Scouts and Scouting in the early days

by Janet Wilcox

There are few activities in San Juan County that have positively impacted the lives of so many youth in San Juan County as the Boy Scouts of America. The Utah National Boy Scout Council shows the first charter in San Juan County was under the name of Phil Hurst and was dated 1916. Eventually a member of the High Council was called to oversee the program; initially that was Bruce Black. The National Parks Council helped to organize and supervise district camps.
Thousands of boys since then have benefitted from scouting and the dedication of their leaders while earning their Eagle Scout Award. One of those outstanding leaders is Steve Lovell, who dedicated over 20 years promoting, leading and helping boys advance through the scouting ranks.  Others who were involved include Gene Orr, Jed Tate, Toni Turk, Don Larson, plus dozens of Cub Scout leaders and supportive parents who helped.
During those early years Scout Week (Feb. 5-11) was celebrated at the elementary school with special bulletin boards showcasing scouting activities. Often contests in knot-typing were held, as was the showing of the Fred MacMurray movie, “Follow Me Boys.”  Over 100 scouts wore their uniforms to school.  As a teacher Mr. Lovell was able to offer courses that also filled the merit badge requirements for Botany, Geology, Basketry, Art and Sculpture. The Elementary School was also used in the evenings for Merit badge Pow Wows.
On October 11, 1979 the groundbreaking took place for a new Scout building (adjacent to the LDS chapel near the high school.) The logs arrived from Colorado to build a 24x48 foot Scout Lodge. That building is still used today, but not for scouting. Sometimes summer camps for scouts were held at Camp Warner on the LaSals; other times camps were held in an area south of the Blue Mountain Guest Ranch, or on the south side of Dry Wash Reservoir. (However, rattlesnakes became a problem and that site was changed.)  
Often contests in knot-tying were held.  Other oft used adventures included hiking down the rocky face of Comb Ridge on the Posey Trail. Special Posey Trail patches were designed and awarded to those accomplishing that hike. Many families have also hiked down that narrow steep path, which is considered a true initiation to San Juan County. Other hiking areas included the Skyline Trail in Allen Canyon, Horse Mountain, Dark Canyon and the road to Babbling Springs.  Those completing 50-mile hikes were awarded a special patch.
One memorable hike the Boy Scouts took was to Cowboy Camp.  A notebook in the cabin contained signatures of many of the old timers who had since passed away. The next day they noticed an airplane fly overhead then a parachute floated down, but it was too dark to find. However, the next morning the treasure was found. A box lined with Styrofoam contained 6 half gallon cartons of ice cream!  “Without a doubt the best breakfast they experienced on the hike. (Kim Smith and Pete Black were the donors!)
At the annual scouting banquet each year awards were given to leaders and volunteers for extra mile service.  Some of those recognized in those early days were Don Kilgrow, Lloyd Bayles, Greg Adams, Clara Mae Hatch, Karen Slavens, Loretta Wicker, Ron Barlow, Lisle Adams, Ike Chamberlain, Darlene Low, Fred Halliday, Brent Barlow and Donald Jack.
In 1982 the LDS church sponsored a Jamboree under the title, “High on the Mountain Top” at Flagstaff, Arizona.  Over 7000 San Juan County scouts and leaders attended.  It took 120 priests and 250 deacons to pass the sacrament on Sunday. Speakers included Bishop H. Burke Peterson and Elder Featherstone. The Merit Badge Midway offered 49 badges and between 1000 and 1300 were completed!
In 1985 the San Juan District Scout Committee created an incentive program to encourage more hiking to scenic places in San Juan County. Bigfoot the Wolf had become the district’s official mascot, so his picture was chosen to represent the hiking patch.  Lloyd Bayles was the patch designer. Cub Scout packs were also very active in the county and younger boys learned about patriotism, identifying animal tracks, hiking, and cooking outdoors. 
The next scouting adventure started in 1986 when the   Steve Lovell family was called to serve in  the White Mesa Branch.  With a shed full of Scout equipment and lots of experience, they charted a new troop of 12 boys.  The Ute tribe furnished all the uniforms.  Jim Langston was an older scout who was called to be Steve’s assistant.  Nadine Correll also helped get the program going.  In 1996 Steve organized an all-Native American Camp.  They gave the boys a packet of materials so they could make up to $24 worth of air fresheners.  They then sold them and that took care of their camp fees. It was very successful and they ended up with 24 boys who came to camp. 
In the early years of Boy Scout Camp Finley Bayles and Lloyd Bayles ran the Leatherwork area.  They did a great job and always saved the camp a lot of money by cutting out belt blanks themselves.  Robert Laws ran the rifle range for 6 years.  Sadly, he and his wife were killed in a tragic car accident.  The next year they named the camp’s rifle range after him. Their daughter Debbie came to camp and ran the archery range for several years.  
Jed Tate is another local who was influenced by Steve Lovell.  He recalled when he was a Wolf in Cub Scouting and his mother LaVerne was called to be their leader.  He was worried that she would do something weird. However, he found out quickly that his mom was the coolest Den Leader around.  When it was folklore month, she came to meetings dressed up like a character from a folk tale.
She told stories with a swagger that intrigued all the cub scouts.  They built Pie Tin Banjos and learned to play them!  And she taught them how to make a cooking stove out of a #10 can with rolled up cardboard and wax poured on top. Jed and his family moved to Gilbert, Az for several years.  Later when they moved back, he was called to be the webelos leader in 1989 and eventually Scoutmaster to troop 906.  Eventually he was Boy Scout camp director for 17 years! 
Unfortunately  the only scouting program functioning today in San Juan County is the Girl Scout program in Bluff.