved massive blocks from the frozen surface, hauling them by sled and rail to cool homes and businesses across Pennsylvania and New York.
Harvesting the lake’s ice became a thriving industry that shaped the community and preserved the land long before Camp Minsi was founded. When the ice tools were finally laid to rest, the lake remained — ready to welcome a new generation of Scouts to its shores.
1919 – 1930s • Early Scouting Camps
Camp Minsi at the Delaware Water Gap
In 1919, local Scouters established the first Camp Minsi on the shores of the Delaware River near the Water Gap — a place of steep ridges, clear streams, and boundless adventure. Tents rose on the flats below Mount Tammany as Scouts from across the region came to hike, paddle, and learn the skills of the outdoors.
The camp quickly became a center of fellowship and Scouting spirit, but its location was temporary. As membership grew and space became limited, leaders looked toward the Pocono Plateau for a new home that could accommodate the future of Camp Minsi.
1930s – 1940s • A New Home for Scouting
Camp Weygadt at the Delaware Water Gap
As Scouting grew in the Lehigh Valley, new facilities were needed to serve the expanding ranks of troops and patrols. In 1931, the Easton Area Council established Camp Weygadt at the Delaware Water Gap — a camp that soon became a favorite summer destination for Scouts from eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The camp’s riverside setting offered canoeing, hiking, and wilderness skills against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Minsi and Mount Tammany. For nearly two decades it served as a training ground for leaders and a gateway to the outdoors — laying the foundation for the modern Camp Minsi we know today.
1940s – 1950s • A Temporary Camp in the Poconos
Camp Minsi at Lake Tobyhanna
As the popularity of Scouting continued to climb after World War II, the councils serving eastern Pennsylvania searched for a larger, more permanent home for summer camping. While that search was underway, the Boy Scouts established a temporary Camp Minsi on the wooded shores of Lake Tobyhanna.
The Tobyhanna camp provided much-needed space for growing troops, with programs in aquatics, pioneering, and nature study. Though it served Scouts for only a few years, the site captured the spirit of adventure and exploration that defined the post-war Scouting era — a bridge between the early camps of the Water Gap and the permanent site soon to rise at Stillwater Lake.
1950s – Today • A Permanent Home for Adventure
Camp Minsi at Lake Stillwater
In 1949, the dream of a permanent Scout camp became reality when local leaders secured land on the quiet shores of Stillwater Lake near Pocono Summit. Here, Camp Minsi was reborn — a place built to grow with the Scouting movement and preserve the heritage of the region’s earlier camps.
Over the decades, new lodges, program areas, and trails were added, but the spirit of the place remained the same — a blend of friendship, adventure, and respect for the outdoors. Generations of Scouts have learned to paddle, hike, and serve under its towering pines. Today, Camp Minsi continues to inspire youth to live the Scout Oath and Law in a setting where history and nature meet.
From the Past to the Present
For more than a century, the lands around Stillwater Lake have evolved from forest and industry to a living classroom for Scouting. Each generation has added its own chapter — one of growth, friendship, and adventure — continuing the legacy that began at the Delaware Water Gap and endures today at Camp Minsi.
Experience Camp Minsi Today
The story continues — with every Scout who hikes the trails, paddles the lake, or shares a campfire beneath the pines.
Preserve the Legacy
Help ensure Camp Minsi continues to inspire future generations. Your support keeps our history alive and our programs thriving.