The Spirit of 61 Scout Museum

Scout Camp.

Troop 861's 1stSummer Camp, 1961  

(First four Scouts: Harald Hendrichsen, Larry Ellis, John Voight, & Jess Bickel)

Of all the experiences in Scouting, few come close to that of summer camp.  The seven days spent at camp are packed with advancement, troop and patrol activities, competitions, night hikes, campfire programs, Order of the Arrow "tap out", camp inspections, going to the waterfront, bog hikes, service projects, yelling the Troop Cheer on the way to flags, singing the Troop Rouser as we hiked out of camp on the last day, and much, much more.  It really is special.  

For almost 40 years, Troop 861 attended Camp Rokilio for summer camp.  And that camp will forever hold many great memories for those that camped there.  During those 40 years at Rokilio, Troop 861 had almost 100% attendance at summer camp, and it was quite impressive to see all 48 of us formed up for colors in full uniform or to hear 48 Scouts plus the Adult Leaders belting out the Troop Cheer.  One of the neat things about our time at Rokilio was the fact that as a troop, we ran our own advancement program.  Our adult leaders were the merit badge counselors and our Junior Leaders and older Scouts were the instructors for the merit badges, skill awards, etc.  Serving as an instructor gave older Scouts, who had already earned most of the merit badges offered at camp, a sense of purpose and another reason to keep going to summer camp. 

Since Camp Rokilio's transition from a Boy Scout camp to Cub Scout World, the troop has camped at the Bay Lakes Council's Gardner Dam Scout Camp and Bear Paw Scout Camp.  Bear Paw has since become what Rokilio was to the 861 Scouts of the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's.  And many of the traditions that were begun at Rokilio have continued at Bear Paw, such as wearing full uniforms to dinner and shouting out the Troop Cheer. 

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Summer Camp Stories & Recollections.

Steve Warnecke's Camp Memories.

"My first summer camp at ROKILIO I bought the "snipe hunt" event in a major way and I had convinced myself I "did indeed see a snipe run and get caught inside my buddies backpack."  Actually, the entire summer camp experience was special for me. Accomplishing those mile swims every summer, even though at a disgraceful pace, was a huge accomplishment for me. And several years, I brought my guitar and we sang John Denver songs around the campfire (hey, it was the 70s). I still can sing Flee-Fly and some other songs too, and admittedly jumped out of my skin a time or two during one of Mr. Milsted‘s stories at the fire. About 5 years ago, I went to ROKILIO, and reflected on various campsites, stood at the top of the hill and remembered the sprinters we had on leg 1 of the "Round-the-Bay" relays, and the many trips to the Bog – all great memories!"

Snipe Hunt, 1976 - Steve Warnecke's 1st Summer Camp.

Rob Imig's Camp Memories.

"My best memories were definitely at summer camp. From snipe hunts, to water shots to cleaning Rosie [the bath house at Camp Rokilio] – we had a blast. The Round the Bay Relay was always a favorite simply for our sheer dominance at the time I was in the troop. One particular year, one of the rowers forgot to put their swim tag on the board in the swim area and after squashing the competition by many minutes, that team was disqualified. (I have to say, 861 was so dominate – in everything at those times – the staff seemed to always be looking for ways to ―get us.) So, in true fashion, we rebelled and challenged the camp staff to a one time full round the bay – us against them. You can imagine the outcome – we beat the staffers by a margin that I’m sure they are still embarrassed about today! It didn’t hurt that at that time, 861 had the most dominant swimmers, runners and even wrestlers from all the local high schools. The swimmers and runners obviously did their thing and the wrestlers always managed to crush the competition in the canoes and rowboats."

Matt Behrens, Rob Seidemann, Erik Rasmuson, James Billings, and Tim Danielsen wait to get their "Water Shots", 1987.

Justin's Memories from Bear Paw Scout Camp, 2013.

"My best memory [of Scouting] would be summer camp at Bear Paw in 2013...I was home sick in the beginning of the week, but then friends from my patrol made my week the best by doing everything together. We hung out at the trading post all the time.  Bear paw 2013 is also the best camp-out I've ever been on and I wish every camp-out was like that one."

Three members of the Flaming Arrow patrol at Bear Paw, 2013.

The Round the Bay Relay.

As alluded to in Rob Imig's Summer Camp memories, the Round the Bay Relay at Camp Rokilio was one of the highlights of camp.  Since Troop 861 began camping at Rokilio in 1961, 861 Scouts dominated the Round the Bay Relay, winning the camp event at least 23 times between 1961 and 1991.  One year, the troop finished 1st and 2nd.  Often times Troop 861 had three teams competing in the event.

Todd Priebe, describes his experience in the Round the Bay Relay: 

"One of my more memorable times was the Round the Bay Relay. During my scouting years, we would always look to see if Troop 805 was lined up in the bowl on that first day of summer camp for they were our biggest challenger in the Round the Bay Relay.  We had been told that 861 had a long winning record and was never behind at the row boat leg.

My brother Scott and I were selected for the canoe leg and have had plenty of experience at canoeing.  As we waited at the transition, we were shocked to see the first rowboat coming towards us was not from 861 but from 805.  I shouted to Scott, “Brother, we have got ourselves a race!  We’re going to have to give it everything we have!”

I don’t think my brother and I have ever paddled that fast again.  Our direction was spot on the swimmer waiting for us near the dock.  The bow of our canoe never went off course as we blew past the threatening canoe of Troop 805.  We had a really fast swimmer and runner on the last two legs so as long as we arrived to the swimming area first without messing up the transition, chances were high we were going to win.  By the time we arrived to the swimming area, we had a comfortable lead.  Troop 861 pulled off yet another win."

Tent Modifications, Decorations, and Signs.

Another of the many traditions at camp was making the tent you spent the entire week in your own.  Scouts would add signs or name their tent.  Some added extra platforms to create a front or back porch.  Chris Nemeth brought a changing blind for use behind his tent.

Pete Danielsen and David Nelson - The Lutefisk Lodge, 1983.                                                                                    Tim Hobbs and Rick Seidemann (pictured) - 1990.