Merit badges, morals and marshmallows

MELITA ISLAND - Waking up at 6:45 a.m. to go swimming in cold water takes a lot of motivation.

Not for Ethan Tolley.

He was in the business of earning a merit badge at Weiblo camp on Melita Island last week.

Completing the polar plunge twice earned the participant a merit badge, something Tolley, a member of Pack 4745, was proud of.

"It wasn't really hard to get up that early," he said.

Last week, 120 Cub Scouts invaded Melita Island, making the land look like something out of "Survivor." Shirts were hanging on rope to dry and tents leaned one way or another due to the wind.

From a distance, it looked like someone had shipwrecked and stayed.

As you got closer, however, there was more to see.

Many flags welcomed visitors, a large central lodge and sailboats proved there is habitation on Melita Island.

Melita Island is the only island that is fully owned by the Boy Scouts and more than half of it has been left untouched. The other half, on the other hand, has been set up to house camps throughout the summer.

On the last day of camp, water wars was a popular way to stir up the competitive spirit of the boys.

With two boys sitting on floating barrels, each team tried to pull the other one off, sending him splashing into the water.

Tolley was one of the boys on the barrel.

"It was really fun," he said. "I almost fell off, but the other team didn't have balance, so he rolled into the water."

After all that swimming, his least favorite part of the week was the cold showers. On the contrast, exploring the island and learning about the different plants was his favorite.

Other campers liked learning how to build fire or work with leather.

Zach Schoenen, of Pack 4947, was part of a group that made pineapple cobbler over the fires they built.

"It wasn't too hard to build the fire," he said.

But camp isn't all about building fires and earning merit badges.

Camp Director Jack Sherick said it is just part of the Boy Scouts of America's plan to instill core values and give positive role models to young boys for when they grow up.

And Jay Sampson knows that.

As Sampson stepped onto the island, he recalled his experience at the very same place years ago. Entering the large dining hall, more memories flooded back to the Polson teacher.

"I can remember where I sat," he said as he pointed out the spot.

The Polson resident visited the camp when he was a Boy Scout.

"Can you remember the oath?" Sherick asked.

As Sampson rattled it off word for word, he even surprised himself.

"We teach and instill those values so they remember them years later," Sherick said. "We staff people who the boys can look up to, good role models."

The staff at the island is a mixture of former boy scouts and those who weren't. They help run the stations and cook for the campers.

"And, boy, can these kids eat. We had to make a run to Polson for 20 more gallons of milk yesterday," Sherick said as he walked by five grills that were warming up for dinner.

However, the staff draws a line at cleaning. Each boy takes his turn on kitchen patrol.

From the dining hall, trails connect the camp's sleeping and activity areas as well as the trading post.

"One kid spent $80 last week," Sherick said.

Down at the swimming hole, a downed tree is now used as a life jacket drying rack. With the storms that occurred during the last two weeks, many trees were knocked down and the Boy Scouts were resourceful instead of mad.

"We were looking to get something to hang them on, so this is good," Camp Director Erik Isaacson said.

Other trees will be sent to the mill, located on the island, to make tables, benches and anything else that may be needed.

But all of the island's amenities have been built from volunteers with donated materials, as some of the most expensive items on the island are the doors.

For $76, Melita Island built a new cabin. New shower facilities were $1,200.

The donations come from past Boy Scouts who remember the fun times

"This just shows what can happen when volunteers help," Isaacson said. "It just perpetuates. You can't get this anywhere else."