All the memories of Boot Lake Scout Camp came flooding back to a number of former Scouters and scout leaders. The badge work on rowing, canoeing, swimming, marksmanship, cooking, the many hikes around the area, and the jokes played on each other and leaders. For one in the audience, it all started 50 years ago.

Jerry Blanchard remembers it like it was yesterday. "Paul (Bengtson) and I came up here on instructions from the Troop 167 committee," said Jerry. "We looked all over Aitkin County for a suitable place for a camp. That day, Paul stepped out of the car, walked down the road to the path with his shotgun, shot six grouse along the way, and he said, 'This is the place.'"

Jerry went on to explain that in 1954 there were quite a few tax delinquent railroad lands in Aitkin County and shortly after Boy Scout Troop 167 formed, they had several families that were willing to support the purchase of property for a camp. "We looked all over Aitkin County," said Jerry. "We prepared a list of suitable places and drove around Aitkin County. We actually turned down a place on Mille Lacs Lake." Jerry and Paul liked Boot Lake, but it was after many of the parents drove up the following weekend to see the land, that the decision was actually made to purchase. The cost of the land - $400.

A corporation was formed, "The Frontiersmen", to provide for the desired direction of the camp. Why a camp for the troop? In those days the troop had upwards of 85 boys! The Scouting districts or councils did not have all of the big council camps of today. It is not unusual for Scout troops to have their own property for camping. It provides for camping opportunities when the busy council camps are full.

Jerry was just one of several former Scouters that gathered 25 miles north of McGregor at the site of Boot Lake Scout Camp. The camp, located in Cornish Township, has been host to hundreds of Boys Scouts over the years, and Labor Day weekend, Sat., Sept. 4, memories were shared about the past and a discussion took place about the future of the camp.

Boot Lake Scout Camp has always been owned and operated by a not for profit organization called The Frontiersmen. The members of the organization are primarily former Scouters that have a special interest in continuing the scouting tradition. Jerry is the senior member of the group and has since made Aitkin County - the county he first visited 50 years ago - his permanent residence.

Everett Parks is another senior member of The Frontiersmen and currently serves as the treasurer. Everett had been affiliated with Troop 148 which included parents and children from Spring Lake Park, Mounds View and Blaine. He has 27-year history in scouting. He was 12 years old when he first saw the camp. "Our scout master and my dad came up here and said, 'Sure, we want to come up here.'" Everett went on to describe the camp back then and how they handled the first case of poison ivy. The poison ivy used to be right in front of the cook shack, but many improvements have been made and that area has been cleared. Everett concluded by stating that it was easy to fall in love with the camp.

Bruce Frits traces his scouting years to the original Scout Troop 167.Bruce, also a member of the Frontiersmen, described all of the projects that have taken place over the years. All of the clearing and construction of buildings that has been completed by The Frontiersmen. Over the years, buildings have been added, repairs have been made and the main cabin has been winterized. He recounted the several times one could wake up with snow sneaking through the cabin's logs to cover one's sleeping bag. Across the bay a tent camping area was developed. The beach that once existed on the north side of the lake has been moved closer to the main buildings. It is a basic and well maintained camp.

The Frontiersmen recently made a land swap with the county, giving up a narrow piece of land along the north shore of the lake for land across the road. It was good for the county and the camp. The county has an area to provide a better lake access point while the camp has usable land to work with.

Discussion is in the works for future projects such as upgrading the current boat house and constructing a new building across the road. Mike Hodges, the current president of The Frontiersmen, commented on the future plans. "The new structure is important because we have more mixed groups today," added Mike. "The building will allow us to provide separate quarters for the boys and girls. We have scout leaders now that are moms and we rent out the camp to high school student council groups and church groups." "It's not like the 50's and 60's where it was primarily boys and men in camp." "It would also provide for allowing more then one unit or group to be in camp at the same time." Mike went on to add, "We have tried to be active, good citizens of the county by doing things such as contributing to new clinics in the area, taking a turn at highway clean up, assisting the sheriff's office on searches, and even once capturing an escaped fugitive."The local DNR forestry Manager, Paul Bunge (now retired), would stop in many times to provide informative lectures to troops while in camp. "As former or active Scouters and Frontiersmen, we continue to positively shape young people to become the citizens, business and community leaders of today.", said Mike.

Currently, seven troops and a few non-scout groups attend the camp at various times of the year. The camp is unique in that the camping area is nestled in the towering 150 year old pines across the lake, a considerable walking distance from the cook shack, the mess hall, and the beach area. But, for many as young Scouts, they would run its distance several times a day. The long winding trail to the tent sites includes a bridge over a ravine. Mike said that the bridge we are standing on was an Eagle Scout project around 1990 and still sturdily serves its purpose.

As the celebration of 50 years wore down and the sun set on the camp, several old friends shook hands and said their goodbyes. Their time of reflection was over and it was back to their jobs in other parts of the state and Twin Cities. Fred Mattson was just one of those individuals who, like many, has vivid memories of the camp.Fred, a visual media specialist, attended the camp from 1971 to 1978 and he felt that the best part of his scouting experience was the fact that Boot Lake Scout Camp had an impact on his adult life. "The honesty and integrity of scouting carried over to my business," he said. "It is where I learned to be the man I am today."