AU TRAIN TOWNSHIP — Camp Hiawatha’s Director Erick Kestila announces that the camp will off new programs for the Boy Scout weeks this summer. The camp in Alger County is operated by the Bay Lakes Boy Scout Council and is in its 57th year of operation.

Kestila is in his fourth year as Camp Director and has been on camp staff for over ten years in various positions and attended the camp as a Scout. He has also been the Scoutmaster of Troop 408 in Escanaba for the last thirty-five years.

The shooting sports area is enhanced by the addition of a “Cowboy Action” area where shooters will engage targets from a facade recreating a Western frontier town setting. This was made possible with a contribution from the UP Whitetails.

A second new area is “Grandpa Joe’s Workshop.” It is named for the late Joe Erickson, a long-time Camp Director. Much of the workshop equipment was donated by the Erickson family. In the workshop, Scouts may earn woodworking, metalwork, welding, and automotive maintenance merit badges.

Lastly, the camp will offer an ATV program for Scouts 14 and older. Riders will take part in an instructional class designed to teach participants how to properly handle their ATV in all sorts of riding conditions. After ground school and riding drills, riders will take part in a trail ride exploring the 380 acre camp. Riders will see rugged terrain, wooded land, and much more. This course will result in ASI ATV rider certification.

These new programs are in addition to the traditional camp program of aquatics, target sports, crafts, Scoutcraft like ropework and finding your way, and cooking your own meals for the week.

In addition to the two week-long sessions of Scouts BSA Camp, there is a four-day session for Cub and Webelos Scouts, two week-long sessions for National Junior Leader Training, and the Hiawatha Family Adventure Camp from July 5-7.

More information on the camp programs at Camp Hiawatha and the 3 other camps of the Bay Lakes Council is available at https://baylakesbsa.org as well as links on joining Scouting. Information about the Family Adventure Camp is available at https://scoutingevent.com/635-AdventureCamp.