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Show 25 years THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday, June 25, 2002 counting for Blue Mountain summer camp & by Scott Boyle What has 1,000 mostly dusty legs, sleeps and feeds 500 rav- Jed Tate is the current camp director, assisted by many adults and youth staff, aged 14 to 19. The staffer with the longest tenure is Steve Olsen, who is serving as the Aquatics director for the 24th straight year. Most of the people at camp this year werent even born when Steve started. In 1994, Jed joined with Steve Lovell to become the enous, tired, young men, teaches patriotism, reverence for God, and having fun at the same time, lasts for two weeks, and is run totally by volunteers? What has been around for over 25 years, helps boys become responsible adults, and gets the kids out of the house for a week or two in the summer? What puts a smile on your sons face bigger than Texas, makes him break into song, Three Shark Toothed Buzzards at any hour of the day, and causes him to like earning merit badges? What allows a boy to shoot all the .22 bullets he wants, paddle a canoe all day, take a one hour nature hike, carve a face out of a piece of aspen, rappel off a cliff, ride a bike up a mountain path, or hike the trails of the ancient Anasazi, maybe even getting lost for awhile? What makes a boy come home with a dirt favorcaked face, who says his ite part of the week was a hike up Dedication Hill in the dark, and causes a boy to sleep for another week after he camp director. This year marks the first time ever that Steve Lovell has not been at camp. He has a good excuse, though. He and his wife are in Croatia, no doubt starting another scout trocp and no doubt using his legendary faith praying for rain. (It rained for nearly three hours, totaling an inch of rain, on June 18). Olsen in Aquatics, Paul Curtis in Nature, Lyle Anderson in field sports, Marc Wikle in climbing, Don Larson as Camp Chaplain, Jed Tate as Camp director and Scott Boyle as program director. The adults are assisted by other adults and youth staff, numbering about 70, Three such young men, Ed Larsen, Trevor Stringham, and Duncan Olsen are staffing for the fifth or sixth year in a row. Evening activities include a nightly flag ceremony with lots of singing, fun contests, and moments of quiet refection and patriotism. After llag ceremony are campfire programs, - Iagu Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, fnenbly, courteou5, kmb, obebient, cheerful, thrifty, braVc, clean anb reverent 'What else Woulb you abb? (Asked of participants at the Blue Mountain Scout Carrfp.) camp wide games and the Honor Trail, which is the favorite of many boys. Why do they do it? Why do the boy scouts keep coming? Under Jeds tireless direction, the camp evolved from a Why do their scoutmasters local camp with 100 boys atkeep coming back? Why do the refor one week to a staffers staff? tending for two Some of the comments ingional camp that run weeks, drawing 300 boy scouts clude: a week from Utah, Colorado, Great staff, great programs, New Mexico, and Arizona and great leadership. from as far away as Arkansas. Bigfoot has a good mix of This year, three troops came easy merit badges to encourfrom Mesa, Arizona to win the age the kids and then others prize for traveling the farthest. to really challenge them. "We like your positive attiCamp begins on Monday, as the troops arrive to set up tude in all the things that you comes home? camp sites, get swim checks, do and your patience with the What makes a scoutmaster and begin those merit badges boys. The peace and spirit that is say Excellent camp? Great that take a week to earn. for achieveMerit badges and activities here at Bigfoot is outstanding. opportunities ments and service beyond rank occur at six different program Thanks for the rain. advancement and merit areas beginning at 9 a.m. and We liked it all, especially badges? What event has 14 continuing until 5 p.m. each the honor trail. year old boys and day; aquatic activities at Dry Camp is geared with scouts afmen returning year Wash Reservoir, nature and in mind, at their pace. after ter year We like that the boys can year? What, you conservation activities at the is wonder, happening up there Nature Area, Base Camp get around on their bikes, get on the mountain at Dry Wash which includes advancement, a bunch of merit badges, and Reservoir? basketry, leatherwork, and have a great time. You have a MounBlue its Why simply woodcarving, Scout craft with great setting for a Boy Scout tain Bigfoot Summer Camp, wilderness survival, pioneer- camp here. Keep up the good that's all. Bigfoot Camp, ing and first aid work, and work. which has been around for field sports, with rifle, archery, Wrote one scout, I appreciover 25 years, started under and black powder firing ate the staff. Even though the tutelage of Steve Lovell, ranges. they don't have to be there and Toni Turk, the late Bill Roberts All the areas are manned by it can be so frustrating, they and Paul Mantz, way back in volunteer adults who have keep helping us get our 1975. It began as a summer been to an eight day National badges. camp for local Boy Scout troops Camp School to become certiJed Tate says it all when he in Blanding and Monticello. fied to run the areas: Steve said, I keep coming to see boys go home a little better, youth staffers go home closer to manhood and adults go home bettear-staine- d, ng ter people. Its all happening, every June, right here in San Juan County. Thank your local Boy Scout organization. USRA Schedule Non-Poi- Motorcross nt Saturday, July 5 pm, Days Inn, 549 N. Main, Monticello Pre-registratio- Friday, n: 6-- 9 Fees Gate fee: $5 (5 and under free) Pro: $30 Int: $25 Beg & Saturday Registration: 6:30-7:3- 0 Riders Meeting: 7:45 am am Practice: 8:30-9:3- 0 Race: 10 am Fees Double after 8.30 am Misc Pee Wee: $20 USRA Day Pass: $5 Dry Camp Site $5 For more information: Britt Barton Joe or Carol Barton: or bbartoncitlink.net or bartnhalfrontiernet.net 435-678-35- 435-587-10- 35 05 Oil Company, Hondaland, Sponsors: Best Western, Conoco, Days Inn. Kellerstrass Gene Patton Motor Co., Rocky Mountain ATV Blue Mountain Shadows delayed Due to the cover stock (paper) on backorder from Denver, and trouble reading fonts, the Monticello issue of Blue Mountain Shadows has been delayed two weeks. The Times Independent reports that the inside of the magazine is now printed and collated, and as soon as the color cover arrives, they will have it assembled in two days and ready for sale. 7 Hungry. - Very persistent. Travis Sonderegger - Abby Hawkins |