2017 Camp Tuscazoar/Camp Buckeye Staff Reunion
By Brian McLinden
On the weekend of the Tuscazoar Pig Roast (Sept 8-10) 70 alumni of Camp Tuscazoar and Camp Buckeye met at Tuscazoar to share in food, fellowship, song and memories. What began as a lark blossomed into a wonderful 3 day event with early birds arriving Friday and setting up Hoover Lodge as the main base. Staff members from 1953 to 1986 bunked and cooked meals together and had plenty of time for hiking to the Point and Roost, catching up with each other, and reliving fond memories. Participants came from both ends of the country as well as from Ecuador and Jersey, England!
Highlights of the weekend included marching into retreat (at which we were honored to be able to officiate), sitting down together at the Pig Roast (where we treated ourselves to some of Nancy Schoenbaum’s Pig Cookies), and gathering at Hoover Amphitheatre for a Saturday night Campfire where Dave Tschantz from the Tuscazoar Foundation generously gave us an update on all that was happening with our beloved Camp. Pictures, memorabilia, slides and digital presentations helped jog our memories and bring an occasional tear to the eye. We also made certain we took a moment to remember our brothers no longer physically present but with us always in spirit.
In the true Scouting way the burden of the work and clean up was shared happily by all, from the planning through set up and final clean up. Aside from travel expenses the only other cost to participants was the fee for the Pig Roast dinner. Through the generosity of individual donors and of all the participants who gave willingly, each attendee received a commemorative T-Shirt and name badge, a Buckeye Council Songbook, and meals throughout the weekend.
The weekend culminated in a Dutch Oven breakfast on Sunday followed by a chapel service at Tom’s Chapel. The event was such a success the group is already planning reunions for the near future. Our thanks to Nancy, Dave, Dale, Kevin and everyone on the Foundation Board and staff for making our reunion weekend one to remember always.
Here are a few photos from the weekend:
