Camp Lowden
Daniel J. Reilly III
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Dan’s impact at camp was immediate. Almost immediately after arriving, his wealth of knowledge and experience
transformed many aspects of Camp Lowden. The staff began singing marching songs, many of which were either
written or adapted by Dan. Songs were sung in the dining hall after meals, usually led by Dan. After a couple
of years other staff members began leading songs as well...songs which, more often than not, had been initially
taught by Dan. In the nature area, most of the materials and displays belonged to Dan. Several staff members recall fondly how, at the beginning of each summer camp season, the Reilly station wagon backed up to the nature lodge and was unloaded, much of the load being part of Dan’s vast Indian and nature libraries. Then the old metal desk, which Dan always used, was brought up from the main lodge. |
 (Photo Courtesy of Brian Aichele) |
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Occasionally there would be special circumstances, such when Dan was able to counsel a Scout for the Oceanography
merit badge! But the Scout had come prepared and had completed saltwater observation and other “ocean” requirements
in advance, and Dan was able to counsel the Scout on the remaining requirements. Order of the Arrow ceremonies benefited from the addition of American Indian songs and stories that Dan brought. For many summers, beginning in 1984, Dan told American Indian stories on Thursday nights to the younger Scouts (while older Scouts were at the OA induction ceremonies). During Dan’s last four or five years at Lowden, at Sunday night campfires, Daniel Jacques, the “mebbe two hunnert or t’ree hunnert year old” French/Canadian/ Odawa voyageur came out of the woods singing in French, and telling stories about his shrunken friend Jean-Luc, whose sole vocabulary was “Oui.” One year, two of Dan’s nephews at camp called him “Uncle Dan.” It caught on and ever after he was known by most everyone as “Uncle Dan.” That same year Dan was thrilled when a black Scout called him Uncle Dan. One time a boy even asked him if he was the “Uncle Dan” [Daniel Beard] in the Boy Scout Handbook! In the early 1980s there was a contest for the patch design for the following year. The 1983 camp patch was designed with Dan in mind (he would always stand on a cliff overlooking the council ring). The design was later incorporated into camp stationery and still shows up from time to time. |
 (Photo Courtesy of Brian Aichele) |
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After serving on camp staff for 16 years, Dan retired at the end of the 1995 summer camp season at the age of 75, on orders from his doctor. In 1996 he was presented with a lifetime staff emeritus plaque for his many years of service to Camp Lowden. |
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