Celebrating its 85th anniversary this year, Treasure Island is the oldest continually operated Boy Scout Camp in the country. But more dazzling than its history is the setting and program. This reservation is naturally divided into Marshall Island and Treasure Island by the picturesque Delaware River near Pipersville, PA. Treasure Island combines some of the best facilities available with the adventure of "living on an island."
Mon, 20-Mar-00
Treasure Island was established in 1913 making it the second oldest continuous Boy Scout camp in the nation. Camp Owasippe which is owned by the Chicago Council and located in Michigan was established in 1911 making it the oldest continous Boy Scout camp in the nation. Treasure Island celebrated it's 85 anniversary in 1998 and not 2000. It is a very historic camp but not the oldest.
Comments
Celebrating its 85th anniversary this year, Treasure Island is the oldest continually operated Boy Scout Camp in the country. But more dazzling than its history is the setting and program. This reservation is naturally divided into Marshall Island and Treasure Island by the picturesque Delaware River near Pipersville, PA. Treasure Island combines some of the best facilities available with the adventure of "living on an island."
Treasure Island was established in 1913 making it the second oldest continuous Boy Scout camp in the nation. Camp Owasippe which is owned by the Chicago Council and located in Michigan was established in 1911 making it the oldest continous Boy Scout camp in the nation. Treasure Island celebrated it's 85 anniversary in 1998 and not 2000. It is a very historic camp but not the oldest.
had+a+good+time+this+summer+at+TI%2c+however+it+was+the+first+scout+camp+I+have+attended+that+allowed+smoking%2d%2dnot+just+by+the+leaders+but+in+the+site+next+to+ours+the+senior+patrol+leader+and+other+scouts+were+smoking+as+well%2c+when+I+addressed+the+issue+I+was+told+that+the+adults+could+smoke+in+the+site++but+the+scouts+shouldn%27t+be+smoking+%28%3f%29%2e%2e%2e%2e%2e%2e%2e%2e%2e%2e+lead+by+example+scouters+give+up+the+smokes+for+a+week+or+stay+home+%0d%0a
Treasure+Island+will+be+celebrating+90+years+of+camping+this+summer%2e%0d%0a
it+has+been+ten+years+since+i+camped+at+TI%2e+when+i+was+a+senior+scout+there%2c+i+at+least+had+the+decency+to+go+out+to+the+tip+of+the+island+to+smoke+cigarettes%2c+away+from+leaders+and+younger+scouts%2e+what+a+great+camp%21%0d%0a
TI+is+the+birthplace+of+Unami+Lodge+1+%28the+first+lodge%29+and+the+birthplace+of+the+Order+of+the+Arrow%21%0d%0a
I+had+the+pleasure+of+becoming+an+adult+while+camping+on+TI%2e+Scouting+and+TI+go+together+like+Oreos+and+milk%2e+TI+is+an+adventure+that+every+scout+should+experience%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a
Most+recently+TI+has+become+more+then+your+average+adventure+with+the+evacuations+that+occured+this+past+week%2e+Even+though+camp+only+made+it+though+2+days+of+program+my+boys+loved+every+minute+of+it%2e+Despite+that+the+evacuation+was+frighting+the+staff+managed+to+make+my+boys+enjoy+that+too%21+Not+one+of+my+scouts+left+with+out+joining+the+Tom+the+Toad+Marching+and+Hopping+Society+either+because+Chuck+had+each+boy+do+his++jumps+on+the+Parade+Field+while+waiting+for+our+turn+in+the+boat+line%2e+The+boys+liked+their+3+days+at+camp%2c+Sunday+though+Tuesday%2c+so+much+that+they+insitsted%2c+inbetween+singing+the+songs+that+the+staff+taught+them+on+the+way+home+Tuesday+night%2c+that+I+get+us+a+site+for+next+year+ASAP%2e+%0d%0a
TI+brings+back+some+great+memories%21+I+am+verging+on+old%2dage%2c+but+the+times+I+spent+on+the+island+still+live+fresh+in+my+memories%2e+As+a+member+of+Troop+58+I+spent+a+weekend+camporee+there+in+1959%2e+Our+troop+had+been+given+some+WW+II+surplus+pup+tents+we+used%2e+We+took+some+live+chickens+to+use+for+cooking+purposes+%28I+doubt+that+you+could+do+something+like+that+now%29%2e+When+we+got+ready+to+%22prepare%22+them+a+few+got+loose+and+the+chase+was+on%21+Them+chickens+had+some+fantastic+moves+and+the+scouts+from+several+troops+had+a+devil+of+a+time+running+them+down%2e+I+didn%27t+realize+a+chicken+could+run+without+it%27s+head+attached+and+boy+what+a+mess%21+We+cleaned+them+up+and+covered+them+with+a+thick+coat+of+mud+before+placing+them+in+an+open+hot+coaled+fire+to+cook%2e+We+were+so+hungry+and+ate+so+late+that+it+didn%27t+matter+how+they+tasted%2c+mmmmm+good%21+It+wouldn%27t+surprise+me+if+some+of+those+got%2dloose+chickens+still+had+relatives+running+around+that+island%2e+Almost+5+years+later+to+the+same+date%2c+I+took+my+OA+Brotherhhod+at+TI%2e+Great+times%2c+great+people%2c+fond+memories%21%0d%0a
TI+is+by+far+the+best+camp+I+have+ever+been+to%2e+The+program+and+staff+are+amazing%2e+It+has+an+ideal+location+and+layout%2e+Program+areas+are+close+together+and+easily+accessible%2e+Not+only+do+scouts+get+the+experience+of+living+on+an+island+for+a+week%2c+but+there+is+also+the+added+safety+of+having+scouts+contained+by+water%2e+This+is+the+only+camp+to+my+knowledge+that+runs+tubing+trips+which+at+no+additional+cost+are+a+great+addition+to+any+summer+camp+experience%2e+You+can%27t+forget+about+the+history+either%2e+This+is+not+only+the+oldest+scout+camp+%28originally+opened+in+1911+and+later+acquired+and+opened+as+a+council+camp+in+1913%29%2c+but+it+is+also+the+birthplace+of+the+Order+of+the+Arrow%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0aThis+is+the+camp+you+wanna+be+at+if+your+looking+for+a+camp+that+has+kept+up+with+the+times+while+keeping+with+a+strong+tradition%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22Still+abiding+when+we+leave+thee%2c+Dear+Ole+Treasure+Isle%22%0d%0a
Got+an+email+from+Cradle+of+Liberty+Council%2e+Camp+is+closing%2e+%0d%0a
Yes%2c+Treasure+Island+is+Closing%21+It%27s+a+real+shame%21+The+camps+history+and+the+memories+of+many+scouters+may+have+died+with+the+35+to+1+vote+in+favor+of+closing+the+island+by+the+Cradle+Of+Liberty+Council%27s+Camping+Comittee%21+Apparently+the+council+feels+that+the+island+%22has+no+historical+value%22%2e+It%27s+just+not+right%21+Please+voice+your+opinions+or+comments+%40+http%3a%5c%5cwww%2ecolbsa%2eorg%2e+Maybe+if+enough+voices+are+heard%2e%2e%2e%0d%0a
There+are+some+efforts+afoot+to+try+and+save+Treasure+Island+for+future+Scouting+generations%2e++Some+of+the+solutions+include+selling+the+property+to+a+conservatorship+and+having+a+leaseback+arrangement%2e++Of+course%2c+only+time+will+tell+what+is+feasible%2e++I+hope+that+the+friends+of+this+Camp+succeed%2e++Treasure+Island+is+a+wonderful+Scout+camp%21%0d%0a
In+September+of+2008%2c+the+Cradle+of+Liberty+Council+announced+that+it+had+ratified+a+recommendation+from+the+council%92s+camping+committee+to+cease+operation+of+Treasure+Island+Scout+Reservation+as+of+October+1st%2c+2008%2e+Treasure+Island+%28or+TI+as+it+is+commonly+referred+to%29+is+the+oldest+continually+operated+Boy+Scout+camp+in+the+United+States%2c+serving+the+youth+of+the+Philadelphia+area+since+1913%2e+It+is+also+the+birthplace+of+the+Order+of+the+Arrow%2c+the+honor+society+of+the+Boy+Scouts+of+America%2e++Shortly+after+the+announced+closing+a+small+group+of+five+Scouters+came+together+and+unofficially+formed+the+Friends+of+Treasure+Island+%28FoTI%29%2e%0d%0a
That+is+a+shame+that+they+had+closed+his+camp+I+have+spent+a+number+of+summer+camps+there+and+it+was+one+of+my+favorite+also+this+camp+has+a+very+long+history+I+will+never+forget+the+song++dear+old+treasure+Island%2e%0d%0a
In+a+letter+to+my+grandsons+in+NY+who+are+attending+a+summer+camp%2c+I+was+recalling+my+wonderful+2+week+stays+on+TI+in+the+mid+to+late+1940s%2e+I+knew+it+was+financially+difficult+for+my+parents+%28%2410%2fweek%29+but+they+thought+it+worthwhile%2e++Years+later+I+attended+a+reunion+of+sorts+with+other+members+of+my+troop+on+TI%2e++I+was+surprised+to+see+a+large+swimming+pool+and+was+told+that+because+the+river+was+so+polluted+that+swimming+in+the+river%2c+which+we+did+in+the+1940s%2c+was+prohibited%2e++Our+camp+site+was+next+to+the+river%2e++Hence+the+swimming+pool%2e++Sorry+to+read+that+it+had+to+close%2e++I+still+have+b%26w+photos+of+our+site%2cof+my+fellow+scouts+and+of+course+wonderful+memories%2e%0d%0a
is+open+to+visit+or+check+for+the+day%2e+we+are+coming+from+San+Diego+%2cCa+and+or+O%2eA%2e+members+%2e+we+would+like+to+see+the+area+n+take+pictures+%2ewe+will+be+in+New+jersey+between++March+26%2c+to+31+2016%2e%0d%0a
Very+sad+to+hear+that+is+gone%2e++Had+a+great+time+with+troop+104+from+Philadelphia+Pa%0d%0a
C%2eO%2eL%2e+Council+has+sold+the+property+to+a+private+owner+who+will+operate+a+campground+there%2e+++The+new+owner+will+allow+free+camping+for+Boy+Scout+troops%2c+when+space+is+available%2e%0d%0a
Treasure+Island+Camp%3a%0d%0a%0d%0aDear+Fellow+Scouters%2c%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+Friends+of+Treasure+Island+%28FoTI%29+are+aware+of+the+frustration+everyone+feels+about+the+vandalism+to+the+buildings+on+the+island+as+well+as+the+total+disregard+for+the+Treasure+Island+memorabilia+left+behind%2e+The+last+set+of+pictures+posted+showed+dozens+of+Boy+Scout+related+items+from+memorial+bricks+to+merit+badge+plaques+strewn+all+over+not+to+mention+items+that+had+value+and+could+have+been+put+to+good+use%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aWe+know+there+is+a+temptation+to+organize+a+%93midnight+raid%94+to+salvage+our+history%2e+Please+be+aware+there+are+safety+and+legal+risks+with+that+approach%2e+We+are+asking+for+your+patience%2e+Frank+Carroll+has+been+in+contact+with+the+John+Haubert%2c+the+new+owner%2c+and+is+pleased+to+let+everyone+know+he+is+committed+to+helping+us+salvage+all+items+which+have+historical+or+sentimental+value%2e+We+will+be+working+with+him+and+updating+you+on+our+progress+however%2c+we+need+time+to+develop+and+implement+a+plan+which+is+safe+and+efficient%2e+In+the+interim+we+have+two+requests%3a%0d%0a%0d%0a1%2e+Please+resist+the+urge+to+%93salvage%94+the+items%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a2%2e+Share+your+thoughts+on+Facebook+as+to+proposed+ways+to+gather%2c+inventory%2c+and+distribute+salvageable+items%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aWe+like+you+are+committed+to+preserving+the+history+of+TI%2e+We+will+do+all+we+can%2c+and+update+you+as+the+process+moves+forward%2e++Check+us+out+on+Facebook+at+Save+Treasure+Island%21%0d%0a
Treasure+Island+Camp%3a%0d%0a%0d%0aDear+Fellow+Scouters%2c%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+Friends+of+Treasure+Island+%28FoTI%29+are+aware+of+the+frustration+everyone+feels+about+the+vandalism+to+the+buildings+on+the+island+as+well+as+the+total+disregard+for+the+Treasure+Island+memorabilia+left+behind%2e+The+last+set+of+pictures+posted+showed+dozens+of+Boy+Scout+related+items+from+memorial+bricks+to+merit+badge+plaques+strewn+all+over+not+to+mention+items+that+had+value+and+could+have+been+put+to+good+use%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aWe+know+there+is+a+temptation+to+organize+a+%93midnight+raid%94+to+salvage+our+history%2e+Please+be+aware+there+are+safety+and+legal+risks+with+that+approach%2e+We+are+asking+for+your+patience%2e+Frank+Carroll+has+been+in+contact+with+the+John+Haubert%2c+the+new+owner%2c+and+is+pleased+to+let+everyone+know+he+is+committed+to+helping+us+salvage+all+items+which+have+historical+or+sentimental+value%2e+We+will+be+working+with+him+and+updating+you+on+our+progress+however%2c+we+need+time+to+develop+and+implement+a+plan+which+is+safe+and+efficient%2e+In+the+interim+we+have+two+requests%3a%0d%0a%0d%0a1%2e+Please+resist+the+urge+to+%93salvage%94+the+items%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a2%2e+Share+your+thoughts+on+Facebook+as+to+proposed+ways+to+gather%2c+inventory%2c+and+distribute+salvageable+items%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aWe+like+you+are+committed+to+preserving+the+history+of+TI%2e+We+will+do+all+we+can%2c+and+update+you+as+the+process+moves+forward%2e++Check+us+out+on+Facebook+at+Save+Treasure+Island%21%0d%0a
Haubert+Outdoor+Oriented+Adventure+Hospitality+%28HOOAH%29%2c+LLC+with+assistance+from+the+Friends+of+Treasure+Island+%28FoTI%29+present%3a%0d%0a%0d%0aTREASURE+ISLAND+CAMP%0d%0a575+River+Road%0d%0aPipersville%2c+PA+18974%0d%0aParking+is+located+in+lot+next+to+Rangers%92+house+on+River+Road%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aWe+have+made+great+progress+and+Treasure+Island+is+open+for+BSA+unit+camping+FREE%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aTent+camping+on+%93Dear+Ole+Treasure+Isle%85that+Camp+along+the+Delaware%94%3a+wilderness+setting%2c+pit+latrines%2c+no+water%2c+and+no+electricity%2e++Units%2c+campers%2c+and+workday+volunteers+need+to+bring+everything+they+need+for+their+stay%2e++Bring+all+the+gear+you+want%2c+but+carry+it+all+to+your+campsite%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aFree+lunch+provided+to+all+day+Workday+volunteers%0d%0a%0d%0aTreasure+Island+Camp+%28TIC%29%2c+a+place+of+magic+and+mystery%2c+was+established+as+a+Boy+Scout+camp+in+1913+and+became+%93the+birth+place+of+the+Order+of+the+Arrow%94+in+1915%2e+This+is+a+unique+camping+experience+that+you+can%92t+find+anywhere+else%2e+Camp+on+this+hallowed+ground+where+the+Lenape+tribe+hunted+and+camped%2c+and+Scouting%92s+legends+walked%2e+A+barge+ride+across+the+mighty+Delaware+to+%93the+island%94+begins+your+journey%2e+This+is+as+remote+as+Bucks+County%2c+PA+can+offer+but+you+are+still+within+reach+of+many+off+island+adventures+like+tubing%2c+canoeing%2c+biking%2c+and+hiking%2e++Enjoy+the+pure+spirit+of+camping+without+today%92s+distractions%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0aWe+offer+an+opportunity+to+teach+your+Scouts+leadership+and+basic+Scout+skills%2e+From+the+time+you+hit+our+parking+lot+your+unit+faces+the+challenge+of+getting+your+gear+down+to+our+dock%2c+over+to+the+island+on+our+barge%2c+then+off+the+barge%2c+and+to+your+site%2e++For+units+use+to+drive%2din%2ftrailer+camping+this+can+be+a+new+experience%2e++Since+we%27ve+been+doing+%93old+school%94+camping+on+TI+since+1913+so+it+is+certainly+doable%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0aTI+provides+a+chance+to+do+camping+as+it+was+meant+to+be%2c+basic+and+rustic%2e++Cooking+over+wood+fires%2c+hiking%2c+hard+work+during+your+service+hours%2c+and+wildlife+from+countless+species+of+birds+to+whitetail+deer%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0aAll+camping+is+currently+on+the+parade+ground+until+we+get+the+sites+opened+up+from+10+years+of+neglect+and+downed+trees%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aEven+though+we+are+a+private+camp%2c+not+a+Scout+camp%2c+we+expect+Scout+units+to+follow+all+of+the+BSA%27s+policies+and+procedures%3a+2+deep+leadership%3b+Safe+Swim+Defense%3b+Safety+Afloat%3b+and+Leave+No+Trace%2e+We+strictly+enforce+NO+ALCOHOL+during+these+Scout+weekends%2e++We+do+not+allow+the+public+to+camp+during+Scout+weekends+at+this+time%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aWe+hope+you+can+fit+us+into+your+camping+schedule+in+the+future+and+you+can+come+out+to+support+the+%93rebirth+of+a+national+treasure%94+as+Scout+units+camp+FREE+on+TI%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aMake+a+reservation%3a+hwiese%40verizon%2enet%2e+Provide%3a+unit+%23%3b+Council%3b+City%3b+State%3a+POC%3b+cell+phone%2c+estimated+time+of+arrival+on+Friday+or+Saturday+and+departure+on+Sunday%3b+%23+of+Y%2fA%2e+Friday+night+NET+6%3a00PM%2fNLT+8%3a00PM%2e+Saturday+morning+arrival+NET+7%3a00AM%2e+Sunday+departure+NLT+2%3a00PM%2e++We+will+confirm+and+provide+more+details%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aHOW%21+HOW%21+Still+Abiding%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%0d%0a%0d%0a%0d%0aGet+direct+information+from+our+email+blast%2c+provide+email%2e++Follow+us+on+Facebook+at+%93Friends+of+Treasure+Island%94+and+%93Treasure+Island+Archive%94%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a
I+attended+camp+at+TI+in+the+1940%27s+while+with+old+Woodland+Troop+115%2cS%2eW%2e+Phila%2e+Earned+my+Astronomy+and+Weather+merit+badges+there%2e+Was+inducted+into+Order+of+the+Arrow%2c+there+in+1962+as+an+honorary+member+after+returning+to+my+old+troop%2e+Now+with+Teton+Peaks+Council%2c+BSA+in+eastern+Idaho%2c+and+merit+badge+instructor%2e%0d%0a