A Scoutmaster's Blog

When the Boy Scouts of Melrose Area Troop 68 first attended a week of summer camp at Many Point Scout Camp in the late 1980s the staff had to quickly reopen a campsite that had not been used for awhile. The troop had signed up later than they should have and all the usual campsites had been filled. The camp decided to reopen the Tyler campsite in the Buckskin Camp for the troop. Even though it was at the end of the trail of campsites, far from any others, the troop liked it and stayed at the site for several years.

The troop changed campsites in 2006. The walk was getting too long, about a half mile from the campsite to the dining hall, for some of the aging adult leaders so we decided to reserve a camp right smack in the middle of Buckskin Camp. Seton was located at the top of a small hill near the lodge and trading post. It was also near the shower house which was nice. The Seton Campsite was smaller than Tyler but that was alright since the troop had gotten smaller over the years. The site was just the right size for a troop with eight to ten Scouts in attendance.

The troop used the Seton campsite for the next 19 years, except for the two years the troop stayed in the Ten Chiefs Camp. The site served our needs quite well so at the end of our week stay in 2024 we reserved it once again for the following year. We thought we were all set until I received a phone call a few weeks later stating that Troop 68 could not stay in the Seton campsite for 2025. The camp had plans to remake the site into the staff quarters area. We would have to choose a new site.

Needless to say, the adult leadership of Troop 68 was not very happy to hear this. It made us a bit upset that they did not tell us this while we were at camp making our reservation for 2025. We felt that since we already made our reservation and they should plan to move the staff in 2026. We liked Seton. We did not want to move, but we had no choice in the matter.

They told me which sites were still available, which was not many to choose from. We chose the Beard campsite, which was still somewhat centrally located. I did not recall ever having visited that site but we discovered it was one of the campsites in Buckskin that had a screened shelter. Neither Tyler nor Seton had a shelter. We thought that a shelter would be nice to have for those rainy days.

When we arrived at camp on Sunday, July 13, 2025, we noticed there was more parking area than Seton had to park our trailer. We also discovered the latrine was at the bottom of the hill where the campsite was located. It was going to be a long steep climb to get from the main road to the campsite. Not a problem for the Scouts, but not as much fun for this scoutmaster who is getting up there in years.

The Beard campsite itself was pretty nice. It was much bigger than the Seton site which allowed the Scouts to camp away from the adult leadership. The shelter was very nice and we spent most of our evenings in there trying to stay away from the mosquitoes. We also discovered there was a back trail that lead to the trading post and shower house. We liked that. Once again though, it was a steep trail.

The troop did a little work on the steep trail to the campsite during the week, trying to make the steps more even and equal in size. It did help. We have plans to improve it more next year. We are also thinking it might be nice to have a bench near the campsite’s fire ring. We had done the same in the Seton Campsite. Of course, we will have to ask permission before making these campsite improvements.

I have a feeling that the Beard campsite may become our new tradition while at Many Point Scout Camp. The Scouts enjoyed the site and it will give us more room as the troop tries to expand its membership. I also enjoyed the site but was not a fan of the long hillside trail to get to it. I may have to work out and exercise more before next year’s week at camp.

The Scouts of Melrose Area Troop 68 have been attending Many Point Scout Camp for their week long summer camp adventure for over 35 years. The troop usually stays in the Buckskin Camp although they have tried Ten Chiefs Camp a couple times. Buckskin Camp has a dining hall. The Scouts do some of the own cooking in Ten Chiefs with one cooked meal per day brought to their site.

The troops attending Buckskin Camp gather on the parade ground outside the dining hall before each meal. They are released one troop at a time to enter the dining hall so there are not hundreds of Scouts trying to enter the building at one time. Various methods are used to decide which order the troops are sent to the hall, with trivia being a popular way to do it.

At breakfast time, the staff will lead the all the Scouts in a rousing song, which is usually a “repeat after me” song. Many of the songs will also involve some sort of hand gestures. It is a fun way to get the Scouts ready for another fun day at camp.

I video recorded a few of these songs this summer and edited them to one video which I then posted to the Melrose Scouting Productions channel on Youtube. Watch the video and let us know how you feel the staff did during these songs.

The Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 performed two skits during the Buckskin closing campfire at Many Point Scout Camp on July 22, 2022, to the enjoyment of the audience. This one, The Radio Airwaves skit, depicts what could happen if your radio stations keep overlapping each other on the way to camp.

This skit has been a favorite of the Scouts of Troop 68 since we first saw it performed at a campfire program in the 1980s. It is a timeless skit that allows five five to participate in the performance.

Sometimes plush animal toys are so cute you just have to buy it. At least that is what a Cub Scout aged child may think when one catches his eye in a store. As an adult I have collected several for myself, but they have a Scouting theme to them. Sometimes when I walk into the trading post at summer camp one of these toys may catch my eye and suddenly become the newest member of my stuffed animal collection.

In this video I show the plush animals I have collected. Many of them are from Many Point Scout Camp or the Scout Stuff online store. A couple have some from high adventure bases. Would do you think of them?

This video can be watched on the My Scouting Collection channel on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESqPKTNeeQg

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Everyone seems to have their favorite music playlists these days. They could be on your mp3 player but chances are you have them on your mobile phone. I do. Too many of them in fact. But you never know what kind of music you will be in the mood to listen to so you need to have several playlists from which to choose.

One playlist on my phone is labeled Scouting Songs. It only has nine songs in it but all the songs are Scouting related. It is a fun list to listen to when I am working on troop paperwork or getting ready for the next meeting. It can help me get in the mood for Scouting. What songs does it include, you ask? Well, let’s take a look.

As you can tell from the picture with this post this playlist includes the theme song from Scout Camp: The Movie. “Born To Be A Scout”, by Alex Boye, is a fun upbeat song that may start your toes tapping. The song can be found through iTunes or whatever store you happen to use to download your music.

“The Scout Zone” is a song I ripped from the Scout Zone video which promoted the Scouting program nearly 20 years ago. It is another upbeat song telling about the adventures you could find in the Scouting program. The video can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKFnGDRaMQU .

“The Scout Law” is a fun song about The Scout Law and the meaning of the twelve points of the Scout Law. It is from the album suck, by the Croutons. You can listen to it and download it at https://thecroutons.bandcamp.com/album/suck .

“Boy Scout Rap” (a Tik Tok parade) is a fun video I discovered on YouTube nearly ten years ago. Created by Wild Youth Productions and sung by Thirty100, it pokes a bit of fun at Boy Scouts. I found it to be funny and enjoyed the song. The video can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rps1zdppqBA . It can be downloaded through iTunes.

“We Do It” is another song from a Scouting promotional video from a couple decades ago. Once again, it features fun things you could do in the Scouting program. The video can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tok9gePil3E .

“Proud To Be A Scout” is a song from one of the videos from the BSA’s Inspirational Shows DVD. Check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKxXx-6rOVg

The “Scout Song” was song by the Buckskin Staff of Many Point Scout Camp during a campfire program in 2007 (I think). I videotaped the program and ripped this song from the video. It is a nice easy listening song about Scouting. The video from this campfire can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxSGiY_XuvY .

Of course, a Scouting playlist would not be complete if it did not contain the theme song from perhaps the greatest Scouting themed movie of all time. That is correct, I am talking about Follow Me Boys. I tried to find a link to download this song but I am having some problems finding one.

The newest song on my playlist I heard for the first time at an Eagle Scout court of honor a few months ago. It was used during the slideshow. After the ceremony I asked what the song was told it was “Growing Wings”, by David Shipp. It is a song written about Eagle Scouts and the author has given permission for Scouts to use it for their court of honor. The video and song information can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xnEbRKvouA .

That wraps up my playlist. Do you have a Scouting playlist? What songs have you included? What songs do you think I should add to my list? Leave a comment and tell my about it.

Some people involved with Scouting may collect handbooks. Others may collect coffee mugs. A lot of Scouts and adult leaders collect patches. How many do you know that collect bolo ties?

I have accumulated a couple dozen bolo ties over the years. I could have a lot more in the collection, but I have stuck to bolo ties from events or places that I have attended. That self imposed rule has kept the cost of this collection down a bit.

There are four bolo ties from Philmont Scout Ranch but only one from the Summit high adventure base. I think you can get an idea how many times I have attended each base. I was a little surprised that I only have 5 different bolo ties from Many Point Scout Camp since the troop has been going there for nearly 30 years. I wish I had bought a few more of the Order of the Arrow bolo ties.

Do you collect Scouting related bolo ties? Do the Scout of your troop? How many have you collected over the years?

Six Boy Scouts of Melrose Troop 68 are now attending summer camp at Many Point Scout Camp in northwestern Minnesota. They left Sunday morning with Scoutmaster Dave and Jason, a father of one of the Scouts. They were all pretty excited about going to camp again. The older Scouts are hoping to get to spend a night in one of the two tree houses found at Many Point. (I found out earlier today that they would get their wish Thursday night.)

I am planning to go up to camp Thursday morning and spend the rest of the week with the troop. During every year that I was the scoutmaster I spent at least one week on a long term camp with the Scouts, either a week at summer camp or two weeks at a high adventure camp like Philmont Scout Ranch. I may not be the scoutmaster anymore but it just does not feel like summer if I do not go to summer camp for at least one day. I have to have fun for at least one day, if not two.

Unfortunately, I see the weather forecast says I may get a little wet once I arrive at camp but, oh well, that is a part of what camping is about. I will pack my Gore-Tex rain gear and umbrella, and make the best of it. It is not like it will be the first time it has ever rained while I was camping. And it probably will not be the last.

The opening campfire of a week of Boy Scout summer camp. It is time to meet the staff that will play an important role during the success of your troop’s time at camp. Is the staff enthusiastic? Are they energetic? Are they ready to provide you with the totally awesome program you have come to expect from camp? Are they a little bit crazy? In the case of the 2014 Many Point Scout Camp Buckskin staff, the answer is yes to all the above, and their opening campfire was a great demonstration of how enthusiastic and crazy they could be.

This video was recorded during the July 6, 2014, opening campfire. This will be the first of a few videos filmed during the campfire that will be posted to the Melrose Scout Productions Podcast. As you can see when you watch this, this year’s staff was pumped to start working with a new week of Boy Scout campers. This video features the staff introductions and the singing of the Many Point Rouser. As all “repeat after me” songs, it gets pretty loud and rowdy by the end.

Video Information: 960 x 540, time 05:22, 145.4 MB. m4v format.

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