Camp Lowden Alumni

Bruce A. Small

The 1970s was a decade of change. A constant turnover in staff members and camp directors, as well as the merger of two councils and two years of a “split-staff,” resulted in the loss of many camp traditions. However, the arrival of Dale Smith and then Bruce Small in the late 1970s would begin a revitalization period.

In 1979 Dale hired Bruce Small as business manager at Camp Lowden and Northwoods (this was the second and final year of the “split-staff”). Dale continued to serve as camp director for two years, training Bruce (who was by then serving as program director as well) to become the camp director. Together Bruce and Dale brought the leadership and formed the nucleus of the staff organization which was needed to turn the camp around. In 1981 Bruce became camp director and has served in that capacity since that time except for (1988-1990).

During the school year he teaches in the Galena, Illinois school system.

Bruce was born in Peoria, Illinois, but grew up in East Peoria. An honor student, he graduated from East Peoria Community High School in 1974 in the top ten of his class of 467. He then attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, where he served as president of his dorm and as vice president of his fraternity. He also served as head of the dorm council (the judiciary committee for the dorm).

As a boy Bruce was involved in Cub Scouts. However, when it came time to move on to Boy Scouts, a troop did not exist in the area where his family lived. Several parents in the troop, including Bruce’s, tried to start a troop but could not get the support needed.

Once he began to teach, the boys in his class approached him to ask if he would be their assistant Scoutmaster. That was the beginning of Bruce’s Scout experience as an adult. He recalls,

I just loved it. I would take my flashlight and schoolwork on campouts, grading papers in my tent at night. I did not want to miss the campouts, but still had to get my schoolwork done.

While with the troop, he attended several summer camps and became one of the first adults to go through voyager training at the old Region 7 Canoe Base in Wisconsin. It was an experience that Bruce credits with teaching him most of the Scout skills that he still retains today.

Once he moved to the Galena area he was quick to join the local troop, Troop 95, where he has served as assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster. He also became involved beyond the troop level by becoming district roundtable commissioner and also as Order of the Arrow chapter adviser. Through these involvements he came into contact with Dale Smith and Dennis Pratt. Bruce recalls,

One day in 1979 I received a call from Dale Smith. He wanted to know if I would be willing to serve as business manager on the Camp Lowden staff. Having always wanted to do something like that, I said, “Yes,” and agreed to something that would change my life for many, many years.

About thirty minutes later I received another phone call from Denny Pratt. His first statement was, “Tell me you haven’t spoken to Dale Smith.” I told him that I had. He said, “Tell me you did not say ‘Yes’ to him.” I apologized and told him that I had agreed to be his business manager. Denny stated that he wanted to interview me to be his waterfront director at Canyon Camp.

Within my first few days at Lowden, it became very evident that the program director, a very new district executive who had been forced to take the position, was not working out. A private meeting of all the directors was held in the main lodge. Perceived as Mr. Smith’s right hand man, I was asked by the directors to speak with Dale and to take over the position. I spoke with Dale and we agreed that it would be best if the program director were “recalled” to his district. I then took over as program director and business manager.

In the year that followed, Mr. Smith (who was the council program director) found that he did not have as much time to spend at camp as he thought. At the end of the 1980 summer he asked me if I would take over for the coming summer, stating “You pretty much were camp director this summer anyway!” I agreed to accept the position.

In the years that followed, Bruce was camp director, business manager, and health officer, holding all three positions in an attempt to save money to provide better salaries for other staff members. He rewrote the record-keeping and financial systems of the camp and still uses those systems today. Once the national standards were changed to exclude the camp director from having other responsibilities, he began to hire a separate health officer. Because the business aspect of the camp is relatively simple and the system was of his design and understanding, he was allowed to retain the business manager position with no objection.

Over the years Bruce has been the center of attention for many humorous incidents at camp. The staff pokes a lot of fun at Bruce’s expense, with affection of course, and he responds as the perfect straight man. It is all in good fun, and the Scouts absolutely love it!

Steve Sarver recalls,

In 1980 there was a running gag about the “horrible” odor of Bruce’s socks. Every time something smelled bad in camp, no matter how small [pun intended], the smell would be blamed on Bruce’s socks. The staff even made up a song about it, based on the popular camp song, “Your Mama Don’t Wear No Socks.” The Scouts were encouraged to come up with their own verses.

In 1984 the staff referred to him as “Brucey Moose.” They would raise their hands with thumbs on the side of the head in order to look like a moose. They also made up the “Brucey Moose” song to the tune of the Mickey Mouse song. It took a number of years for this reputation to settle down.

My personal favorite was in 1985, when a staff member made up “Bruce Busters” signs. The signs were based on the logo from the movie “Ghostbusters” which was popular around that time, with one exception. The ghost’s head was replaced by George Jetson from “The Jetsons!” The tag line was, “They’re here to save the world,” and these signs were plastered all over camp. At one point there were about 100 of them. I still have one.

Chuck Walneck recalls,

In 1979 a competition between Bruce Small and I started and continued for more than a decade and a half. Bruce usually picked the challenge and practiced until the July 4th week. He usually felt confident that he had the advantage, but he never won a challenge. One year his challenge was the “toggle toss.” It turned into a camp-wide event, with half the kids favoring Bruce and the other half and some staff members favoring me. It was a daily struggle to continue to hold the best time and camp record. The culmination of this competition was concluded in good sportsmanship by shaking hands and going to the trading post where the loser would provide “Mickey Mouse” ice cream bars to the all of the kids (the Mickey Mouse bars are a whole story in itself).

Numerous camp pranks have been played on Bruce through the years. I will confess that my Scouts were never guilty of such practices (it is suspected that the adults of Troop 161 were involved in such actions; however this has never been proven). The Scouts in our troop were fun and gave Bruce a challenge at every turn. They always acted like Scouts but were also boys at heart. At one flag-lowering ceremony they did a similar march to the flagpole that was in the movie “Stripes.” I thought Bruce was going to flip. When the boys finally got to the flagpole they switched into the fine Scouts that they were and lowered the flag with dignity. All the Scouts in attendance were whooping it up afterwards. I did not know that my Scouts were going to do this but I just knew to wait until the end and that it would be conducted with “A Touch of Class.” That turned out to be our troop slogan.

Tom Heintzelman recalls a swim race with Bruce in 1983:

The race was really hyped and well attended. After the start I glanced back and there was Bruce way back behind me. I think he gave out after two or three strokes. Needless to say I won by a pool length.

During the Wednesday family nights in the early 1980s there was a water carnival after supper, with competitions between troops. The highlight of the carnival was always the “biggest splash” contest. As emcee of the event Bruce always managed to get splashed at least once. One year a “Scoutmasters’ biggest splash” contest was held between the leaders. Let’s just say that the splashes were even bigger and leave it at that. For the past several years on the family nights, Bruce participates in a water balloon toss with Griffin Eckert. They are always fun to watch, and one of them usually gets soaked.

In recent years Bruce’s bed has ended up in a variety of different and unusual places, such as the top of the climbing tower and even the bottom of the swimming pool!

But while Bruce is often the subject of much humor, he also has a serious side. One must remember that in the “off-season” he is a teacher, and his first and foremost goal is to educate. This includes summer camp, which after all is an outdoor educational experience. He wants Scouts to have the best possible experience at summer camp, and to have such a great time that they will not soon forget it. Whatever he or the staff needs to do to make this happen, they will do.

Steve Sarver recalls,

One week there was a Scout who was terribly homesick. At various times we would see Bruce sitting on the step talking to him, offering advice and encouragement, etc. The Scout made it through the rest of the week and had a great time. At the closing campfire Bruce gave him a “Good Turn” token, something that he does on special occasions.

Bruce always seeks to find the best possible staff members. He knows that for many being a staff member is their very first job. He wants them to be cheerful, and promotes teamwork extensively. Every staff member needs to work hard in order to get the job done. “If it is to be, it is up to me” is a slogan that he not only believes, but asks the staff to believe as well. Primarily, he wants his staff to embrace professionalism and to live the Scout Oath and Law, not just during summer camp but for the rest of their lives.

Ever since he became camp director, Bruce concludes each closing campfires with a moving speech followed by Baden-Powell’s Farewell Address. This is an experience which is not easily forgotten.

Steve Sarver recalls,

When we planned the closing campfire for 2005 staff reunion, the last item on the program was “Bruce concludes the campfire.” That is all we needed to do. We knew that he would come up with just the right things to say, to bring everybody from the different eras together, and he did not disappoint. He is without question the best campfire presenter since Bill Mulford, and possibly even better. I wish they had the chance to meet, because I think they would get along great.

Bruce concludes,

It has genuinely been a privilege to see this “ship” that actually travels nowhere become an incredibly powerful influence in lives of thousands of people from coast to coast and even across the oceans of the world. The Spirit of Camp Lowden has been a significant inspiration for not only the Scouts and leaders who have passed through the camp gates, but also for the multitude of staff members who have dedicated a portion of their lives to the development of that Spirit.

I would like to see Camp Lowden continue to develop to become a showplace of Scouting. I think that everyone needs to work hard to preserve its natural beauty and setting while keeping up with the changing demands of the needs of the Scouts and leaders.

The thing that means the most to me during my tenure is all of the staff members who have served Camp Lowden. They have become the champions that our world so badly needs today. All of them continue to live the Scout Oath and Law each and every day, setting the example for all who come in contact with them. Through them the Spirit of Camp Lowden will live forever. I love them all and thank them for enriching my life. They are my heroes!

It truly has been a pleasure to have served the Scouts and leaders of Camp Lowden. I have enjoyed every day of my summer adventures at camp. I would not trade my summer experiences for anything in the world.

1984

1986

2005