More museums should be like this Scout-friendly one in Oregon

Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum.
Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum.

There’s tons to see inside the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum near Portland, Ore.

But it’s what’s outside that caught my eye.

The museum, located in McMinnville, just opened a new designated Scout camping area. That means Scouts can set up their tents among oak trees right off the museum’s parking lot and then walk over to the museum during the day.

Once there, they can check out displays like the original Spruce Goose, movies in the museum theater, merit badge classes, or the “educational waterpark” with its 10 waterslides that teach visitors about the power of water. 

No Scout camping area is complete without a great gateway, and, as you can see above, this has it. The gateway prominently displays the Scout Oath and Scout Law, but its underlying message is that “Scouts are welcome here.”

The photo was sent to me by Jackie Dannemiller of the Cascade Pacific Council. The Scouts and Scouters pictured recently gathered for the 2013 Wapiti District Camporee, an event so fun that Jackie couldn’t help but share the news with everyone.

If your unit will be in Oregon soon, Jackie recommends you stop by the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum — and, of course, spend a couple of nights camping in the museum’s backyard.

Other Scout-friendly museums?

No museum is more targeted to Scouts than the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas.

But Jackie’s email got me thinking: Are there other museums around that go above and beyond to welcome and serve Scouts? If so, leave a comment below and tell everyone about it.


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.