Trexler Scout Reservation

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Trexler Scout Reservation is a 900-acre reservation owned by the Minsi Trails Council. The reservation is home to Akelaland, Settlers Camp and Hawkeye Wilderness camp. The reservation is located in Jonas, Pennsylvania, USA.

The Reservation features two small lakes (Trexler Lake and Lake Minsi) which are shared by the two camps. The reservation contains 25 miles of hiking trails. The reservation is also home to one of the largest Challenging Outdoor Physical Encounters (COPE) courses in the Northeast Region of the Boy Scouts of America.

1 Settlers Camp
2 Akelaland
- 2.1 Summer Camp
- 2.2 Off-Season Camping
3 Trexler Scout Reservation History
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Settlers Camp

Lake Minsi

Trees atop the Handicraft pavillion

Settlers Camp is one of Minsi Trails Council's two Boy Scout camps. It is located within the Trexler Scout Reservation.

Settlers Camp has 17 established camp sites.

Settlers Camp has individual features; such as a newly expanded Dining Hall, New Waterfront Pavilion, Rocker Panel Program, The "Get Acquainted" Trexler Invitational Weekend in May, and one of the largest C.O.P.E. courses in the Northeast Region of the Boy Scouts of America. The camp also offers its unique Athletics area and innovative new approach to earning Eagle Merit Badges at camp in a program we call 'Area 7'. Settlers Camp also has features for age-specific groups such as the First Year Camper, Older Boys, and Scout Leaders.

[edit] Program Areas

Athletics
Aquatics
Area 7
C.O.P.E.
Ecology
Handicraft
Operation First Class (OFC)
Scoutcraft
Shooting Sports

[edit] Program Highlights

Sunday Night Family Barbeque and family style dining hall meals the rest of the week.
Older Scout Program – a phenomenal experience designed for Senior Scouts (Age 15+); day/night adventures not found at any other Scout Camp.
A Full Range of Merit Badges including a variety of Eagle Required Merit Badges
Scout Leaders Program - A first-rate assortment of programs for Leaders
Waterfront activities: BSA Lifeguard, Mile Swim, BSA Snorkeling, Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat.
Daily Vesper & Wednesday Chapel Service
Wednesday Order of the Arrow Call Out Ceremony
Scoutcraft Activities: Paul Bunyan Woodsman, Tote n’ Chip, Fireman Chit ,Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics
Athletics events: Mountain Biking Treks, Triathlon, and Sports Fields
C.O.P.E. (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience), offering the weeklong course, as well as climbing merit badge, Climb on Safely Training and Open Climbs.
Econ, Handicraft, Archery and Rifle Ranges– all run by great teachers and leaders.

[edit] Rocker Panel Program

A major part of the Settlers Camp program is their rocker patch panel program. Segments are earned based upon participation at program areas, camp-wide and special events. The rocker program consists of at least 18 unique rockers. Segments include scoutcraft lashings, mile swim, COPE, BSA Lifeguard, Handicraft Eager Beaver, Nature Conservation, rifle/shotgun, athletics and others. All scouts receive a "1 week at Camp" Rocker.

[edit] Akelaland

The back of the Dining Hall

A&B Building

Akelaland is a Cub Scout resident camp located with in Trexler Scout Reservation. Akelaland is the council's week-long resident Cub Scout camp, and is one of the few week-long resident Cub Scout camps in the North East Region.

Akelaland was formally "Pioneer Camp", Minsi Trails Council's rustic scout camp which encompassed over 200 acres of Trexler Scout Reservation. In the mid- 1980's the camp was closed and converted to a cub resident camp. The Pioneer building (a small one-room building with a wood burning stove) still stands today, as well as other parts of the original camp.

Changes over the years and the increased attendance have brought many improvements to the facility. Akelaland has an 18-hole miniature golf course. The camp includes a Health Lodge and Trading Post located in the center of camp, along with Fort James, the Dining Hall, the Parade Field and shower houses. Past the Parade Field there are Shooting Ranges, an Action Archery field, and an activities field. Renovations to the Dining Hall began in 2006, with hopes of doubling the size of the facility by summer 2007. The camp also has a lake, Trexler Lake, which they share with Setters Camp.

The camp has 15 campsites, each with site capacity ranging from 10 to 20 campers.

[edit] Summer Camp

Each summer Akelaland is runs 7 weeks of summer camp program for Cub Scout packs. The weeklong resident camp program includes swimming, boating, nature, archery, BB Gun, handicraft, athletics, outdoor skills, water games, fishing, hiking, astronomy, flag ceremonies, singing, scavenger hunts and special theme related events. "Mini Weeks" are also avalible for Scouts running from Sunday to Wednesday each week.

Program Areas

Archery
BB Range
Handicraft
Nature
Outdoor Skills
Waterfront

Other Programs

18-hole miniature golf course
Evening theme hike
Water carnival
Movie night
Wednesday outpost
Order of the Arrow night at Settlers Camp

[edit] Off-Season Camping

Akelaland is open year round for individual den or pack use or other council functions. Additionally, during the fall and spring two weekends of camp program are run for scouts and their families. "Fall Family Camp" is run during the fall, a couple months after the last week of summer camp. Scouts bring their families along for weekend of camp program (Friday-Sunday). "Beaver Day" is run during the spring, a couple months before the first week of summer resident camp. Just like "Fall Family Camp", regular program is provided for Scouts along with a chance to prepare and begin set-up for the summer program.

[edit] Trexler Scout Reservation History

In January 1927, decorated war hero General Harry C. Trexler offered to buy a proposed campsite in Monroe County for the Boy Scouts of the Lehigh Valley. He stipulated however that the equivalent of the purchase price had to be raised for the purpose of development, improvement, and maintenance. The program was carried out successfully. Trexler Scout Reservation has since developed into one of Minsi Trail Council's scout camps.

Today, premier attributes of this 900-acre Scout Reservation include: Separate Boy Scout and Cub Scout Resident Camps, two lakes with Fishing, Boating, and Canoeing and two fully staffed waterfronts. The reservation also has over 25 miles of hiking and orienteering trails.