Camp Lowden Wood Cut Weekend, October 23, 2010

Well, as far as wood cutting went the rain won this one.  However, there was certainly enough work to be done around camp to keep everyone busy.  We had one team working on staining the siding for the staff cabin so it is ready to be installed next weekend.  In the process we got some of the maintenance building organized so we could have room for the stain to dry.

Staff Cabin Siding

Another group helped install the soffit around the Amerock building.  They got most of the building completed.

Soffit Crew working on Amerock

There was also a group that dug the holes and poured the cement for the porch for the staff cabin.

One of the troops that was out for the weekend helped organize the wood crib so we have room for the new wood next weekend.

Next week we'll be cutting wood, working on the soffit around several other buildings, and working on the staff cabin.  We could use a lot of help next weekend, no experience necessary.  It can be a big time saving just to have volunteers to carry the soffit or wood between the cutters and the installers.  Even if you have an hour, consider coming out to help improve the camp.

Thanks to everyone that came out to help.

Blackhawk Area Council Distinguished Citizens Luncheon 2010

On Wednesday Blackhawk Area Council held the 14th Annual Distinguished Citizens Luncheon in Rockford to recognize the 2010 Champions of Youth.  This year Rudy Valdez, General Manager at Hamilton Sundstrand of Rockford, served as Master of Ceremonies and Dr. Robert Head, President of Rockford College, provided the Keynote Address.

This year there were three recipients, Phil Eaton, Jim Boeger, and the group Rockford Sharefest.  Phil Eaton is President/CEO of Rosecrance Health Network and was recognized for his work with adolescents in recovering from chemical dependencies.  Jim Boeger is well know to our council for his support of scouting but Jim is also and active volunteer with Swedish American Hospital, Northern Illinois Blood Bank, and National Park Service.  In 2009 Jim was recognized by the Rockford Rotary as Philanthropist of the Year with the Service Above Self Award.  For the first time a group was recognized as a Champion of Youth.  Rockford Sharefest exists to identify, develop and lead projects that empower and release volunteers and donors to use theri God-given gifts, abilities and resources to make an impact for the common good.  In 2009 the group helped refurbish Summerdale Elementary and East High School in Rockford.  Shown below is Mark Bankord of Sharefest with Phil Eaton and Jim Boeger.  Congratulations to our 2010 Champions of Youth.

2010 Champions of Youth

See the Rockford Register Star article for some more photos.

Camp Lowden Weekend, October 16, 2010

I was out at Camp Lowden on Saturday to help with a couple of projects.  It was great to see all the activity at camp.  There was training going on, OKPIC cold weather camping training, NYLT staff development, and Scoutmaster outdoor training.  There were two troops that went canoeing and another that was out to use the shooting range.  Mighty Pack 5 from Winnebago was out for the day as well.  All together there must have been 350 scouts, parents, and volunteers using the camp facilities.  In addition we had work crews out staining Winnebago Cabin - Frontiersman Cabin was done on Thursday by Ed Allen and hit brother Don - as well as work on the soffit and fascia for both cabins. It's great to see our camps getting this much use.  Next Saturday, October 23, is the Wood Cut day at Camp Lowden, consider coming out to help.

AirCamp 2010 by Blackhawk Area Council

Wow! The AirCamp team did a great job.  I've been traveling since and haven't had a chance to post on the camporee.  There were numerous activities including a zip line, paint ball, and pistol shooting that the scouts were able to participate in.  Along with the camporee, the EAA Young Eagles offered free flights to some of the scouts.  We had about 4700 participants including over 100 units that camped the weekend.  We had scouts from several other councils attend as well and received some very nice emails from them following the event.



Mountain Boarding



Milk Crate Stacking

One thing that we often take for granted is the number of volunteers we have in Blackhawk Area Council willing to give of their time and expertise to help plan and operate an activity as large as AirCamp.  Many of the emails received from outside our council commented at how impressed they were that we were able to put on such an event.  There are many councils that don't even attempt something of this magnitude.



Before



After

The work toward what would become AirCamp 2010 started three years with council wide focus groups to decide what types of activities we would be conducting at the council level for the 100th Anniversary.  One of the activities selected was to have a council camporee.  About two years ago Bill Mugnai agreed to take the role of chairman for the event and spent the next two years recruiting a core team that consisted of Mark Broman (Program), Jim Behrensmeyer (Program), Marilyn Behrensmeyer (Finance), Jeff Moritz (Registration), Mike McCleary (Health & Safety), Tom Siefken (Communications), and Dan Banko (Logistics).  Ed Allen acted as advisor to the committee and stepped in to handle logistics when Dan Banko had health problems.  This group worked for two years to bring AirCamp to life.



Colonel Roosevelt Addresses the Troops



There were many other people who played key roles such as Fran Waller (Cub Scout Program), Ed Colson (Boy Scout Program), Fareen Parkitney and Eve Schroeder (Venturing Program), Chuck Natoli (Subcamp Coordinator), Alan Broadfield (Static Displays), Steve Pierson (EAA), and Bill Nattress (Arena Show).  All contributed a great deal of time to planning and conducting the event.  There were volunteers working at the airport most of the week before the event including Gene Barney who put in the poles used for the zip line and spar pole climbing and Rich Horn who marked out the entire site.  Not to mention the hundred or so other volunteers helping with registration, program, parking, etc.

Thanks to everyone involved in the event.

If you have any pictures please link them to the Blackhawk Area Council Facebook page from your home page.