CURRENT

CAMP NEWS

4th of July Reunion
Well the 4^th of July Reunion was a great success.  Much was accomplished to prepare for this year’s camp season.  The tables made by the National Guard out of Melita pine are just gorgeous.  They are now sanded and varnished.

Over 30 alumni and visitors came by.  We had folks from Canada, Missouri, Colorado, Idaho and across the mountains of Montana.  The weather was wonderful.  We had rain at night to lush things up and sunny days.  The winds were perfect for pleasant sailing.  Members of Troops 1956 and 1947 brought over boys to help cleanup downed brush and eliminate old slash piles.  Again the houses across the bay treated us to great fireworks displays.  We all sat on the Melita beach and watched bunches of bucks go up into the sky much to our delight.  We hooted and hollered in appreciation with all the others on the mainland shoreline.

The eaglets are doing well and flying.  Some of us saw a parent bird catch a fish and bring it to the nest.  A spike buck was spotted on the west side and a doe and fawn visited.  It seems like we may have another pair of osprey building a nest in Wildhorse Bay.

Most exciting of all was how effective the new John Deere tractor and Wood Mizer sawmill are in turn trees into lumber in less than an hour.  We are so glad Dick Brotherton took time from his busy schedule to come over and mill lumber.  He made enough for all the tent platforms to be constructed as well as getting a head start on dock wood. 

The tractor is indispensable now that we have it.  Besides moving logs, it can carry heavy items from the docks, dig holes, haul KYBO pump units, remove stumps and has a blade for leveling the staff camp area.  All of which was done over the weekend.

The Phoenix Patrol has been both busy and generous in supporting the Melita Island Camp Committee.  To date this year we have written checks for equipment and underwriting other costs for over $33,000 in cash. We are also working hard to get a Sea Scout Ship up and running.

Unfortunately our funds are low after all these contributions.  Please help us to continue the progress in turning Melita Island into a world class scout camp.  Our vision is to offer an international boating program.  The next big expense we’d like to assist with is construction of a protected harbor enabling the camp to make the boating program happen while improving safety and security.  It is estimated that construction, labor and materials will be roughly $90,000 even with us supplying a lot of our own wood.

You all have contributed immensely, first to the purchase of the island and now its development.  The Patrol is truly grateful for all donations no matter their size.  Nickels and dimes turn into dollars and dollars work wonders.  We need the cash flow to continue, it’s been a bit slow.  

IF YOU CAN HELP IN ANY WAY PLEASE WRITE A CHECK TODAY.  WE NEED IT FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS OF SCOUTING.  You can make it out to either the Phoenix Patrol or if you wish to the Melita Island Camp Committee.

Thanks again and help turn the Melita Island miracle into the BEST DANG BOY SCOUT CAMP IN THE COUNTRY.

Have a great summer and best wishes.
Chris Roberts

Montana Council Schedules Four Camper Weeks for 2006
Montana Council has elected to have four weeks of summer camp on the island due to overwhelming demand and the fact that two of the initial scheduled three weeks of camp filled early. Staff week will start July 9th with camper weeks running from July 16th through August 12th. Mike Koosman is the Camp Director this year and will be assisted by staff veteran Nathan Williams as Program Director. Nathan cut his teeth as Waterfront Director and holds the record for the fastest time swimming from the island to Melita landing. It is great having these experienced workers developing the 2006 program.
A field kitchen will be set up to feed both campers and staff this summer. This will be far more convenient for participants while saving on the expense of food and decreasing the amount of troop equipment that needs to be brought to the island.

Island Clearing
During the second half of November roughly 13 acres of Melita was cleared of dead and dangerous trees. An on-island crew led by Richard Brotherton produced a large amount of board lumber from the timber that was cleared. The cleared area is so nice and park like and the fire danger is greatly reduced. The Cromwell Island barge brought milling equipment onto the island and the cleared wood was milled over a two-week period creating enough lumber for 36 picnic tables to be made by the Army National Guard and provide a good start of wood for our new docks.

Phoenix Patrol – Transfer of Boat Fleet and On-Island Assets
To show our support for Montana Council and its development of Melita Island the Phoenix Patrol has voted to transfer ownership of our boat fleet and on-island assets to the council while continuing to make the growth and maintenance of the council boat fleet and the establishment of a boating program on the island our number one priority.
We learned from the 1950s-1970s Camp Melita Island experience that boats and maintaining them in good condition was the weakest element in that earlier operation. It is an essential part of our mission not to let any financial difficulties restrict the quality and types of boats offered at Camp Melita Island.