Schlak has been one of the ubiquitous personalities of the Hiawathaland Council for over 17 years. He is relocating back to his hometown of Flint to help care for his parents.
He has been Scoutmaster for Troop 356 that entire time, Crew leader for 356 since its inception, summer camp staff, JLT Scoutmaster, National Jamboree staff, active OA leader, district commissioner, district training chairman, golf committee member, and the council registrar the last 4 years.
The troop and crew held a farewell last week. There I commented that he was a Scouter for all seasons...but always in shorts. Shirley Kriegel has composed lyrics for the occasion using the music from the 60's song, "To Sir, With Love." A memorable line was, "How do you tell your parents that your Scoutmaster wears a pony tail?" That pretty wells sums up Schlak, an unconventional Scouting traditionalist who was loved by a generation of Scouts and their parents
for helping them to adulthood.
See you along the trail, Schlak.
Every week a troop of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts from Michigan serve as the Mackinac Island Scout Service Troop. Our council's 56 Scouts are coordinated by Troop 411 led by Scoutmaster Craig Woerpel and 11 other adults. The troop stays in the Scout Barracks behind the fort. Its primary duties are raising and lowering the 21 flags in the vicinity of the fort and acting as guides at the fort and other historical locations. The Scouts also have a lot of activities when not on duty including bicycling around the island, baseball, frisbee, shopping, pie eating contest, merit badge opportunities, and service projects.
The troop simultaneously lowers 21 flags around the post including the garrison flag.
A service project on the Island.
