|
|
|
History |
|
| The Pioneer Scout Reservation idea started in 1962 with the appointment by the Toledo Area Council Boy Scouts of America, President A. Gideon Spieker and the Executive Board of a Camp Development Committee to search for and recommend the purchase of property for additional camping facilities. For 38 years Camp Miakonda on the DeVilbiss Boy Scout Reservation on 210 wooded acres in Toledo had provided one of the most efficient camping programs. More camp lands and facilities were needed to continue high quality camping in the Toledo area Council. Through the vision and perseverance of this committee the first 1,068 acres of beautiful rolling terrain, from 16 connecting farms, were acquired in 1964 with an additional 40 acres added in 1968. Almost two square miles of meadows and natural woodlands, traversed by the crystal waters of the St. Joseph River made the land ideal for Scout camping. To bring to fruition the Executive Board organized a Camp Development Fund Campaign under the leadership of R.A. Stranahan, Jr. and Henry A. Page Jr., General Co-Chairmen. In the same year a Building Committee made up plans for dams to create Lake Spieker and Lake MacNichol, the first of four lakes. Along Levis Road, main buildings and facilities for camp, now named Frontier, were built. During each year 1967, 1968,and 1969 crews of Scouts planted lO,000 knee-high Whitepine and Norway spruce trees with the help of the Michigan state Forestry Department. Winter camping began in early 1969 and the first weekly camping was conducted that summer with Gary Lehman serving as the first Camp Director. The Pioneer Scout Reservation was formally dedicated on June 28, 1970. |
The Legend of Frontier |
When the "Great Spirit" created the earth and all that is upon it, he came to the earth and walked to admire his creations. His journey lasted many moons and covered many miles. One day after traversing the Black Swamp, the "Great Spirit" grew weary and laid down to rest. He picked his resting place for the beauty of the hills and the peaceful river running through them. The earth was new and the ground soft. When the "Great Spirit" arose from his slumber, the earth bore the imprint of his body forming lakes where he had laid.
As the "Great Spirit" slept he was watched over by the "spirits" of the Starfire, the Eagle, the Beaver, and the Mighty Oak. After awakening the "Great Spirit" gave thanks to his brother spirits for their protection. He beseeched his brother "spirits" to stay and watch over the new land where he had rested and to keep it a peaceful sanctuary.
The "spirits" of the Starfire, the Eagle, the Beaver, and the Mighty Oak heeded the words of the "Great Spirit" and instilled the land with prosperity and peacefullness. As time passed, the land came under the stewardship of the native Indians, the frontiersmen, and finally to the Scouts. Today the land known as Camp Frontier bears the marks of the "Great Spirit 's" resting place and if one watches and listens closely you can still see and hear the guardians of the land - the "spirits" of the Starflre, the Eagle, the Beaver, and the Mighty Oak - each with his own tales to tell. |
|
|
| |
|
