Staff Reflections - Dan Bestul
Staff Years: 1974, 1976-1978, 1980
Scoutcraft/Commisioner's staff, Ecology/Nature

The 1970’s were challenging for the council and for Camp Lowden. Early in the decade Blackhawk Area Council merged with the U.S. Grant Council. Both councils had their own camp, strong traditions, strong histories, and strong loyalties, and it took many years for the two “old” councils to genuinely come together as a single council. In addition, Blackhawk Area Council owned and operated Northwoods Reservation, near Watersmeet, Michigan, which was primarily a high adventure canoeing base (although it also had a merit badge program). Most leaders understood that the merger would probably result in one or more council camps (ultimately Northwoods) being closed, which caused a lot of tension, hard feelings and rivalry. The most distinguishing characteristic of the staff in the mid to late 1970’s was constant turnover. Few served more than one or two years, and program area directors almost always changed from year to year. As a result the staff often reinvented the program each year, with varying degrees of success. The staff never lacked for enthusiasm; however the absence of continuity from year to year made it difficult to take advantage of the traditions from past years or make solid plans for improvement in years to come. But in 1979 Dale Smith became camp director and Bruce Small was program director, and the rest is history. High adventure activities were made available. Many hikes were available for campers, and older scouts went rappelling at Pine Bluff. Canoe trips on the Rock River ranged from the Grand Detour float down to a full day trip to Lowell Park in Dixon (where President Reagan was a lifeguard while a teenager). In either 1977 or 1978 the Rock River was not fit for canoeing for several weeks. The camp director, Ray Masterson, served on the board of directors of a church camp near Mount Morris, and arrangements were made to drive campers there for canoeing instruction.

I enjoyed each of my years on the camp staff, and I would not have traded them for anything. Dan Bestul Monroe, Wisconsin [Note: Dan is an attorney in southern Wisconsin and is presently District Chairman for the Arrowhead District of Blackhawk Area Council. In 2005 he was presented with the Silver Beaver Award.]