Scouting is making a comeback, according to one leader involved, and last summer, the Boy Scouts Glacier’s Edge Council saw the second largest number of scouts at its camps since 1974.
Some 1,200 boys camped at its various sites, including the Ed Bryant Scout Reservation in Mauston and Camp Indian Trails on the Rock River.
Breck Dokken, development director for the Scouts, talked to the Waunakee Rotary Club at its June 22 meeting about the Boy Scouts, including the Glacier’s Edge Council. Its camps are the fastest-growing in the five-state area and include a progressive staff. They offer ATV riding and jet skiing, providing scouts with the safety certification needed.
Camp Indian Trails is now undergoing a renovation and a new pond is being installed for the scouts to learn to canoe. The 7-acre pond is now filling up with water, Breck said.
Scouting teaches other citizenship skills that few other venues do. There are not many places where young people can learn the proper way to fold the American Flag. They learn the history, the color guard, flag etiquette and how to retire a flag.
“These are the kind of values we’re still offering to scouts. It’s really hard to learn these values from a cell phone,” Breck said.
Last year, the council saw 159 scouts attain Eagle Scout status the most ever for the council, Breck said.
Scouting locally in Waunakee has a long history. The troop is sponsored by American Legion Post 360. There are Troop 46, Cub Scout packs and a co-ed troop.
High Adventure bases are located in Florida, northern Minnesota and Canada, along with the newest in West Virgina.
On July 7, the Boy Scouts will host a luncheon and honor U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan with the Citizen Award at the non-partisan event.  
Breck said scouting has made a significant difference in his life, adding it’s easy to overlook the skills kids learn outside of school.
A survey done two years ago found that 98 percent of scouts who had a tenure with the program (two or more years) graduated from high school and 40 percent graduated from college, as opposed to the rate of 16 percent of those not in scouting who graduate from college.

 

Other News:
–The club received several thank you notes from organizations it has given donations to.   
–Volunteers are needed for the upcoming Senior Citizens picnic on July 12. Talk to Allison Feldbruegge if you’d like to help out.  
–Parking will be limited on June 28 for the steak fry, so if you can ride with other Rotarians, that would be a good idea.

Guests: Liz Deihs, guest of Allison Feldbruegge.

 

Corporate Associate: John Alanis, of Kim Langfeld.

 

Visiting Rotarians: None.

 

Birthdays: June 30, Kim Phalen; July 3, Jonny Buroker; July 4, Sean Wayne; July 4, Todd Schmidt.

 

Anniversaries: June 30, Fritz and Sheri Durst; June 30, Gene and Catherine Smith; July 5, Joyce and Alan Maly.

 

Greeters: June 29, John Cullen and Al Dassow; July 6, Lori Derauf and Shana Dunn; July 13, Patrick Durden and Fritz Durst; July 20, Taylor Endres and Gary Epping; July 27, Bill Erickson and Dan Evans.