Enterprise Dispatch Blog

It was fun in the winter sun for local Boy Scouts during the Crow River District’s Winter Camporee Jan. 31. The event was co-hosted by the Dassel Rod and Gun Club, Dassel-Cokato Boy Scout Troop 253, and Kimball Boy Scout Troop. (Slide show below!).

Sportsmen’s Park, along Lake Washington’s north side, was filled with 110 eager Scouts for the event. All-day activities were planned for the participating Scouts, everything from ice bowling to learning what types of fishing lure to use.
The event began with registration at 8:30 a.m. and games starting at 9:30 a.m., along with different work stations where Scouts could learn about fishing and earn a merit badge.

“Out of the 31 days in January, we were blessed with such awesome weather,” commented Scout Master Tim Steuck on the 45-degree temperature. Fishing for the Scouts began at 1 p.m. The Scouts needed to catch at least two fish, releasing one and keeping the other for the 5 p.m. fish fry.

Rod and Gun Club members were available to help setup for the event and help fry 160 pounds of fish, not including the 17 fish caught that day. In the evening, Scouts enjoyed a warm bonfire and an evening under the stars camping out in Sportsmen’s Park. Those who participated in the district event received a Winter Camporee badge. Steuck appreciated the help of many volunteers including Mitch Elke of the Darwin Outpost, Ron Rauschendorfer of Ron’s BP, Jon Trotter of the Dassel Fire and Rescue, who taught ice safety and emergency rescue; Brad Koenen of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Department of Fisheries, who spoke on fishing regulations and sportsmen ethics; Rene Marelic, who is a professional fisherman; and Dr. Jake Collins, who spoke about health safety in cold weather. “We had so many generous people sharing their time, talent, and resources,” Steuck said. “It was a team effort,” he added.