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Boy Scout Troop 2 was chartered by St. Andrews UCC church, 401 North 9th Street, Allentown. The troop was the 2nd Boy Scout troop in Allentown and was first chartered in March, 1916. In 1966, Lehigh Council authorized Troop 2 the 50 year gold service bar, which signifies a 50 year continously charterd troop.
Troop 2 was dissolved in 1994 after 78 years when the Saint Andrews Church congregation was disbanded. The scouts in Troop 2 merged with Troop 11, St. Michaels UCC. Troop 11 exists today as part of the Trexler District, Minsi Trails Council. I was a member of Allentown PA Troop 2 from November 1965 through July 1972. The two green bars below the troop numeral signify my patrol leader status. |
The 900-acre camp is located about 33 miles north of Allentown in the Pennsylvania Pocono Mountains, about half a mile east of Jonas, Pennsylvania.
In January 1927, General Harry C. Trexler offered to buy a proposed campsite in Monroe County for the Boy Scouts of the Lehigh Valley. He stipulated however that the equivalent of the purchase price had to be raised for the purpose of development, improvement, and maintenance. The program was carried out successfully. and Trexler Scout Reservation has since developed into one of the Northeast Region's finest Scout Camps.
During my years attending Camp Trexler, there were two summer camp programs offered. One was "Settler's Camp", where you spent the week in a cabin, and ate your meals at the central dining hall. During the winter, the cabins were used for weekend troop excursions. Settler's Camp still exists today.
A second program offered was called "Pioneer Camp", where the troop would spend it's week in tents, and cook it's own meals bar-b-que style, furnished by a commissary/trading post. This is how Troop 2 would spend it's Summer Camp, and how I spent my summers camping.
In 1983, the Pioneer Camp was renamed "Akelaland", and the area transformed into a Cub Scout day camp experience. The Pioneer camp was renamed "Wilderness Camping", and a new faciity developed which provides the Pioneer camp experience.
Camp Trexler, now known as Trexler Scout Reservation, was where I spent a great part of my summers growing up. From my first visit in March, 1966, to my last in June, 1972 it was a very enjoyable experience, and one which I think every boy growing up should experience.
This cabin was where I first spent a winter camping weekend in March 1966. During the summer months it is used as part of Settler's camp.
From 1928 though 1965 this was the main dining hall for Camp Trexler. In March 1966, during a winter camp, we would use this for various meetings and activities.
Example of a Pioneer Camp troop camping area. During my summer camp, my Troop always elected to go to this style of camping.
This is the main parking area at Pioneer Camp. This is the area where we would first unload our camping gear and have our nightly formations. Recently, this is where the headquarters cabin for the Cub Scout camp has been built.
Commissary/Trading post for Pioneer Camp. In June, 1972, I was briefly on the Pioneer Camp staff before leaving to enter the United States Air Force. I was in charge of the trading post which sold all sorts of arts and crafts items, as well as hot Stewart sandwiches, ice cream, cokes and candy. Today, this is the dining hall for the Cub Scouts.
In late June 1972, prior to the opening of the camp for scouts, we were caught in Tropical Storm Agnes. This cabin provided us shelter during the worst of the storm.
This is the site of Pioneer Campsite #1, where in 1966 I spent my first week of Pioneer Camp with Troop 2. In subsequent summers I earned many merit badges camping at this site. Today it is being utilized for Cub Scout activities.
Latrine facilities at Pioneer Camp. Also this is where bulletins are posted.
Lake Minsi. This is the origional swimming lake at Camp Trexler, used from 1928 until 1965 for swimming and boating. Now, by tradition, it is only used for the Order Of The Arrow inductions during the summer.
Lake Trexler was built in the early 1960's and is now used for all water activities at the Camp.
My Badges and Awards
From Camp Trexler
During my years at Camp Trexler, I was able to learn many outdoor skills. Until I left scouting in 1972 to join the Air Force, I was able to attain Life Scout rank. Below are some of the badges and awards I earned and recieved during those summers I spent at Camp Trexler.
 This is my merit badge sash. I earned 22 merit badges as a Boy Scout. |
 Unused Trexler Scout Reservation Neckerchief, 1972 |
 NRA Rifle Award, 1968 |
 Mile Swim award, July 1968 | ||
 Boy Scout Lifeguard award, August 1969 |
 Swimming Instructor award, August 1970 |
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 This patch was issued to campers after completing a week of summer camp, 1965 |
 This patch was issued to campers after completing a week of summer camp, 1966-1969. |
 In 1970, the patch was redesigned when Lehigh Council merged with two other local Boy Scout Councils to form Minsi Trails Council. |
 1971 Trexler Scout Reservation patch. This was issued during the summer I was at the XIII World Jamboree in Japan |
 1972 Trexler Scout Reservation patch issued to me during my brief staff tenure in June and July 1972 |
Order Of The Arrow
 OA Ordeal flap, 1970 |
 The Brotherhood Order of the Arrow Sash, awarded 1971. |
 OA Brotherhood flap, 1971 |
The stated purposes of the Order of the Arrow are:
* To recognize those Scout campers who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives,
* To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit,
* To promote Scout camping, and
* To crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.
Candidates to the OA must first be elected by a majority vote of their fellow Scouts (including non-OA members) in their troop or team. Any Scout who has reached the rank of First Class, has fulfilled camping requirements (15 nights of camping, including 1 long term 5-night camp, within the last two years), and has been approved by his Scoutmaster is eligible for election.
The next step is the Calling-out, typically performed by a lodge member dressed in ceremonial Native American regalia. This usually occurs sometime prior to the next inductions weekend, and may be done at summer camp, a district camping event called a Camporee, or even at a troop meeting. This is commonly called the Ordeal. During the experience, candidates maintain silence, receive small amounts of food, work on camp improvement projects, and are required to sleep alone, apart from other campers. The entire experience is designed to teach significant values.
In September, 1971, I took part in the Brotherhood ceremony, which places further emphasis on the ideals of Scouting and the Order. Completion of this ceremony signified my full membership in the OA.
Members of the OA are identified by a white sash, bearing a red arrow worn over their right shoulder. This is the Ordeal sash. The Brotherhood sash consists of an arrow "enclosed" by two red bars. OA members are also identified by special Order of the Arrow patches worn on the right pocket flap of their Boy Scout uniforms, called lodge flaps.
