Celebrating the Spirit

Becky Fry models a Scout hat from Zimbabwe; it features a hatband made of zebra hide.

by Ron Fredman
Photographs by Jim Callaway

At a Michigan camporee, Scouts from 19 countries enjoy a week filled with the magical moments that symbolize the special bond of worldwide Scouting friendship.

A SPECTACULAR METEOR SHOWER waltzed through the heavens. Happy sounds of friendship danced down a darkened trail. A rousing song here, quietly shared laughter over there, African drums pulsing from around the bend.

Mexican Scouts enjoy a ride in a voyageur canoe.

 A subtle series of special magic moments. That was probably the best way to describe the Michigan International Camporee. By itself, each moment meant little. Collectively, they built something grand for 650 Scouts and leaders from 19 countries who came together for a week last August at the Chief Okemos Council’s Northwoods Scout Reservation, near West Branch, Mich.

Just a few examples:

Opening campfire. A soaking rain washed the hillside fire bowl, scattering many to the relative safety of the tall-treed perimeter. Suddenly, the setting sun lanced through the clouds, gilding the birch and casting a gentle, glowing shimmer across Arrowhead Lake. It was as though the heavens above joined in welcoming the world to this little corner of Michigan. The Scouts cheered as the fire — and the camporee — roared to life.

Campsite camaraderie. "I remember one night in particular," said Scouter Norman Scott of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, a veteran of five international Scout gatherings. "Several dozen of us were sitting around — Slovaks, Danes, Americans, Zimbabweans. Almost spontaneously, a guitar appeared and was passed around. Song after song — it rolled on and on, without a care. That was truly special." 

Lending a hand. Forester Mike Vasievich of East Lansing, Mich., was briefing a patrol made up of BSA and Mexican Scouts for a woods survey activity, but the Mexican Scouts didn't understand the English instructions.

"A U.S. boy, with probably a year of Spanish behind him and plenty of hand gestures for support, struggled to help out his Mexican friend," Vasievich recalled. "Eventually, they somehow understood each other and moved on. I wonder if they also understood the deeper significance of what happened at that moment."

Isabel Muñoz absorbs instructions for firing a black powder rifle.

Different peoples working as one — that was the organizers’ vision. Campsites blended Scouts from at least two, and usually three or more, nations. From each campsite, mixed patrols formed for a week of activities.

A daily newspaper, The Paper, kept all informed and entertained. Individual "passports" helped scouts keep track of new friends. They added a national flag sticker for each new friend from another land.

They swam and hiked. They tackled teambuilding challenges, participated in crafts and sports, tried their skill at shooting (a first for manv), and enjoyed historical and cultural exchanges. 

An international campfire complete with colorful national dances, songs, and skits; an American Indian powwow; and a food and cultural festival ranked among the highlights for many.

Scouts forged friendships while trading national patches.

"I expected to be overwhelmed with everything...and I was," said Scout Eron Hackshaw from the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago. "There was so much to do, so much new to me," said Eron, who was one of the more outgoing members of the most outgoing contingent in camp. "We came to have fun, and we did."

Such comments convinced camporee chairman Bruce McCrea that the 21/2 years of planning and 16-hour days at camp had paid off.

Carlos Alonso Rebolledo plays his guitar during a lively campfire session.

The event was a first for the Chief Okemos Council, which is headquartered in Lansing, Mich.

"I’ve seen the tremendous experience Scouts have at an international event," said McCrea, Scoutmaster of East Lansing Troop 180 and a seasoned world Scouter for more than two decades. "I also realized that, for many, the cost of a world jamboree would be beyond their budget. So, instead, we decided to bring the international Scouts to us."

Most of the 12-person steering committee was from the mid-Michigan area, but youth and adult staff came from throughout Michigan and also from Ohio, Wisconsin, and Connecticut. In addition, two young adults came from Peru to join the commissioner staff.

Adriana Carraza and Azucena Monroy perform a traditional Mexican dance.

The camporee was billed as a celebration of anniversaries. Those being observed included Michigan’s 160th as a state, Lansing’s 150th as the state capital, and Oldsmobile’s 100th as an auto maker in Lansing.

The observance that had the most significance to the international Scouts, however, was the 90th anniversary of the first Scout camp, at England’s Brownsea Island. 

Most important, though, the camporee celebrated the worldwide family of Scouting.

"We got to know each other pretty well over the week," said Scout Tim Miller of Troop 145 in Greenville, Ohio. "You soon noticed we’re all pretty similar."

The Northwoods camp reflected the fact that Scouting in many nations includes both male and female youth members. Of the 400 Scouts who participated in the camporee, 90 were girls, 30 of them from U.S. Girl Scout troops and BSA Explorer posts.

Taking a break from swapping patches and uniforms, a team from Denmark competes in the Initiative Games. (inset - Camporee patches)

"I will remember so much ahout this experience, Scout Peter Szabó of Budapest, Hungary, said. "I made many friends from other countries -- Scout friends and personal friends, especially from my camp patrol. It’s hard to say which is the friend who will be with me for years. I know that person is here somewhere."

The way Scouts were swapping uniform parts near the end, it might have been a bit hard for Peter to find that person. Scouts from Ghana sported BSA uniform hats; Canadians flashed British neckerchiefs; Romanians walked arm in arm with Ugandans. Clearly, the differences were gone.

"You soon realized we were part of something bigger than we thought we were," said Australian Scout Fiona Fleming of Dookie, Victoria. "There are all these people I've met from countries I’ve never seen, places I’ve never even heard of. I would have never had this opportunity if it were not for Scouts."

A chorus of Danish Scouts and a Hungarian quartet (inset) entertain a campfire audience with a medley of songs from home.

Besides boating and canoeing, the waterfront offered campers a chance to experience a tube trip on the river.

Fiona’s attention was then drawn to a swirling, laughing cloud of dust on the field. In the center, a pine-laced Swedish spring pole reached skyward. Around its base, 10, then 20, then 30 and more Scouts circled and skipped, following the lead of the blue-and-gold clad Swedes. They sang while hopping in one direction, then the other. Africans, Europeans, North Americans, South Americans, islanders and more, all together, spinning with riotous abandon.

No one cared who was from where. They were simply Scouts doing what Scouts seem to always do: Have fun...spirited, joyful fun.

And of all the special magic moments that defined the Michigan International Camporee, that might have been the one that most clearly said, "We came as strangers; we left as friends."

An Eagle Scout, active Scouter, and former newspaper reporter, Ron Fredman lives in Lansing, Mich.

Snake Delivers Small Surprises Of the many unusual experiences at the Michigan International Camporee,one most certainly stands apart. Nature staffer Chris Lorey, a high school junior from Troop 158 in Essexville, Mich., was showing a brown snake to a group of Scouts.The little critter seemed a bit extra-agitated as it squirmed in Chris's hand. A moment later, it deposited two small, warm lumps in his palm.  "I looked down and thought he had gone to the bathroom," Chris said. Wrong on two counts. First, the snake wasn’t dropping waste, and, most certainly, it wasn't a he. The snake had just given birth to two babies. "My first reaction was to be startled," Chris said. "l had never seen newborn snakes before. I certainly didn't expect to be holding them. After the shock, I was happy new life was born.They were so small, about 2 inches long— their mother stretched about a foot—and kind of cute in a snake sort of way. It was really exciting to see." After a few moments, Chris released the new family in the brush.

A Labor of Love Organizing the Michigan International Camporee proved a true labor of love for camporee chief Bruce McCrea and his team. But sometimes, McCrea admitted, there was more labor than love. "I certainly spent far too much time working in the camp office and far too little time enjoying what was going on," he said. "But in the end, we got it all done. People truly benefited from the experience. That was our goal, and we succeeded." The idea popped about two and a half years earlier. McCrea has extensive world Scouting contacts and experience (Scoutmaster or assistant Scoutmaster at three world jamborees, leader of Scout trips to Europe and South America, and a participant in four international camporees in the United States). He gained quick approval for a Michigan camporee from the Chief Okemos Council, the Central Region, and the BSA International Division. McCrea immediately sought people with experience in areas such as programming, logistics, finance, trading post, and promotion. He looked for others to arrange for home stays the week before the camporee and to handle the post-event trip to Niagara Falls. A WINNING TEAM The organizers consisted of a dozen key leaders and their committees. Supporting their efforts were 150 camp staffers, both individual Scouters and community groups, such as the Lansing Muzzle Loaders. It also helped that Dag Pfeiffer, camporee chief for four highly successful Connecticut International camporees (last held in 1992), was on hand to provide guidance and insight. It wasn't all easy, of course. One committee chairman moved out of town two weeks before the camporee. Another key organizer had a last-minute conflict. Three countries backed out for political or financial reasons. Countless other little things kept arising, snipping and barking for attention. The team dealt with them all cheerfully, in the best spirit of Scouting. SOME TIPS McCrea, an economics professor at Lansing Community College, said he learned plenty. Some tips: Consult with those who have done this before. Develop and stick to a vision and plan. Give yourself plenty of time and realize there will be a bundle of fires to put out along the way. Contact your council and the BSA's International Division as early as possible for approval, support, and posting in calendars and on the World Wide Web. Surround yourself with the best volunteers possible. Seek community support for funding, promotion, and gifts in kind. Make sure international Scouts go through the proper channels with their Scout office and government agencies. Also, make certain everyone clearly understands any international communication — especially about timing, Take a deep breath and enjoy.

Reprinted from Scouting, May/June, 1998 with permission of the publisher, author and photographer.

Michigan International Camporee 2000, July 30 - August 6, 2000