Arrival at Lowden
Daniel J. Reilly III
|
In the summer of 1979, Dan was advised by his brother Bill to join his troop while they camped at
Northwoods Scout Reservation, which was then owned by Blackhawk Area Council, as it would be his last
chance to get there before the camp closed [Bill was then Scoutmaster of the troop at Rockford’s Holy
Family parish]. While at Northwoods Dan gave an American Indian presentation to the troop and was ultimately asked to give the presentation to the entire camp at the closing campfire. Dale Smith, the new program director for Blackhawk Area Council, saw Dan’s presentation and began talking with him. Camp Lowden at this point in time had constant turnover in both staff and program. It was not doing very well as a camp, and in fact was in danger of closing. Dale was searching for a “cadre” of Scouting talent in order to turn Camp Lowden around, and gave Dan a staff application. |
 |
| Amazingly enough, after Dan returned home he put the application aside, thinking they did not really want a 60-year-old man on staff! But when he received a second application from Dale in the mail, he began to realize they were serious. Dan came to Rockford and met again with Dale and was offered his choice of several different positions, including nature director, scoutcraft director, etc. He ultimately chose the former and was subsequently hired for the 1980 summer camp season. |
Top of Page