Scamp Homecoming Rally 2025

This week we packed up and went to our second Scamp Homecoming Rally. This was our first long trip with our new pup Archie. People may not remember Brian or me, but EVERYONE will remember Archie. He was a little ham that got adoring hugs and cuddles from anyone that walked by him. As you can see, he was also quite comfortable traveling.

We left Monday afternoon and made a quick overnight stop in Iowa and contemplated where we should visit before going to the Rally. We were torn between Lake Superior and Voyageurs National Park. Tuesday morning we woke up and finally decided on Voyageurs to get our 14th National Park in the books. We drove past Duluth, our turn off for Lake Superior and I called the RV resort we planned on going to and discovered they were booked! It turned out that every full hookup campground I could find on Lake Kabetogama was booked! I assume it must be a very nice area... but we have yet to find out. So, improvising, we found Crane Lake where Voyageurs brand new Visitor Center and RV park are located. It turns out that this location is the very Southeast border of the National Park and also the Southwest terminus of the Boundary Waters. 

It was very quiet and serene area, but much like the Everglades, it is a park best explored by boat and we didn't have that option. We did however get to find out first hand how aggressive the mosquito population in the area is, that was quite delightful. The mosquitos were bad during the day, but nothing we haven't experienced before. But Tuesday night, just before bedtime and fresh from the shower, I took Archie out to relieve himself one last time and I am still suffering the consequences. I am sure I gave the neighbors quite the laugh. At 930 at night, the sun was just starting to set and Archie and I were fully visible to the rest of the park. He was taking his sweet time to find just the perfect spot to go and I was dancing around, flailing my arms, slapping at my face, legs, and arms like I had gone mad. When he was finally done and I had to bag up his poop, I couldn't get the poop bag to open, I struggled to hold onto his leash and simultaneously keep the mosquitos at bay. To top it off, Archie thought this was great fun and that I was playing, so he was jumping around and trying to tear the poop bag out of my hands.  FINALLY! I succeeded in opening the bag, and am only a missing a pint of blood. I bag the poop, and run into the camper where a million pesty flying piranhas follow us.  Brian and I then spend the next 10 minutes killing these mini vampires, most of them on my own body. I have never in my life had so many bug bites, on my face, scalp, neck, arms, legs... EVERY EXPOSED BODY PART suffered. 

Wednesday we coated ourselves with bug spray and went out to enjoy the local sites that we could reach by vehicle. Talking to a local, we discovered that this was a GOOD year and the mosquitos weren't as bad! YIKES!

Thursday morning we woke up and headed South to Walker Minnesota for the Scamp Rally. We arrived, got set up, and started visiting with our neighbors. Archie is a pretty lazy dog that thoroughly enjoys air conditioning and wasn't really up for walking around. Lucky him, the weather was cool and visitors came to our site to visit him. Not very many people or their dogs could walk by our site without stopping to visit and Archie loved every second of it. We definitely aced the puppy socialization this week.

We even had people asking for play dates or if they could walk him. We couldn't make it around to everyone that wanted to see him. He was probably one of the most popular attractions at the Rally.

That night was the meet and greet, potluck, and games. We socialized and mingled and came dangerously close to selling our camper and buying a smaller 16 ft Scamp. A lady came and looked at our camper and offered us cash, but we decided to stick with what we have. It was a tough decision though!

Friday morning we took part in more of the festivities and Brian sold a couple of cutting boards he had made. Then we drove about an hour to the Bemidji Brewery, our favorite brewery so far, and a must visit every time we're in the area. While there, we ran into another couple that had also traveled from Crane Lake, where they live. They invited us to visit again and get a local's boat tour of the area. (I checked, no visible pineapples on their attire.)

That evening Scamp hosted a "Price is Right" Scamp edition. Last year, Brian won several prizes at Card Bingo, this year he had jokingly been telling people he was Mr. Lucky and was going to win all the prizes this year. Well, he missed out on the Card Bingo the night before, but won the final showcase on the Price is Right Friday night. He won several hundred dollars in camping accessories and even hugged Micah, the CEO slash game show host, like you see the crazy contestants do to Drew Carey.

We also reunited with a friend from last year, Moe, short for Maureen, and visited with her and other passerbys the rest of the night.

The beer we bought in Bemidji (to take home) was enjoyed by all even some of the staff. Micah made his rounds and stopped to visit and Brian gave him one of his custom cutting boards.

One of the best things about the Scamp community is the company itself. Micah is the owner and takes a very active role, walking around and engaging with guests, his employees, and the entertainment. His employees and their families, including Micah's, all pitch in to make the Rally a successful event. His poor kids even get the honor of dumping the camper's holding tanks. And while not any company is perfect, every Scamp employee we have ever talked to seems very proud of their role in the company and loves to tell us what they do for the company - even the people doing the grunt work seem to be very proud of the job they do for Scamp and often praise Micah and the direction he is taking the family owned company.  I asked Micah if they even broke even hosting these events and I think he had to hold back a laugh. He said they lose money on the event but that it's all for the customers and they host the Homecoming for us, to show us their appreciation.

Saturday we went on the Scamp factory tour, and once again convinced ourselves that we didn't need to downgrad to the 16 ft Scamp travel trailer. Afterwards we relaxed in the hospitality tent and listened to an amazing young singer, Lacey Canefield.

I don't know anything about music, but I think this lady has the talent to make it, I hope she's given the chance.

We listened to the keynote speaker, Rodolpho Rojas, a brand ambassador for Scamp. Him and his partner are spending 2025 touring the continent in their 13 ft trailer, with their 2 dogs, seeing as much of America as they can.

Finally, late afternoon, it was time for the event I was looking forward to the most, the 70s cover band and costume contest.  The 70s Magic Sunshine Band did NOT disappoint! They were great, and believe it or not, Brian and I even danced! I didn't win the costume contest, but the couple that did were well deserving (wish I had a picture of all of the costumes).

The dance party was the highlight of the Rally and afterwards we had to go back to the camper and get ready for our early morning departure. We met a ton of people and a ton of beautiful dogs, we came very close to adopting another dog while at the Rally, and we may still end up doing so. After talking to our neighbor's from Maine we have decided that we are going to copy their trip and travel the Northeast coast all the way to Newfoundland and Labrador Canada. Which I barely knew existed and just now realized that I have incorrectly been saying "New Finland" so I bet Art and Elizabeth must think I am a total moron, kudos to them for not embarrassing me and correcting me. 

This will be our last major trip in our Scamp for a few months.  As of right now, we have traveled 2016 miles since Monday and we have about 75 more to go. The next time I writ may have to be just to record Archie's adventures and his exponential growth.