10 of the craziest places Scouts have camped overnight

A baseball stadium, an aquarium with sharks swimming overhead and the camp where Friday the 13th was filmed are among the craziest places Scouts have camped in recent years.

After we had so much fun seeing cool places where Scouts meet, I asked to see the craziest places they’ve camped. I received dozens of submissions and have shared out 10 of my favorites below.

Have one to add? Email me your photos using the instructions here.

1. On the same floor where the San Antonio Spurs play

1-ATT-Center

Who: Pack 48.

Where: AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, which is home of the NBA’s Spurs and the Rampage of the American Hockey League.

Why it’s crazy: A bunch of Scouts camping on the same grounds traversed by Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Mary, one of the leaders in Pack 48, adds: “We are the maroon bedrolls to the left of the overhead screen along walkway.”

2. On a minor league baseball field

2-Baseball-field

Who: Pack 253, Chestertown, Md.

Where: Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, Del., home of the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Carolina League.

Why it’s crazy: Instead of fighting post-game traffic, the Scouts “watched a great game and got to spend the night on the field,” says Scout leader Nicole.

3. On an island in the middle of an Alaskan river

3-Alaskan-island

Who: Troop 256, Pickerington, Ohio.

Where: Yukon River, Alaska, on a small rock island in the middle of the river.

Why it’s crazy: Because of the remoteness, no setting sun and the fact that “hardly no one camps there,” says Scoutmaster Brent.

4. In an aquarium (right under the sharks)

4-Aquarium

Who: Pack 24.

Where: Ripley’s Aquarium, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Why it’s crazy: Cubmaster Ed quotes one of his Cub Scouts, who recently asked, “Mr. Ed, when can we sleep with the sharks again?”

5. In a museum (right under the dinosaurs)

5-Science-museum

Who: Pack 86.

Where: Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul.

Why it’s crazy: Because of the surroundings, says Scout leader Nicole. “The Science Museum of Minnesota is a great place to camp because it provides a great program and many cool exhibits to sleep next to.”

6. At the camp where Friday the 13th was filmed

6-Friday-the-13th

Who: Pack 192, Wayne, N.J.

Where: Northern New Jersey Council’s Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in Blairstown, N.J.

Why it’s crazy: Otherwise known as “Camp Crystal Lake,” the first Friday the 13th movie (1980) was filmed at No-Be. The council even offers official Friday the 13th tours of the camp.

7. In a “haunted” jail in Canada

7-Canada-jail

Who: Troop 213, Export, Pa.

Where: The cells of the Ottawa Jail Hostel — a “haunted” 19th-century Canadian county jail.

Why it’s crazy: It’s really the only acceptable way to spend the night in jail — in real cells, with real bars and with a real clanking barred cell door.

8. On a beach in the shadow of a roller coaster

8-Cedar-Point

Who: Troop and Pack 409.

Where: Cedar Point Beach in Sandusky, Ohio, next to the popular amusement park. This was part of an official Heart of Ohio Council event.

Why it’s crazy: Scout leader James says, “An early wake up call from coaster test runs? Oh, what a great four years on this campout!”

9. Inside an 18th century fort

9-Fort

Who: Troop 61, Wooster, Ohio.

Where: Fort Niagara near Youngstown, N.Y.

Why it’s crazy: “The Scouts slept inside the fort in the former soldier bunk area,” says Scouter Mark.

10. Inside a submarine

10-inside-sub

Who: Pack 169, Port Huron, Mich.

WhereUSS Silversides, a World War II submarine in Muskegon, Mich.

Why it’s crazy: A chance to sleep in the berths where brave men once served our country.

Your turn

Share photos of the craziest places you’ve camped here.


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