Dive summary:

• In a bind for a space that would allow 120 Boy Scouts, a Boy Scouts group in La Crosse, Wis. decided to hold their camporee, a regional camp out, at the local La Crosse County Landfill.
• While some parents were questioning the decision at first, only 5 out of the 300 acres contain trash and so the rest of the facility was able to accommodate nature paths, sports and educational activities.
• The Scout group said they want to emphasize environmental education and the landfill was able to provide that by teaching kids about invasive species, dump-site clean-up and trail building.

From the article:

“Initially, a lot of people were saying, ‘Oh man, we’re going to the landfill,’” Seven Rivers District Executive Tammy Schmitz said. But the site provided a host of educational and recreational opportunities — and only 5 acres of the 300-plus-acre property actually holds trash.

“We’re definitely focusing on the environmental education,” Schmitz said. Solid waste director Hank Koch walked scouts through the science and sustainability behind the landfill.

But put 120 kids together, and you also need a heavy dose of fun to accompany the learning. ...