Scout Reflections Participating in Boy Scouts brings with it rewards, responsibilities, and memories for life. We have asked the Scouts of Troop 161 (61) to share their thoughts and memories at the 50th anniversary of the Troop
Skip Manning Philmont and working two summers at Lyle
Andrew Weisensel Running Order of the Arrow ceremonies with Mike Grant at Camp Lyle
Dan Wahl Seeing my first Order of the Arrow Tap out.
Cyndi Wahl Seeing my three sons achieve their Eagle Scout.
Frank Gall Summer Camp at Lyle
Ryan Roloff The Flambeau River High Adventure trip including the seizure and rescue of Mr. Dick Levandowski
Gerald Crawford Winter Camping at Boy Scout Camp on Pleasant Lake. The courteous and wonderful people who gave their time to test us on merit badges. The Blackhawk Trail and Eagle Scout Forestry Camp
Aaron Allred Climbing Baldy at Philmont with my Dad and crew would have to be one of f not the favorite of my scouting memories. As a staff member at Lyle, I have too many to single out as a favorite and so many I am sure 161 never forget.
Gregory Meersman Definitely attending Philmont. Which part .... All of It!
Hugh Weisensel Elkhorn High Adventure in Colorado and Weaver’s Thumb Rappelling.
Rick Heck Favorite memory is when I received my Eagle.
Andrew Simon Favorite Scouting Memories are everything from crossover to present.
Todd Gierahn Hiking the high country in Colorado at Elkhorn BS Base Camp.
Dennis Mikulecky I most enjoyed a high adventure trip to Region 7 Canoe Base. I was selected to be the lead scout responsible for going to the base several days before the Troop arrived, land the other lead scouts were taken out on the water for two days to help prepare us for what the Troop might run into. We were treated like recruits in a Marine Boot Camp. We were not allowed to talk to one another. We tore down our camps in darkness. We had to learn survival skills. It was brutal and scary. I learned a great deal of respect for how serious canoeing in the great north woods can be. Although I was only 14 at the time, I really felt like I became a man on that adventure. It was a great experience.
Tyler Sanchez Love going to Lyle
Curtis Weeks Mr. Treu and his stories and jokes at Camp Lyle - Specifically the story of the barrel of bricks falling on a worker. Devils Lake Rock Climbing and first trip to Philmont.
Sharon Gierahn My favorite scout memory is the ECOH held on September 27, 1997 for Andy Barnes, David Vetrovec and Skip Manning. It was the ECOH from Hell!! Nothing went right. Things immediately started off on the wrong foot when, for some unknown reason, set-up took longer than usual and we were literally putting the finishing touches on the decorations as the guests walked in the door. Things went from bad to worse when l accidentally got locked in the walk-in freezer in the kitchen. As I groped around in total darkness trying to find the emergency release on the door, I felt a stub of metal and realized the emergency release had been broken off’! Fortunately, Matt Jutrzonka came to put something in the freezer and heard me pounding on the door. Thank you Matt!! Even the dinner table was not free from hazards that night. One of the soon to be Eagles, Andy Barnes, got water spilled all over himself In a desperate attempt to make Andy presentable for the reception of his Eagle and to enable him to stand before the whole crowd without being totally embarrassed (the water spot was in a rather bad location), we had him standing in front of a large fan in the kitchen. The final blow came during the slide presentation. It was one of the first times we used the jumbo rear-projection screen. The presentation started on cue, then the screen went totally black. Thanks to Mr. F’s ability to think clearly under pressure and his knowledge of computers, he was able to get things back up and running in a matter of minutes. This is a night I will longer remember.
Erik Gierahn My favorite scouting memory occurred the first time I went to Philmont Scout Ranch. We had just gotten back from our trek and everyone was dying for some REAL food. It just so happened that the people at the ice cream counter were making cones as large as possible without the ice cream toppling over. I proceeded to put away 7 cones. My friends actually bought the last few for me to see if I could eat them all.
Harvey Mikulecky One week canoe trip at Region Seven Explorer Canoe Base. Also seeing my three sons becoming good scouts
Justin Gall 1992 Philmont hiking to Tooth of Time in the morning, getting to the top and seeing the sunrise over a sea of clouds.
Harry Knopke A winter Campout with our pup tents encased in snow and our troop leaders, including my dad, playing cards and drinking brandy in front of a wood stove in a small cabin. A sutdy in contrasts! Mr. Knopke ‘s son, Kevin, is an Eagle Scout.
Thomas Kiley Attending the 1993 National Jamboree with my 19 year old son, an Eagle Scout, as equals. We were both Assistant Scoutmasters for the Southeast Wisconsin Council Troop. Also attending Philmont in 1988 with my son.
Jerry Kirkland Being able to “out hike” Mr. F at Philmont
Timothy Crawford Camping at Nelson’s Woods on Four Mile Road, Brown’s Lake in Burlington and camp at Chippecotton near Whitewater. I now practice law in Racine since 1972. I help the elderly and use the values I learned in Scouting.
Daniel Mikulecky Catching a Northern Pike while fishing with my father at Camp Lyle. Canoeing and inter-tubing at Lyle. The many grade school friends and leaders of St. Rita’s Boy Scout Troop 161.
What was your favorite memory?? Add it to the comments below!!
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