Winter Camping at Toad Hollow
Trenton Times November, 1934

Limited facilities Restrict Its Use
to One Troop at a Time

Toad Hollow is a name known hazily to many people but with the exception of hundreds of Scouts who belong to troops making this site a hike objective during the Winter, few have ever seen the sight.

A good troop can operate an overnight camp in zero weather without health risks. The scoutmaster has a better than average knowledge of camping and is concerned about his boys. He will exercise extreme caution in teaching his troop the fundamentals of camping.

Toad Hollow was started with the hope of meeting the great need of Trenton troops for a quiet place in the woods where outdoor camping might be practiced. Each year more than 2,000 campers have visited the place, which is located just beyond Bakers Basin.

These campers have brought their own tents in many cases, but in the coldest weather they have slept in the cabin. Limited accommodations will permit only one troop at a time to use the site.

The most successful Scouting is that which employs actual outdoor Scout work after reading about it. There is no keener pleasure to offer a man or boy than a night in the woods after he learns to take care of himself. The Winter camp is a fundamental Scout need. The council hopes that Toad Hollow will continue its growth until there will be facilities to accommodate all the troops that want to go there each week.

ask jos: I believe this article refers to Baker's Basin south of Quakerbridge Mall on US 1, where the current Baker's Basin Motor Vehicle Bureau is located. Did the boys drive north from Trenton to camp, or perhaps they hiked. I recall some older scouts (older compared to me) relating that they would hike from Trenton to Ewing to camp. Does anyone have information about this?

As further confusion, there are references to a Toad Hollow at the Order of the Arrow lodge in Stacy Park, and later to a Toad Hollow in the park at Hamilton. I have been told that the Hamilton references are incorrect. Even worse, there is a Toad Lane in Ringos. Was there a Toad family from the Trenton (no bad jokes please)?

September 12, 1999