Cool Camp: Tesomas Scout Camp

Tesomas Scout Camp

Samoset Council

Rhinelander, Wis.

For nearly 70 years, Smiley the Tent has cheerily greeted Scouts entering Tesomas Scout Camp. The camp’s logo — a smiley-faced tent — was designed by The Walt Disney Company in 1952, and it’s featured on the sign for the nearly 1,200-acre camp.

With about 65 merit badges to choose from, Scouts have equal reason to be cheerful at Tesomas. Merit badge offerings include popular summertime ventures like Archery and Swimming, as well as some unique camp offerings like Moviemaking and Game Design. The camp boasts a fun aquatics area with a water slide, trampoline and inflatable iceberg in crystal-clear water.

The fun continues around the camp with a 60-foot climbing wall and basketball court. Aside from Crystal Lake are boggy areas teeming with wildlife — a perfect place for Scouts studying ecology.

Scouts who want more adventure can choose one of the camp’s “MicroTreks.” These half- and full-day programs allow Scouts to choose from a variety of activities, both on- and off-site, including miniature golf, caving, mountain biking, tubing, zip lining, ATV riding and hiking to waterfalls.

Every year, the staff picks a theme, which not only makes for cool camp T-shirts, but also brings some themed fun to the week. Past themes have featured arcade games, movies and the Wild West — this year, it’s cartoons. The themed fun includes cooking challenges, a beach party, campfire programs and field games. Sounds like something that can bring a smile to any Scout’s face.

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