Canyon Camp had a successful but turbulent 88th summer on the banks of Coon Creek with over 850 Scouts and Leaders coming through our front gate between five weeks of Scouts BSA camping and our Webelos/AOL Weekend.
However, our Staff also experienced the loss of Sam Satterlee, a sixth year Staff member at the end of Week 3, and then the Monday night derecho that heavily damaged our
campsites and canceled Week 5’s program for our Scouts and Scouters who were thankfully kept safe and sound in the Dining Hall. Most of us would agree that this was likely the most difficult summer that the Canyon Camp Staff has ever endured in its history, but I am very proud of the camp staff for all that they did to continue to go above and beyond to serve the little Scouts that follow us, despite their grieving and continual sacrifice of emotional well-being at a young-age.
Over the summer we had 1,968 merit badges taken by Scouts all around camp. With a 62% completion rate, 1,228 merit badges were earned! I do want to add the quick acknowledgement that our completion rate was very low this summer due to 99% of Scouts during Week 5 leaving camp early with partial completions for all their merit badges. Favorites included Archery (95 Scouts), Communications (84 Scouts), and Geocaching (72 Scouts). Scouts also enjoyed the new program offerings of Collections, Horsemanship, Insect Study, and Signs, Signals, & Codes merit badges, as well as the NRA Pro Marksman Awards, a Chaplain’s Aides training, Leave No Trace Principles training, and an archery instructional shoot. Our adult Unit Leaders enjoyed a new set of training opportunities to take from our new Camp Commissioner Tom Howe, a Staff alum with decades of professional adult development experience, particularly with mentoring and leadership.
At the end of summer Staff Dinner, we presented many recognitions to volunteers and Staff members in thanks for all that they do at Canyon Camp. Seven Staff members were presented with Spirit of Canyon Camp Scholarships, adding on to our legacy of $78,125 awarded to 193 Staff recipients since 1992. Quinlan Wells of Galena, IL was voted ‘Staff Member of the Year’, John Jones of Viroqua, WI was voted ‘Rookie of the Year’, and Ryan Robinson of Bloomington, IL received the ‘Gilwell Staff Recognition’.
A huge slate of important property improvements were accomplished for this summer, such
as the new off-the-hill campsite named Driftless, the installation of a new Low COPE course courtesy of Troop 95, and the ongoing construction of both the new Maintenance building and the new Showerhouse. We look forward to the incoming ‘Visitor’s Restroom Facility’, new campsite latrines, potential Trading Post and Office renovation, and other exciting projects to be worked on this offseason. This is all possible thanks to generous funds raised by the Friends of Canyon Camp and the Blackhawk Area Council. We’re very grateful for our kind donors and loyal volunteers who make all of this important work for camp possible. Come join us at the Woodcutter’s Ball event on Saturday, October 12th, 2024 if you’d like to lend your skills and efforts to help us out as well!
With your help, Canyon Camp will continue next year for an 89th summer with another cheesy promotional theme, which is, drumroll please, “The Spirit Thrives in 2025”! We hope to see you join us next summer! Thank you to each of you for all for your support to Canyon Camp and the greater Scouting program we provide for the youth of the Blackhawk Area Council!
Yours in Scouting,
Seth Kannarr
Camp Director
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