Official Publication of the High Adventure Staff Association

November 2012 Volume No. 12 Issue 4

President's Message Does Anyone Know the by Don Hanson Whereabouts of... The Executive Committee of the Maine High Adven- We are looking for the following fellow alumni. If ture Staff Association is composed of the four officers: anyone knows how to get in contact with any of them, or President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. We clues as to how to find them, please contact Trudy Han- try to meet once every month that has an "r" in the name son (see left column on page two for contact info) (which means we don't meet in the summer). We just 1973 had our November meeting and are looking at a pro- James Barnhart 73M posal by the MHA BoG to assist in the funding of the Sue Bombaugh 73S third homebound site (or village) at Matagamon Base. Raymond G. Charles Guide72M; 73M It looks like the MHASA bank account is flush David Charles 73S;Guide74S;AsstCG75S; CG76S enough and we are talking with the BoG to work out an Kenneth W. Cogswell 73S agreement. We feel that an investment in a permanent John Coughlin 73S improvement to the Maine High Adventure program is Warren Franz 73S;74S one of the best uses of the treasury. By the February Mr. & Mrs. Or- Hale 73S Moose Call , we should be able to report that we have land come to an agreement and are moving forward. Gregory A. Kvam 73S James Maldon? 73M Also at the meeting the other night, we answered Gregory Martin 73M some of the (hopefully) last questions so that our appli- James Mattern 73M;74M;Guide75M cation to the IRS for 501c(3) (non profit) status can be Chuck Schwab 73M;74M granted. This will allow people to be able to donate to Dan Stoops 73M the organization and feel comfortable writing off the do- Thomas E. Sullivan Guide72M,73M;74M;AsstDir75M nation on their federal income taxes. Mark Whitney 73M We also discussed that this would be a good time to 1978 remind you to set aside July 26, 27, & 28, 2013 to visit Charles Baney Guide78S Matagamon Base for our MHASA Reunion. Plan your Stephen Cagette? 78M Bryan Coleman Driver78M vacation so that you will be in Maine, or, if you live in Stephen Cozzetti Guide78M Maine, set aside the weekend, drop in and share the fel- Nelson Craige Guide78S lowship. There will be details in the February Moose Edmund Cummings Driver78S Call for who to contact to register. List Continued on Page 2 There are some fine articles in this month's issue. Thank you to those who have contributed. For those in- terested in contributing, the deadline for submission is Don't forget to visit us on the the 1st day of the month of publication. Anything you World Wide Web at send in between now and then I will store in a folder for www.MaineHASA.org February. We do reserve the right to edit any submis- sion, but are usually pretty kind. Username is mainehasa

I hope you all have a happy, healthy and not too Password is mha2010 crazy holiday season and enjoy the winter. Talk to you again in Febrary. See the staff pictures, back issues of the Moose Call ,

other pictures, some history of MNHAA/MHA and Happy Trails!!! more! Moose Call - Page 2 Maine High Adventure Staff Association

Moose Call Does Anyone Know the Whereabouts of... is published four times a year: Continued from Page 1 September, November, February, and May Stephen Davis Guide78M by the Maine High Adventure Staff Association. Keith(William) Everett Guide77S,78S Brian Faherty Guide78S The Jim (Charles?) Fisher Guide78M,79M Contributions from members and non-members are wel- David P. Gibbs Floater78S come. The deadlineMoose for the Moose Call Call is the first day of Dennis Habecker Guide78M the month isof publishedpublication. four All editingtimes ais year:at the discretion John Kerig Driver78S of September, the editor. Please November, send contributions February, to and the Mayeditor Jenny Law KitchAid76M;Floater77M;Floater/ by the Maine Highlisted Adventure below. Staff Association. 1983 Guide78M,OpMgr79Y MarkDavid McDowellAchtel 78SGuide76M,82S, 83S JeffreyDonald MenzAnderson Guide78SGuide83M Maine High Adventure Staff Association officers and Contributions from Members and Non-members Kevin Cheder- Guide83M contacts: quist President,are welcome. Moose The Call deadline Editor for the Moose Call is Andrew Coxwell Cook82S,83S the first day Donof the Hanson month of publication. All ed- Louis Dandurand 83S,Guide84S iting is at the [email protected] discretion of the Editor. Please Lezlie Doan 83S send contributions 207-377-2814 to the Editor listed below. Joe Eagan Guide75S,76M,77M,79M,82S,83S 402 Metcalf Road M. Farris 83M Charles George Guide83M Winthrop, ME 04364 Maine High Adventure Staff Association officers James Gianakis Guide83M,84M Eric Grant Driver81M,Guide83M Vice President and contacts: David Ham- Guide82S,83S Howard "Woody" Wood macher President, Moose [email protected] Call Editor Dave Havens 83M Mark Kelley Guide83M Don860-839-1152 Hanson P. Kriegh 83M [email protected] Chestnut Avenue Bernard Marshall 83S ?,Guide90S; 91Howland 207-377-2814Torrington, CT 06790 Kelly Martin 82S, 83S 402 Metcalf Road R. McAllister 83S Secretary Winthrop, ME 04364 Katie McDermit OperSpec82S;83(M or S?); Guide84M John Pluto Michael McDermit 83S,Guide84S,85M Vice President [email protected] William H. McDonald 83S, Director 84S Howard 207-400-7875 "Woody" Wood Eric Miller Guide82S,83S [email protected] O Box 305 Patrick O'Sullivan Guide83M 860-839-1152Van Buren, ME 04785-0305 David P. Peitersen Driver 82S,83S, 84M B. Porter 83S 150 Beechwood Ave Sue Rivers 83S Treasurer Torrington, CT 06790 Douglas Rule Guide83S Deb Howard Doug Walker Guide81M,83S Secretary [email protected] Bruce Williams 83M?,Guide84M John 207-236-6498 Pluto Douglas Wolfe Guide83M Thaddeus Yablonsky 83S [email protected] Forest Glen Drive Keith Zeiner Guide83S 207-228-4806Rockport, ME 04856 1988 29 Daggett St Roger Price Guide88M;89M;Chief Webmaster Portland, ME 04103-4304 Guide90M,91M Bob Cowdrick Al Simonitis? Guide88M,89M 1993 Treasurer [email protected] David Rhinbout? Guide93M Deb Howard 1998 Membership Info/Address [email protected] changes Mike Bagley 98M(p/t),99M Trudy Hanson Nate Jarvie- 98M [email protected] Reeves Rod Newton 98M,99M 207-377-2814 2003 402 Metcalf Road Chuck Johnston 2003M;2004M Winthrop, ME 04364 Josh Lawrey 2003M Adam D. Smith 2003M Maine High Adventure Staff Association Moose Call - Page 3

Debbie Luzer of Spokane, Wash., Cathy Jentges of Where Are They Now? Kelso, Wash., and Maureen Abramson of LaCenter, Coordinated by Trudy Hanson Wash. She was predeceased by a sister, Ruth (Anderson)

th Embree; and two brothers, Dana and Robert Anderson. In an October 4 e-mail from Hugh Van Roosen Friends are invited to call noon-2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, (Guide 76, 77 – Seboomook, 79 – Matagamon): He is at Lary Funeral Home, Dover-Foxcroft. Afterwards working for the United Nations in Liberia through 2013. friends and family are invited to share tributes and sto-

th ries at the home of Marcia Fair, North Road, Sebec. In In an October 5 e-mail from Tim Conway (Guide lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions 74, 75, Driver-Guide 76, Asst. Base Director/Operations to "American Diabetes Association" donations.diabetes. Manager 77 – Seboomook): I worked at Camp Phillips org or Community Health and Counseling Services, last summer as a first year camper director. I took crews 1093 W. Main St., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426. Mes- overnight on the Namekagon River. When camp was sages of condolence and memories may be expressed to over, I went on my annual trip on the Wisconsin River "http://www.laryfuneralhome.com" Published in Bangor with my brother. We’ve paddled 327 miles, so only Daily News Maine on October 25, 2012. 103 miles left to go. After that, I took and passed an American Canoeing Association instructor course on the Flambeau River. Rowallen Patrol In an October 5 th e-mail from Jerry Fetter (Guide by Lyle Denit 85, 86 – Matagamon): I have continued my work with NASA. I flew in the “vomit comet” last February where International turmoil helped give me one of my I tested an experiment for them in zero gravity. (Check most positive experiences in Scouting, when I was a out the web-site at zerogrov.org.) Guide for a crew of British scouts in 1979. That year, the July 16 Bangor Daily News headline read, “200 Brit- In an October 25 th e-mail from John Pluto: the ish Scouts Camp in Maine.” They had originally th obituary for Glennis Sampson , Cook, 79 Seboomook planned to attend the 15 World Jamboree in Iran, a trip SEBEC - Glennis Ethel (Anderson) Sampson died that seems impossible now. In 1979, the monarchy of peacefully Oct. 17, 2012, at home. She was born May 8, the Shah, a close ally of the United States, had finally 1926, to J. Everett and Aldeana (Minet) Anderson. collapsed after two years of popular protests, and was "Dinny" was the youngest of five children. Dinny at- replaced by the conservative cleric Ayatollah Khomeini. tended the Dover schools and Foxcroft Academy. She As various factions vied for power, the jamboree was moved to Boston during World War II where she met cancelled, and the Islamic Republic of Iran was born, William Fair. Soon they married, moved to Dover- setting the stage for much of our headline news today. Foxcroft and raised four boys. Glennis married Clarence But back then, I was charged with helping my crew find Sampson, in 1968 and moved to Clear, Alaska, where an alternate, safer adventure in the North Woods. she helped raise eight stepchildren. After many years I was in my second season guiding at Seboo- they returned to Maine and settled in Sebec. In her re- mook when I met my crew of eight scouts and one advi- tirement years, Big Nana enjoyed baking pies and Swed- sor. I didn’t know what to expect from them, but as we ish bullas, cruising around Sebec Lake on her Jet Ski, met they seemed eager and excited for this trip. They and playing Beano with her friends several times a were one of 24 crews spread out among Seboomook, week. She led her life with zest and though Dinny suf- Matagamon, and St. Croix. They were about 15-16 years fered the loss of sons, Dean and Kurt Fair, and Kevin old, from the environs of London, urban kids. They and Clifford Sampson, she remained excited about the came from different troops back home, had been as- future and continued to surprise us all with her unpre- signed their advisor, and called themselves Rowallen dictable antics. Glennis is survived by her sons, Michael Patrol, after a medieval Scottish castle. None were over- and wife, Evie, and sons, Jamie and Alec, and Scott and weight. wife, Cindy; Dean's sons, Dean and Ty; Kurt's sons, We paddled out of Pittston Farm on Seboomook Kyle and Kasey; three great-grandchildren; sister, Lake headed for Second Island. I had spent some won- Norma (Anderson) Harris; many nieces and nephews. derful time at that campsite during guide training, and it She also leaves stepchildren, James Sampson, Christine was interesting to begin to see these guys in action. Sampson and Kelley Brown, all of Fairbanks, Alaska, Rowallen Patrol (Continued on page 4) Moose Call - Page 4 Maine High Adventure Staff Association

(Continued from page 3) Rowallen Patrol spirit of the season, gathering blueberries and raspberries They loved cliff jumping (who wouldn’t), and it was and turning them into various desserts, including gar- there that I showed them how to pile people into a canoe nishing a great dehydrated cheesecake. They decorated a and submarine it. They really liked this and played it small pine with foil wrappers cut into strips, spoons over and over again as the trip progressed. hung with string, and various other found and made trin- As we paddled down the West Branch, I saw this kets, topped by a foil wrapper star wedged into a shal- playful spirit in lots of ways. I remember at one camp low red bowl. they started to play submarine, but it turned into a gen- Before they left for home, they presented me eral roly-poly with the canoe, climbing over it as they with a carved, signed piece of driftwood from Gero Is- laughed and fell off over and over. All my crews had en- land (“Might see you next year?” Jeff wrote), a button joyed themselves, but this seemed different. While they pin that said “Scouts are Magic” (slang at the time for became very competent paddlers, they also used the “cool”), and a small UK flag patch. I still have all three boats almost as toys in the off hours, but never being items. crazy or destructive. They had a kind of child-like aban- After that season at MNHAA, I pretty much don, and I wondered if camping was a release from life dropped out of Scouting for 24 years until my son was back home. old enough for Cub Scouts. A few years later I was But when it was time to get to the work of load- tapped as scoutmaster. When I told the troop committee ing, cooking, and cleanup, they learned what needed do- what my goals were, I mentioned the Rowallen Patrol ing and got to it quicker and more efficiently than any and what an impression they made on me. If I could help other crew I had. They didn’t stall or complain about it boys develop skills and attitudes more like those that being their turn, or leave tasks for someone else. Stuart, Mark, Ian, Tim, Cary, Philip, Kevin, and Andy Whether from chores training in their homes, from some had shown together, then I would count it a success. Our particular scout training, or wherever, they had learned a troop did increase membership, camped regularly and good work ethic, which was unusual in my experience turned out many fine young guys but I could never quite with kids their age. I realized that I was relaxing with instill the same lasting competence of the young Brits. them in a way I usually didn’t with crews, and that I Memory does play tricks over time, and I don’t could share the adventure with a competent group of mean to idealize the British lads of Rowallen Patrol, but campers more than just supervise it. guiding them was a unique experience for me, and they Their working-class London accents made for were a special group. some funny misunderstandings, as when we were com- paring musical tastes, and I mistook their liking the punk rocker Ian Drury as “injury,” which made no sense. Some Thoughts About The advisor, Jeff, was a university student, and more reserved in his speech and manner. Some of the the Dam Situation boys talked of him to me with some amusement, like he by Raymond Brown was “softer” than they were. A couple of them demon- I have been giving a lot of thought to some of the strated sharp wits that they could use without being dam issues that were outlined in the September issue of mean-spirited. the Moose Call. It occurs to me that the preservation of Philip is the guy I best remember. He wasn’t the that dam and maintaining the lake at its present level are official crew leader, but he had the quality of a natural essential to the character of Grand Lake Matagamon and leader. He was lean and quick to smile. He was smart, the Matagamon High Adventure Base. As I understand absorbed knowledge of the country, and reflected on it, there is definitely a risk that unless the necessary re- things. He had a streak of independence that seemed dif- pairs are made to the dam within the next few years, the ferent from the others. He was a natural camper, and as gates could be pulled out of the dam. If the gates were the days floated by he relaxed more in his dress, groom- completely removed, the water level in the lake would ing and habits, like he was going “native,” and seemed drop by 13.5 vertical feet. If the water level drops that to enjoy himself even more. Philip seemed like one of much, the beauty and character of the lake will change those people who could easily shed the trappings of civi- in ways that none of us can truly visualize. It wouldn't lization and become completely at home in the wilder- be pretty! ness. None of us is old enough to remember what Mataga- On Gero Island in , we spent a mon Lake looked like when there was no dam. Many of windy, locked-in Christmas-in-July. They got in the Dam Situation (Continued on page 6) Maine High Adventure Staff Association Moose Call - Page 5 Maine High Adventure Looking for a By The Numbers Unique Gift Idea? by Raymond Brown As Christmas gift-giving season approaches, are you trying to find a unique gift for a Scouting buddy? Or for 9.84 a High Adventure friend? Or for a family member? Or People per crew was the average crew size for the 38 maybe for yourself? crews that enjoyed High Adventure in Maine during the 2012 season. This average crew size was higher than in any of the previous seventeen summer seasons.

6.92 Was the average number of young people per crew in 2012.

2.92 Was the average number of adult advisors per crew in 2012.

7.68 Days was the average length of stay for the crews that The Maine High Adventure Staff Association still attended in 2012. has scarce first-year patches from the Matagamon and Seboomook High Adventure Bases available for sale. These are brand new Maine-Matagamon B.S.A. 1971 6 and Seboomook B.S.A. 1973 patches that include dates. Crews from the BSA's National Capital Area Council These patches were stashed away and forgotten for more (metropolitan Washington, DC area) came to Mataga- than 30 years. The Staff Association has had them avail- mon in 2012 -- more than from any other council. able for sale for more than two years. These historic patches may be purchased by members of the Staff As- 11 sociation for $25 per patch. More extensive information Different states, ranging from Florida to Maine, were about these classic patches can be found in the Septem- homes to the units that sent crews to Matagamon in ber 2011, November 2010, and September 2010 issues 2012. of Moose Call, which can be accessed and viewed through the MHASA web site. Raymond Brown continues to handle the sales of 9 these patches from his home in New Jersey. If you want Crews came to Matagamon from the Commonwealth of to purchase one or more of these historic patches, mail a Massachusetts -- more than from any other state. check payable to "Maine High Adventure Staff Associa- tion" to Raymond at the following address: 628 Thomas Avenue, Riverton, New Jersey 08077. Be sure to include 9 the mailing address to which your patches should be High Adventure crews chose to paddle down the East shipped. The price of $25 per patch includes the cost of Branch of the when they sat in the map mailing the patches to the purchaser. If you have any room and planned their treks. questions, feel free to contact Raymond via e-mail ([email protected]). 35 These Maine-Matagamon 1971 and Seboomook 1973 Consecutive issues of the Moose Call have included one patches are rare collectors' items that were issued by the of these "Maine High Adventure by the Numbers" National Council of the Boy Scouts of America during columns. Patches (Continued on page 7) Maine High Adventure Staff Association Moose Call - Page 6

(Continued from page 4) Dam Situation several hundred staff alumni just might know of a pri- us have many fond memories of Grand Lake Mataga- vate foundation or a benefactor or a conservation trust mon as it now exists, and I daresay many of us would be fund that would consider providing a couple hundred shocked if the lake was partially drained. The charm and thousand dollars for a worthwhile project such as repair- quaintness of the location of the High Adventure Base ing the dam on Grand Lake Matagamon. Or one of our would disappear. The tree-lined shoreline where our staff alumni might know somebody who could get in trailbound campsites are located would be replaced by a touch with a friend or a professional associate who hundreds of feet of rocky dried lake bottom. The beauty could recommend a possible source of funding. Or and value of the 31 acres in T6R8 that are owned by maybe a friend of a friend of a friend? Maybe you have Katahdin Council, Inc., the property we know as the experience preparing grant proposals for outdoors or en- Matagamon High Adventure Base, would decline dra- vironmental projects? Maybe you know someone who matically. knows a private individual of substantial means who Paddling down the East Branch of the Penobscot has might be willing and able to make a large tax-deductible been a major and regular program feature of the Maine contribution to the Matagamon Lake Association to fund High Adventure program for decades. The East Branch a major part of the cost of this project? canoeing option has become especially important to There surely are organizations that will provide fi- MHA since our crews first started being charged for nancial support for environmental projects and maintain- camping on the West Branch and the Allagash, and even ing fisheries, just as there are foundations that support more so since the policy change that resulted in High various efforts and programs in the arts and humanities. Adventure crews having to pay out-of-state rates for The Matagamon Lake Association could really use some campsites on both the Allagash and the West Branch. tips and guidance about what organizations might be With no dam to control the flow of water down the river, able and willing to support the restoration of the 71- canoeing down the East Branch would become risky and year-old dam. Give some thought to the importance of unpredictable. Periods when the water level is too low to maintaining the dam at Matagamon, and think about paddle might become commonplace, and flooding after sources that you might suggest or contacts you might heavy rains would be much more likely than it is pres- have who would be helpful in locating a couple hundred ently, and both of those possibilities would lead to trip- thousand dollars for this very important undertaking. planning headaches. I am sure that removal of the dam Talk with your Scouting friends and personal friends would dramatically damage the present fish habitats in and professional colleagues. I see this as an opportunity Grand Lake Matagamon and down the East Branch be- for one or more of the readers of this newsletter to pro- low the dam, but I am not qualified to speculate on the vide a valuable service not just to High Adventure in fisheries impact. Maine, but to everyone with a connection to Grand Lake The need to repair the dam is not a High Adventure Matagamon and the East Branch. problem or a BSA problem. But if that dam is not re- If you have any tips or insights or recommendations, paired, the negative impacts on the Matagamon High please forward them directly to Don Dudley, the presi- Adventure Base and the program options for High Ad- dent of the Matagamon Lake Association at: P.O. Box venture participants will become High Adventure prob- 676, Patten, Maine 04765. Don Dudley's e-mail address lems. All parties involved in the High Adventure pro- is: [email protected]. Feel free to also send a copy of gram in Maine have a vested interest in making sure that your suggestions to MHASA president, Don Hanson, or the dam gets repaired. The repairs are too extensive to to me. But the organization that needs to find the fund- be done by volunteers on a couple of work weekends. ing to pay for the dam repairs is the Matagamon Lake Finding the funds to repair the dam is not a High Adven- Association. ture problem or responsibility, but a lot of dollars are The Matagamon Lake Association has a small web needed, and the Matagamon Lake Association does not site that you can visit to learn more about the organiza- have the financial resources to pay for these repairs. And tion and some local history and to keep abreast of things nobody is going to raise a couple hundred thousand dol- like river flow rates and Lake Association news. It is lars by conducting baked goods sales and/or having car www.katahdinoutdoors.com/dam/. washes! Most of the members of the Matagamon Lake Asso- Based on what I have heard, I doubt that either the ciation are owners of camps or properties around the state government or the federal government is going to lake and on the East Branch. But anybody who wants to provide funds to repair our dam. (I could be wrong.) But support the Association or who is interested in what's my thought is that somebody amongst our network of Dam Situation (Continued on page 7) Maine High Adventure Staff Association Moose Call - Page 7

Happy Holidays from the Production Staff of the Moose Call!

Trudy Don Folding, Stickering, Labeling, Stamp- Layout, Editing, & Proofreading ing, Mailing, & Proofreading

(Continued from page 6) Dam Situation (Continued from page 5) Patches new and exciting on the shores of the lake and on the the early years of the Maine National High Adventure East Branch is welcome to join the Matagamon Lake program. Many collectors of Scouting patches have Association. Individuals can join at the basic member- never had a chance to obtain either of these patches. Re- ship level ($25 per year), or at the Sponsor level ($50 ceiving one or both of these patches as a gift would be a per year), or at the Benefactor level ($100 per year). The special treat for a Scouter or patch collector or person Matagamon Lake Association is a 501-C 3 nonprofit with High Adventure connections who has never before corporation, so all donations are tax-deductible. Just seen either patch. Funds raised through the sale of these send your check payable to "Matagamon Lake Associa- patches go into our general treasury and are used to sup- tion" to P.O. Box 676 in Patten. I know that the Associa- port the endeavors of our Maine High Adventure Staff tion would be glad to have more involvement from peo- Association. ple with High Adventure backgrounds and connections. Moose Call - Page 8 Maine High Adventure Staff Association

Maine High Adventure Staff Association 402 Metcalf Road Winthrop, ME 04364