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Anoldmapof CampTopenebee,whichattractedmorethan8,500 visitorslast year. ,

" CampTopenebeeaha~en...forScoutsnationwide

By WOODYDRESDEN

For the Post-Tribune

Thedininghallat CampTopenebeeIn2002.

"L

ast night, I dreamt I; went to Manderley

again."'. That unforgettable opening

."'. line is from the classic novel..." "Rebecca," by Daphne Du

Maurier. In the end, it was the'0" fire at Manderley that drove

Rebecca away.For me, it was the dining hall

fire at Boy Scout CampTopenebee that brought meback home. Located on

0., Holmesville road near Michi-gan City, Camp Topenebee, or"Tope," is a revered placeamong Scouts.

..' For many of us, it was oursecond home - a place where

~ boys could enjoy .camping, hik- '

" ing, swimming, fishing and,.' canoeing. It was a place to

learn new skills, make new.friends and just have fun.Whether it was a week of

summer camp or just a week-'.. end, many of the happiest days, of my life were spent there

J withmy fellowScouts.

Named after ChietTopenebee of the Pottawatomie

, Indians, Camp Topenebee was'co" purchased by the former Pot-

.., tawatomie Council in 1948.,', Although the camp is host to

J Scoutsfrom across the United"'.;' States, it primarily serves"., eight countiesin Indianaand:, Michigan. This territory is

composed of 166 packs, 127-. troops and 35 crews, totaling. more than 12,000boys and girls

in our area communities....' Last year, the camp wel-:.: comed more than 8,500,visitors:: through its gates.-, Camp Topenebeewas built by, Scouts,volunteersandthe gen-:: erous support of area residents..., and businesses. Many of the-::,; existing buildings have plaques

. memorializing a group or indi-vidual. The 169-acrecamp offers

. a training center, archery-riflerange and 14campsites. Eachcampsite was named after a dif-

I' ferentAmericanIndiantribe,- selected by the troopinv{)lvedin

its construction.,- On Feb. 4, Scouts from

across the nation celebratedScout Sunday. This is a day torecognize the contributions of

, youngpeopleand adults to::: Scouting.':. Since 1910,Scouting has been:: a program of fun outdoor activ-.: ities, peer-group leadership:.. opportunities and a personal:. exploration of career, hobby

I.: and special interests, all:=: designed to achieve the Boy'I:. Scouts of America's objectivesI..: of strengthening character,I personal fitness and good citi-t '~ zenship. The national Scouting..- Web site reports a membership

i:;.-:;of 943,426Scouts and 543,971t~.. adult volunteers in 2005. ,..;:= Scouting has, and alwayst.: will, need the support of the~:.. communities it serves. Last..:: year, the La Salle Council intro-:...- duced its Buy a Brick program:: that gives individuals the": chance to be part 'of the legacy~.. of Scouting. Engraved brickst:: may be purchased in honor-~: memory of a present-former':,. Scout, friend or loved one.:= The bricks will be placed..: around the flagpole at Camp:: Topenebee as an eternal memo-:.. rial. Proceeds from the sale of..:.. these bricks (after material. .. .

'" expenses) WIll s.upport future~'

A current photo of the entrance gate, which was donated by the JoyManufacturing Management Club of Michigan City In 1960.

projects at Topenebee.I have so many wonderful

, memoriesof ScoutingandCamp Topenebee. Even now, Istill consider obtaining therank of Eagle Scout as one ofmy greatest life achievements.

There are many opportuni-ties made available to those irithe Scouting program. So manypeople in the ,community sharetheir time, knowledge andfinancial support to teachScouts about their hobby, pro-fession or;skill- not forgettingthose very dedicated individu-als who volunteer their time asden, pack and troop leaders.

It had been 20 years since Itraveled down that long, wind-ing road at Topenebee. In thattime, I always felt somethingwas missing in my life.

When I again stepped out ofthe truck at Topenebee andlooked around, I knew I hadfound it.

Again, I had a place thatneeded me; I had a duty to ful-fill, a debt to repay. The call ofScouting had brought me home.

In his youth, WoodyDresdenwas a member of Boy ScoutTroop 920.He obtained therank of Eagle Scout at the ageof 14 and Was involved in the

Order oft~e Arrow. Today, he

MoreaboutScouting. Tofind out moreinformationaboutthe Scoutingprogram,visitwww.Scouting.orgor call DanCarpenterat (574) 289-0337,Ext.307. FormoreinformationaboutCampTopenebee,or the BuyaBrickprogram,all CampRangerSkipHartlineat 874-9455.. AreaAdultScouterDanialBolinger'isarchivingall informationand memorabiliaaboutCamp'Topenebee,to be preservedat thelaPorteCountyHistoricalSociety.Anyonewith information,picturesorotherrelateditemsis encouragedto contacthimat Topenebee@yahoo.com,or call the camprangerat 874-9455.

volunteers his time to Scoutingas a merit badge counselor andmember of the CampTopenebee property committee.DresdEmis a project managerfor Garman Electric in Val-paraiso, and is afreelancewriter and photographer.

Resourcecredits:,www.scouting.org;www.Lasallecounci/bsa.org;"Historyof CampTopenebee"byMichaelTaylor. oi

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