:: Running from the Thought Police ::

:: Thursday, February 24, 2005 ::

Online OSR Resources

For those who haven't seen it before, David L. Eby wrote a wonderful article on the oldest scout camps in the country. Owasippe, of course, has pride of place as the oldest, although he does identify 1912 as the start of camping near Crystal Lake, not the 1911 date currently used by the council. Troop 1, Park Ridge, has a photo posted from that first camping season.

In response to hearing the original news that the camp might be sold, a former Owasippe camper (Troop 935) and staffman at Camp Dan Beard tells about some of his experiences here (scroll down). He also has a "sample week at camp" posted here (scroll way down, you're looking for the August 1999 column).

A website with pictures of the ashes of the Carlen Dining Hall and Reneker Lodge is here. What did happen with the insurance money from the fires?

The Nature Conservancy still has the press release from the 2002 Owasippe Bioblitz report on their site. Knowing now how many rare species and ecosystems are on the property, it's almost criminal to let it be developed.

Nestled in among its many Owasippe forms and links, Troop 149 has been so kind as to redo the old Owasippe Songbook. It's got some new stuff in it, while still keeping a bunch of the old stuff we can't do anymore because it's not politically correct. (Link the last in the section, the songbook is in PDF format)

For the 45 weeks of the year that scouts aren't in camp, Owasippe is open to mountain bikers and, weather permitting, cross-country skiers. The Michigan Mountian Biking Association's trail guide has a small page about Owasippe's trails.

Winning the award for rank hypocrisy is the cover letter for CAC's 2005 Campership Request Form. The lead sentence: "The Chicago Area Council wishes to ensure that every youngster registered in the Chicago Area Council will have the opportunity to take part in the benefits of a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, or Venturer camp experience." The letter is dated February 2005.

The woefully inadequate White Lake Beacon article from this past summer on the potential rezoning of the property is still online, though I haven't been able to track down the Muskegon Chronicle one, with its helpful map of the zoning plan.

And, apparently, Camp Wolverine's 2004 "Scoutdoor Skills" area has gone all film noir. I kid you not.

:: The Squire 3:20 AM :: email this post :: ::
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