Some have asked me about the camp

							Some have asked me about the camp we attended…
where they identified campers by having us wear bright orange jump suits.

That was Illinois' premier Scout property, the Statesville Scout Reservation in Joliet, operated by
the Capone Area Council headquartered in Cicero, Illinois.

We really liked their unique programs.

Upon camp orientation and delousing, you immediately earned your Fingerprinting MB and
Photography MB (front & profile).

They have a nationally renowned program for Metalwork MB. In fact, you may have one of our
projects displayed on your vehicle.

Their canoeing program specializes in teaching boys paddle skills to take them "up the river".

The Woodcarving MB program features Scouts carving neckerchief slides using homemade
shivs. How exciting.

One of their most amazing programs is the "Shawshank Adventure", where Scouts secretly dig
through a wall and make their way through an abandoned sewer system. It's sort of like caving.

Their camp staff wears smart looking blue uniforms, sport sawed-off shotguns, and wears their
signature campaign hats and mirrored sunglasses. They're a fun bunch of guys!

The patrol method is strongly encouraged (with chains) while on nature hikes along area roads.
Most of the wildlife we encountered was stiff and flat. We scraped them off the road and put them
in big gunny sacks. It was kind of like a snipe hunt, except in the daylight and escorted by
armed camp staff mounted on horses.

If a Scout needs discipline, they give him a time-out in a place called the "hole", sometimes for
days at a time.

The food is far superior to most Scout camps.

Scouts attend Statesville Scout reservation by "invitation only" at a special Court of Honor.

Well, it’s sort of a Court of Honor. It's in a Court, and it’s presided over by "his Honor".

All in all, it's really a great summer camp experience. In the "Martha Stewart Guide to Special
Camps", she rates it a B+.

There is only one negative I found. I really can't recommend using their shower facilities.

You might want to avoid that.


YIS,
Cliff Golden
Scoutmaster Troop 33
DeKalb, Illinois
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