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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:

 

 

 

 

Warren District Mobile Office Hours - Hackettstown Panera Bread 2045 NJ-57, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 Thursday 3/21/24 10:00AM to 12:00PM  *If...
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...
Save the Date. March 23, 2024. MTC Marksmanship Madness, target shooting competition at Camp Minsi for Cub Scouts and Scouts, BSA. Cub Scouts...
The race is on! The pinewood derby race, that is! An annual scouting tradition, race on out to the Franklin Township Community Center at 2093...
Postponing this meeting to March 26 to allow commissioners to attend Assistant District Commissioner Lenny Oncheck's viewing. More information...
Panera Bread 3714 Nazareth Rd Easton PA 18045 Thursday 3/28/24 10:00AM to 12:00PM  *If you need specific items please reach out via email 2...
The Minsi Trails Council Business Office & Scout Shop will be closed on this day.  Please plan accordingly.   If you need assistance,...
The Minsi Trails Council Business Office & Scout Shop will be closed on this day.  Please plan accordingly.   If you need assistance,...
Please Join us for important planning for the Northampton district.   Join Zoom...
Warren District Mobile Office Hours - Phillipsburg Panera 1196 US-22, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 Thursday 4/4/24 10:00AM to 12:00PM  *If you need...
Carbon/Luzerne Meetings The District Roundtable and a combined Commissioner/Committee meeting will be held at Tweedle Park in Weatherly every...
This course is open to all registered Adult Leaders. There is a required prerequisite online training session available at: my.scouting.org> My...
23rd Annual ALLENTOWN TRADE-O-REE Scout Patch Collecting and Memorabilia Show www.AllentownTOR.com Hosted by:  OA...
Dunkin' Donuts 855 S Broadway, Wind Gap, PA 18091 Thursday 4/11/24 10:00AM to 12:00PM  *If you need specific items please reach out via...
This event is being held at the Klecknersville Fire co. More info to...
Monroe District Meetings and Roundtable Join us every second Thursday of each month at 630pm for our in person/zoom Roundtable and District...
Lehigh District Annual Recognition Dinner Date; Thursday, April 11, 2024 Time; Doors Open at 6:30 PM, Dinner and Program at 7:00 PM $30.00 per...
        MINSI TRAILS COUNCIL, BSA LEAVE NO TRACE LEVEL 1 INSTRUCTOR COURSE (Formally Leave No Trace Trainer...
  Minsi Trails Council Spring 2024 Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO)   This course is open to all registered Adult...
Minsi Trails Council Spring 2024 Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS)   This course is open to all registered Adult...
Join us for the Lehigh District Pinewood Derby on the campus of Penn State Lehigh Valley.   Check in begins at 8:30, with races to follow 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...
Warren District Mobile Office Hours - Hackettstown Panera Bread 2045 NJ-57, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 Thursday 4/18/24 10:00AM to 12:00PM  *If...
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 DETAILS WILL BE ANNOUNCED...
Panera Bread 3714 Nazareth Rd Easton PA 18045 Thursday 4/25/24 10:00AM to 12:00PM  *If you need specific items please reach out via email 2...
FOR NOW HAVE THE CONVENIENCE OF ONLINE PAYMENT Click Here for printable event flyer Click here for current printable PWD...
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...
NRA RSO     (Range Safety Officer) Date – Saturday May 4th 2024 Location- Camp Minsi – (Rangers Shop)  8am to...
Join us for the Council Wide Roundtable.    Locations and Theme will be announced...
2024 Pocono Friends of Scouting Dinner PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR FULL PRINTABLE EVENT BROCHURE CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW   if page does...
Monroe District Meetings and Roundtable Join us every second Thursday of each month at 630pm for our in person/zoom Roundtable and District...
 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