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Scout Camp

Sex, Death, and Secret Societies Inside the Boy Scouts of America

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About this listen

In the summer of 1995, at the largest Boy Scout camp in Ohio, a night of sexual violence ended with one counselor dead and another hospitalized. The death was ruled "accidental." It wouldn't be the last death associated with Seven Ranges Reservation.

James Renner, too, was a counselor at Seven Ranges that year. He was always sure there must be more to the story of Mike Klingler's death, because Renner also knew firsthand that the 900-acre camp was not the safe getaway it was portrayed to be. On Friday nights the boys were ushered into the woods for a frightening ceremony in which they learned the rules for becoming good young men—and, above all, that keeping secrets was a scout's duty. No matter how dark the secrets were.

Determined to face his demons, Renner embarks on a journey back to that tumultuous summer and exposes a clandestine society that left indelible scars on the scouts and the staff who were there. For Renner himself, it meant opening up about his twisted upbringing, his issues with trust and sexuality, and a lifetime of self-medication. The result is a deeply personal, no-holds-barred, and vitally important true crime memoir.

©2025 James Renner (P)2025 Tantor Media Abuse Law Relationships Sexual Abuse & Harassment True Crime
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James Renner retells his childhood experience with the Boy Scouts of America and his investigation as an adult. In a refreshing take, Renner captures the wonder and excitement of going to Summer Camp, while slowly unearthing bits and pieces that didn’t add up, culminating in his own revelations and the larger horrors committed by the Boy Scouts of America. Renner is able to find fond memories amongst some of the darkest times of his life as well as many other children but does so in a way that is respectful and somber while also leaving a glimmer of hope for the future. A rare true crime book that leaves you horrified yet hopeful that in time children and teens may be able to experience what was promised yet cruelly ripped away by the Boy Scouts of America.

Captivating. A True Crime Coming of Age Story.

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I loved this book. It is so brutally and touchingly honest. James Renner is a wonderful writer. I’m a fan of all his work. I wanted to keep on listening. Beautifully narrated by the author.

Great book!

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