A Proud Day for Troop 333

It was a banner day for Scouting in Gwinn on November 9th as 6 young men were honored for receiving the Eagle Scout Award. They are Jerron Hewitt, Travis Spilling, Mike Winkler, Jr, Matthew Ontto, Marshall Hewitt, and Carl Aho III. Scoutmaster Carl Aho, Jr and all the leaders of Troop 333 were justly proud of the accomplishments of the Eagles.


Susan and I had an omen of a good day of Scouting as we drove to Gwinn. A bald Eagle was feeding along the side of the road as we approached. It took flight and rose in splendor in our full view and lighted on a high branch as we drove by.

Cub Leader Training

Cub Scout Leader Training is always a fun time with enthusiastic, curious folks wanting to do a good job, but wondering "what did I get myself into?" Pere Marquette District's course at Negaunee Township Hall was a good time. Here Barb Dupras shares gems of wisdom with the participants.

New Eagle

Congratulations to Tanner Colontonio of Troop 356 on receipt of his Eagle Award. He is shown with Scoutmaster James Schlak.

The Gilwell Spirit Lives on

Dave Payant recently received his Wood Badge at a Troop 356 Court of Honor. He went through the winter Wood Badge in February, 2007 at Sommers Canoe Base in Minnesota. He is shown with Barb Dupras.

A link to Gilwell

Camp Hiawatha has a living link with Gilwell Scout Camp in England where Baden Powell conducted the first Wood Badge Course. Dr. Ron Reynolds is an Eagle Scout alumnus from Troop 305 in Marquette who is an active Scouter in Cincinnati. He completed Wood Badge and went on a tour to Gilwell Park. There, he collected acorns from beneath the Gilwell Oak that he planted on his return home. He sent us two, one to plant at camp in the Scout craft area and one at the office.

Dining Hall Dedicated

It was a great day at Camp Hiawatha as the expanded Dining Hall was dedicated. Cutting the ribbon were Mildred Novinger, widow of long-time Staff Member Nobby Novinger and Ruth Rogers, widow of Clifton Rogers, Council president when the camp was purchased and development started. Dick Oslund is shown by the fireplace with the plaque honoring Clarence Zerbel, one of the early Scouters in Red Buck District.

Ground Breaking for the Shower House

• The site work is completed and ground broken for the new shower house in September. Shown are Joe Erickson, Bill Davis, Dan Closner, Dewey Jones, and Bromley and Tom Hall, the contractors.

We are getting ready to replace the old shower house. Clearing and chipping were done to prepare for the demolition crew.

Camp Highlights

Camp Hiawatha opened with Dave Goodwin, an Eagle Scout alumni from Marquette presenting a flag that flew in Iraq where he served recently to camp director Shaun Clark.

Anna, an International Scout from Korea, added a lot to the camp program. She is shown with Shaun and Program Director Sam Ledebuhr.

As always, the Indiana Jones Adventure course was a big hit with the Scouts.

National Guard helps at Camp Hiawatha

Camp Hiawatha benefited greatly from the service of a squad of National Guardsmen from the Soo who spend a week at camp with heavy equipment. They helped clear site 8, got all of the unsightly stumps out of sight, and did a myiad of tasks under Doc Jewell's direction.

Two of the Guardmen were Scouts as youth, one in Doc Jewell's troop and one with Doc Bender.