Scouts meet for fun and learning at Camp Hiawatha
Trending
CHATHAM -- On Saturday, July 16, 24 boys and girls of Scouts BSA and four adult leaders from Troop 410 and 411 of Escanaba attended Camp Hiawatha, which is located east of Chatham. The camp, which is owned and operated by the Bay Lakes Council of the Boy Scouts of America, is beautifully situated on Bunting Lake in Alger County.
Camp Hiawatha was opened in 1967, on property formally known as Wolfe's Lodge. Today Camp Hiawatha is 800 acres and encircles Bunting Lake, a 60-acre lake in the middle of Hiawathaland National Forest in the heart of the Upper Peninsula.
Scouts had opportunities to earn merit badges, make rank advancements -- and just have tons of fun.
Scouts can earn a myriad of merit badges, ranging from basketry and leather working to more advanced areas such as environmental science, cooking, swimming and first aid. Boy Scouts with aspirations of attaining the Eagle Rank, must earn a total of 21 merit badges, 13 of which are Eagle Required, and a ton of those were available at camp.
The Scouts are also excited about Camp Hiawatha's new "First Year Scouter" program, and are looking forward to participating in it. In addition to rank advancement and merit badges earned, the Scouts were very successful on the rifle range, earning medals for marksman and sharpshooter.
Camp Hiawatha is a patrol led camp, where the Scouts will cook for themselves, which is a learning experience for some. Most of the Scoutmasters agree that the learning that comes from operating as the patrol method is one of Camp Hiawatha's most valuable assets.
The 411 Scouts made up three patrols, which were under the watchful eye of their patrol leaders who are under the senior patrol leader. This year, Troop 411 has chosen Tyler Soderman as their senior patrol leader, and Troop 410 has chosen Samantha Hensley. The Scouts knew that they have a challenge ahead, trying to keep 19 teenage boys and three girls under control.
The four adults who will accompany the boys will give guidance, cooking tips, teach scouting skills, and most importantly, teach the Scouts how to get along with each other.
Troop 411 and 410 meet weekly at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 601 South Lincoln Escanaba. Those interested in scouting should contact T-411 Craig Woerpel at 906-280-0936 or craig@upscouting.org or contact Melissa Hensley at 915-282-1904 of samelissa0413@yahoo.com for T-410.