Wisconsin Trails Feb 2010 : Page 43More than 10,000 Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, adult leaders, parents and staff turned out for the Great Lakes Centennial Jamboree (photo these pages) at the Oshkosh Experimental Aircraft Association last September. The items photographed on p. 41, 42 & 43 were provided by the Scout Heritage Museum, located at the Milwaukee County Council office. other outdoor skills. The camp was founded in 1945 by Scout leader Ed Rowley, who persuaded the Oconto Lumber Company to donate a logged parcel for Scout use.According to a later account by his son, Allyn, Row- ley scavenged old Civilian Conservation Corps buildings that were con- verted to tent floors and privies, arranged for donations of Army surplus materials from Camp McCoy at Sparta (sleeping bags, kitchen equipment, camp stoves, canteens, even skis, boots and poles were available in those post-war days) and even found surplus Army skid-mounted mobile genera- tors to provide the camp’s first electricity. Rowley’s wife served as camp nurse, and one of the first jobs of visiting Scouts was to plant thousands of fir seedlings to rebuild the logged forests. “Our family never ow “Bear Paw Camp was alwa Other camps were le Camp Ammon, founded a West Allis in 1933. Toda Scout camp for Boy and G Scouts, Venturers and Explorers operates exclusively during the Wisconsin State Fair, where campers lead children’s events, serve a the lost-and-found booth and march as the color g for the daily State Fair pa Modern Scouting ha Baden-Powell never envi membership challenges and atheists to the increa on young people’s time, from the lure of computers and electronic diversions to busy and broken families where parents do not, or cannot, become involved on behalf of their children. “You’re competing against more things like sports and school,” says Jim Tobakos, program director for the Milwaukee County Council. “Yes, it’s different … and that’s why we’ve tried to come up with some non-traditional activities” such as geocach- ing to teach wilderness skills instead of the old-fashioned compass. As for some of the membership challenges, Jeff Hahn, a longtime volunteer and Eagle Scout says, “You look at the basic fundamentals of Scouting and there’s no apology for having a faith-based perspective.” While somemembers do drift away to other interests, many Scouts do stay involved through high school and a number ultimately reach the ele- vated rank of Eagle Scout, an accomplishment the organization says leads to more successful careers down the line. Or, even sooner. Dan Carriveau of Little Chute began as a Cub Scout and worked his way up to earn the rank of Eagle, a distinction also earned by his older brother, Cody. “We had our Court of Honor together,” Dan says, “so that was kind of cool.” Also cool, he says, was that by continuing in Scouts, he became less quiet, more confident and more of a leader, attributes he expects to help him in college and beyond. “I just feel it has developed me into the person I amtoday,” he says. “Most of my best friends are involved in Scouting and next year I’ll be in college, but I know I’ll stay involved quite a bit.” gle rank is that each applicant ject, often something that leads or Scouts’ home communities. In e 14-year-old Eagle candidate helped . In the Fox Valley, Eagle candidates ing trails at the HeckrodtNature e, and inMilwaukee, deputy director nty parks Guy Smith says Eagle idates have performed “numerous d some high-quality” projects. “They e definitely lasting improvements,” he says. Which are almost as good as lasting memories. In Rosholt, Scoutmaster Martin acknowledges his itinerant troop could not travel the country in the comfort of a motor coach without strong y support, but notes that “people are very willing to support something they can see turn a kid in the right direction. Without themwe’d still be in an old school bus.Nothing against old school buses, but you can’t go to San Diego in a school bus.” Or to Hawaii. But not for nothing is Troop 200’s motto “Dream no small dreams.” WT A former Cub Scout and Boy Scout, Dennis McCann is a freelance writer who divides his time between Bayfield and Madison. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 | 43 wisconsintrails.com Publication List |
