Local island becoming national attraction

By Andrew Fish / Leader Staff

Melita Island, on Flathead Lake, is unique among facilities owned by the Boy Scouts of America.

While the BSA and its local councils own camps throughout the U.S., as far as Case Haslam, the Montana Council's Endowment and Funding Director, knows, it is the only island in the nation wholly owned by the Boy Scouts. However, until recently, it has only been known to Montana scouts.

History

Historically speaking, there have been scouting activities on the island for many years. Originally, the scouts paid a $1 a year fee to the owners of the island, the Masonic Knights Templar, for the right to hold summer scout camps on the island. That changed in 1975 when the knights decided to sell the island. The scouts were offered first option to buy the island, but at the time the executive council didn't have the capital budget to purchase the island. At the time, the council was also moving to reduce the number of facilities it owned in Montana in order to focus its resources.

So, the island passed to developers that were eager to sell lots and develop the island. Their efforts were stopped by the difficulties of providing sewage removal for the 17 planned lots. The island passed into the hands of the Cox family of Nevada in 1989. The Cox family had originally purchased the island with the intent of constructing homes for family members. As time went by, they decided that they would rather build the homes on the 17-acres of mainland that had been purchased as part of the island.

In 1998, the Cox family was approached by local scout leaders seeking permission to camp on the island. The Coxes happily gave permission and for the first time in nearly 25 years, scouts camped on the island again. Shortly after the initial visit, the Coxes broached the idea of the island becoming an official camp again.

That began a long fundraising campaign to fund the purchase of the island for $1.5 million dollars. The drive came down to the wire- the purchase agreement was set to expire at the end of 2004 and by December of that year, the scouts had only raised $300,00 when an anonymous check for $1 million arrived in the mail. One last push secured the rest of the funding and the scouts purchased the island in January of 2005.

The island

The 65-acre island has nearly two-and-a-half miles of shoreline and at its highest point is about 80 feet above the lake surface at full pool. The island has changed very little since the scouts began camping there in the 1940s. Covered by a mix of Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir and Juniper, the island's eco-system is relatively intact. There is even a contest to find the two larch trees on the island. Howard Haslam, is a retired forester and a scout for 51-years, volunteers to manage the island's forest. Haslam is also the father of the endowment director Case Haslam. When the scouts first acquired the island, the forest was jammed with deadfall, according to the senior Haslam and the potential for a destructive fire was a concern. With help from other volunteers, Howard cruised the forest and developed a plan for what needed to go and what needed to stay.

Howard's other job on the island is to operate the portable sawmill that the scouts have on the island. Using the sawmill and trees removed for forest management purposes, Howard has produced all the lumber that the scouts have used for projects on the island since it was acquired. Howard's son Case estimates that by milling timber they own and volunteer labor, they have saved upwards of $500,000.

The island is also home to a small herd of deer, squirrels, osprey and occasionally a pair of nesting bald eagles.

The Camp

Camp Director Jack Sherick is kept very busy during the four weeks the island is occupied by campers. During the camp's season, it serves over 300 youth. Currently, it mainly serves Montana based scouts but as the camp is developed more Sherick hopes to attract more out-of-state scout troops. The current development priority is the installation of a septic system. The scouts hope to install composting toilets also in order to reduce the size and impact of the septic system. Future development plans include staff housing, an upgraded kitchen and an improved archery range. The Montana council is also currently pursuing grant funds for firefighting equipment. "We take pride in our camps," said Sherick. "We develop them to a very high standard."

Sherick said that while the island is best known for it's first class aquatics program, the unique nature of the facility lends itself to numerous other programs for scouts. In total, there are nine program areas that provide a total of 30 activities. The activities range from boardsailing to radio to pioneering.

The aquatics program is anchored by a dock completed in the past year. In addition to teaching essential water skills such as swimming and lifesaving, boating programs are available using the nearly 30 boats available at the island. Scouts can learn to kayak, drive a motorboat or pilot a sailboat while on the island.

Doug Crosby, Scoutmaster for Troop 1947 out of Polson, had 12 boys from his troop on the island last week. He has been taking scouts to the island for several years and is thankful for the facility. "It's a tremendous resource," said Crosby. "Not just for Polson and Western Montana but nationally."

Sherick said that while most people focus on the activities offered at the island as the camp's purpose a far more fundamental purpose is to teach the ideals of scouting. Among those principles are the familiar "Be Prepared" and "On My Honor." Wanda Wendt, the administrative assistant and business manager for the camp, says one of the greatest features of the program is the impact it has on the boys' lives. "Scouting is a worthwhile program," said Wendt. "Taking and molding the men of the future."