Treasure Island--More information

Information for Treasure Island (Private)

Camp address	Contact Information
575 River Road Pipersville, PA Forecast for this area (at weather.com)	Haubert Outdoor Oriented Adventure Hospitality, LLC Website

Map using camp address (sometimes accurate)	Map using coordinates: (always accurate) Lat: 40.4725, Lon: -75.0658
Mapquest™ Road map Suremaps™ Topo map	Scoutlas Road & Water maps Microsoft™ Terraserver Topo & photo maps Suremaps™ Topo map Topozone™ Topo map

Comments for Treasure Island

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."

(posted on Mar 20,2000)

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.

(posted on Aug 27,2000)

had a good time this summer at TI, however it was the first scout camp I have attended that allowed smoking--not just by the leaders but in the site next to ours the senior patrol leader and other scouts were smoking as well, when I addressed the issue I was told that the adults could smoke in the site but the scouts shouldn't be smoking (?).......... lead by example scouters give up the smokes for a week or stay home

(posted on Aug 27,2001)

Treasure Island will be celebrating 90 years of camping this summer.

(posted on May 24,2003)

it has been ten years since i camped at TI. when i was a senior scout there, i at least had the decency to go out to the tip of the island to smoke cigarettes, away from leaders and younger scouts. what a great camp!

(posted on Jul 30,2004)

TI is the birthplace of Unami Lodge 1 (the first lodge) and the birthplace of the Order of the Arrow!

(posted on Jul 22,2005)

I had the pleasure of becoming an adult while camping on TI. Scouting and TI go together like Oreos and milk. TI is an adventure that every scout should experience.

(posted on Apr 28,2006)

Most recently TI has become more then your average adventure with the evacuations that occured this past week. Even though camp only made it though 2 days of program my boys loved every minute of it. Despite that the evacuation was frighting the staff managed to make my boys enjoy that too! 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. The boys liked their 3 days at camp, Sunday though Tuesday, so much that they insitsted, inbetween singing the songs that the staff taught them on the way home Tuesday night, that I get us a site for next year ASAP.

(posted on Jul 30,2006)

TI brings back some great memories! I am verging on old-age, but the times I spent on the island still live fresh in my memories. As a member of Troop 58 I spent a weekend camporee there in 1959. Our troop had been given some WW II surplus pup tents we used. We took some live chickens to use for cooking purposes (I doubt that you could do something like that now). When we got ready to "prepare" them a few got loose and the chase was on! Them chickens had some fantastic moves and the scouts from several troops had a devil of a time running them down. I didn't realize a chicken could run without it's head attached and boy what a mess! We cleaned them up and covered them with a thick coat of mud before placing them in an open hot coaled fire to cook. We were so hungry and ate so late that it didn't matter how they tasted, mmmmm good! It wouldn't surprise me if some of those got-loose chickens still had relatives running around that island. Almost 5 years later to the same date, I took my OA Brotherhhod at TI. Great times, great people, fond memories!

(posted on Dec 26,2006)

TI is by far the best camp I have ever been to. The program and staff are amazing. It has an ideal location and layout. Program areas are close together and easily accessible. Not only do scouts get the experience of living on an island for a week, but there is also the added safety of having scouts contained by water. 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. You can't forget about the history either. This is not only the oldest scout camp (originally opened in 1911 and later acquired and opened as a council camp in 1913), but it is also the birthplace of the Order of the Arrow.

This 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.

"Still abiding when we leave thee, Dear Ole Treasure Isle"

(posted on Aug 22,2008)

Got an email from Cradle of Liberty Council. Camp is closing.

(posted on Sep 19,2008)

Yes, Treasure Island is Closing! It's a real shame! 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's Camping Comittee! Apparently the council feels that the island "has no historical value". It's just not right! Please voice your opinions or comments @ http:\\www.colbsa.org. Maybe if enough voices are heard...

(posted on Sep 29,2008)

There are some efforts afoot to try and save Treasure Island for future Scouting generations. Some of the solutions include selling the property to a conservatorship and having a leaseback arrangement. Of course, only time will tell what is feasible. I hope that the friends of this Camp succeed. Treasure Island is a wonderful Scout camp!

(posted on Feb 24,2009)

In September of 2008, the Cradle of Liberty Council announced that it had ratified a recommendation from the council’s camping committee to cease operation of Treasure Island Scout Reservation as of October 1st, 2008. Treasure Island (or TI as it is commonly referred to) is the oldest continually operated Boy Scout camp in the United States, serving the youth of the Philadelphia area since 1913. It is also the birthplace of the Order of the Arrow, the honor society of the Boy Scouts of America. Shortly after the announced closing a small group of five Scouters came together and unofficially formed the Friends of Treasure Island (FoTI).

(posted on Dec 28,2013)

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.

(posted on Apr 2,2014)

In a letter to my grandsons in NY who are attending a summer camp, I was recalling my wonderful 2 week stays on TI in the mid to late 1940s. I knew it was financially difficult for my parents ($10/week) but they thought it worthwhile. Years later I attended a reunion of sorts with other members of my troop on TI. I was surprised to see a large swimming pool and was told that because the river was so polluted that swimming in the river, which we did in the 1940s, was prohibited. Our camp site was next to the river. Hence the swimming pool. Sorry to read that it had to close. I still have b&w photos of our site,of my fellow scouts and of course wonderful memories.

(posted on Oct 21,2016)

is open to visit or check for the day. we are coming from San Diego ,Ca and or O.A. members . we would like to see the area n take pictures .we will be in New jersey between March 26, to 31 2016.

(posted on Oct 22,2016)

Very sad to hear that is gone. Had a great time with troop 104 from Philadelphia Pa

(posted on Jul 7,2017)

C.O.L. Council has sold the property to a private owner who will operate a campground there. The new owner will allow free camping for Boy Scout troops, when space is available.

(posted on Jun 14,2019)

Treasure Island Camp:

Dear Fellow Scouters,

The Friends of Treasure Island (FoTI) 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. 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.

We know there is a temptation to organize a “midnight raid” to salvage our history. Please be aware there are safety and legal risks with that approach. We are asking for your patience. Frank Carroll has been in contact with the John Haubert, the new owner, and is pleased to let everyone know he is committed to helping us salvage all items which have historical or sentimental value. We will be working with him and updating you on our progress however, we need time to develop and implement a plan which is safe and efficient. In the interim we have two requests:

1. Please resist the urge to “salvage” the items.

2. Share your thoughts on Facebook as to proposed ways to gather, inventory, and distribute salvageable items.

We like you are committed to preserving the history of TI. We will do all we can, and update you as the process moves forward. Check us out on Facebook at Save Treasure Island!

(posted on Jun 14,2019)

Haubert Outdoor Oriented Adventure Hospitality (HOOAH), LLC with assistance from the Friends of Treasure Island (FoTI) present:

TREASURE ISLAND CAMP
575 River Road
Pipersville, PA 18974
Parking is located in lot next to Rangers’ house on River Road.

We have made great progress and Treasure Island is open for BSA unit camping FREE.

Tent camping on “Dear Ole Treasure Isle…that Camp along the Delaware”: wilderness setting, pit latrines, no water, and no electricity. Units, campers, and workday volunteers need to bring everything they need for their stay. Bring all the gear you want, but carry it all to your campsite.

Free lunch provided to all day Workday volunteers

Treasure Island Camp (TIC), a place of magic and mystery, was established as a Boy Scout camp in 1913 and became “the birth place of the Order of the Arrow” in 1915. This is a unique camping experience that you can’t find anywhere else. Camp on this hallowed ground where the Lenape tribe hunted and camped, and Scouting’s legends walked. A barge ride across the mighty Delaware to “the island” begins your journey. This is as remote as Bucks County, PA can offer but you are still within reach of many off island adventures like tubing, canoeing, biking, and hiking. Enjoy the pure spirit of camping without today’s distractions.

We offer an opportunity to teach your Scouts leadership and basic Scout skills. From the time you hit our parking lot your unit faces the challenge of getting your gear down to our dock, over to the island on our barge, then off the barge, and to your site. For units use to drive-in/trailer camping this can be a new experience. Since we've been doing “old school” camping on TI since 1913 so it is certainly doable.

TI provides a chance to do camping as it was meant to be, basic and rustic. Cooking over wood fires, hiking, hard work during your service hours, and wildlife from countless species of birds to whitetail deer.

All camping is currently on the parade ground until we get the sites opened up from 10 years of neglect and downed trees.

Even though we are a private camp, not a Scout camp, we expect Scout units to follow all of the BSA's policies and procedures: 2 deep leadership; Safe Swim Defense; Safety Afloat; and Leave No Trace. We strictly enforce NO ALCOHOL during these Scout weekends. We do not allow the public to camp during Scout weekends at this time.

We hope you can fit us into your camping schedule in the future and you can come out to support the “rebirth of a national treasure” as Scout units camp FREE on TI.

Make a reservation: hwiese@verizon.net. Provide: unit #; Council; City; State: POC; cell phone, estimated time of arrival on Friday or Saturday and departure on Sunday; # of Y/A. Friday night NET 6:00PM/NLT 8:00PM. Saturday morning arrival NET 7:00AM. Sunday departure NLT 2:00PM. We will confirm and provide more details.

HOW! HOW! Still Abiding.

Get direct information from our email blast, provide email. Follow us on Facebook at “Friends of Treasure Island” and “Treasure Island Archive”.

(posted on Jul 30,2019)

I attended camp at TI in the 1940's while with old Woodland Troop 115,S.W. Phila. Earned my Astronomy and Weather merit badges there. Was inducted into Order of the Arrow, there in 1962 as an honorary member after returning to my old troop. Now with Teton Peaks Council, BSA in eastern Idaho, and merit badge instructor.

(posted on Aug 1,2019)

(If you have questions about this camp, don't ask them here! Comments simply get added to this page. If you need a human response, use the contact information above to address your question to the appropriate folks).

Post a new comment?
Guidelines for posting comments Your Email address?

If you include your own email address, it will be stored (along with the comment) in a temporary file. Your email address will be deleted after the comment is approved by a site administrator.

If the administrator has questions about what you wrote, the email address can be used to contact you. We do not keep, sell, or give away your email address to anyone. Once again, we delete your email address at the same time we add the comment.

If you have questions or comments about this camp database, or wish to submit a correction or request, please email the Camp Database Administrator

NOTE! The above is not a contact email for information about Treasure Island. This is the email for the volunteer who runs the scoutcamp.org camp database.