Northern Lights Council, BSA
History Project & Online Trail
Use the PocketSights® App on your phone for a GPS guided tour of Camp Wilderness or on your computer for a virtual tour.
Developed and Supported by the Northern Lights Alumni Association
Use the links below to explore Camp Wilderness, the Councils, the Lodges, & other the Camps in our Council. We have just started in adding content and we can use your help with editorial, content, and research. For more information & to signup
- History Construction Plans (original)
- History Center Plans & Goals
- Virtual Visit
- Our Collection (not yet available online)
- Contact the History Center
- Update/Correct the History Project or Trail
- Upload a Picture or Document
- How You can Help the History Project
- Info & what is needed
- Donations (monetary & items donations welcomed)
- Purchase History Trail Patch $15 & Support the History Trail (available at Camp TP & CFS)
- Annual Rummage Sale (proceeds help History Center)
- Learn more about the Northern Lights Alumni Association
- Scouting Heritage Merit Badge
Use the PocketSights® App on your phone for a GPS guided tour of Camp Wilderness or on your computer for a virtual tour.
- Black Building – A1
- Totem Pole – A2
- Baker Tree Plantation – A3
- Burke Trail System– A4
- Bomb Shed -B
- Cooking Grill – C
- Waterfront Steps – D
- Original Kitchen – E
- Pump Shed – F
- First Campfire Arena – G
- Toboggan Slide – H
- First Chapel – I
- Cabin A – J
- Boathouse – K
- Family/Scoutmaster Cabins – L
- Chuckwagon -M
- OA Gateway – N
- Matson / Lof Homestead – O1
- Pop Stone Tree Plantation – O2
- Water Tower – P
- Boardman Outpost – Q
- Camp Dump –
- Flothe Homestead –
- First Rifle Range –
- Horse Corral –
- Old OA Grounds – T
- Preachers Grove (original & current) –
- Sawmill –
- Tree Plantations – by Boat House
Purchase a History Trail Patch $15 at the Camp Wilderness Trading Post, CFS, or contact us
TimeLine for Camp Wilderness
- Before Camp – The Biome, Indigenous People, Logging, Farming, & Resorts
- The Beginning of Wilderness Camps – 1945-1949
- Fifties 1950-1959
- Sixties 1960-1969
- Seventies 1970-1979
- Eighties 1980-1989
- Nineties 1990-1999
- Millennium 2000-2010
- Teens 2010-2019
- Twenties 2020-2029
- The Future
- Patches of Camp Wilderness
- Hail to Thee by John DeWerd
- Coffee Table Book
- Camp Development Plans
- Camp in the News
- Camp Newsletters
- Camp Staff List / Staff Photos
- Additional Maps of Camp Wilderness
Help & Provide us with Additional Info
- The Beginning
- Millennium
- Teens
- Twenties
- The Future
- Patches of Butler Wilderness Outpost
- Coffee Table Book
- Camp Staff List / Staff Photos
- Additional Maps of Camp Wilderness
Help & Provide us with Additional Info
- Main Buildings
- Sleeping Quarters
- Main Camp Area
- Andrew Nelson Welcome Center –
- Astronomy Dome –
- Boathouse – Marker K
- Chaplain’s Gazebo –
- Family Cabins / Scoutmaster Cabins – Marker L
- Ham Radio Tower –
- Lavold Nature Building –
- Lookout Tower –
- Rifle Range –
- Shotgun Shed –
- Telephone Building –
- Totem Pole – Marker A2
- Waterfront Steps – Marker D
- Butler Wilderness Outpost
- Historical
- Bear Cage (Garbage Shed) –
- Bomb Shed (Fuel Storage) – Marker B
- Cabin A – Marker J
- Cabin N –
- Cabin O –
- Cabin 14 (old Health Lodge) –
- Cabin 15 (moved to Cabin 4 location ) –
- Commissary –
- Cooking Grill – Marker C
- Guys & Gals (Silver Beaver Lodge) –
- Original Kitchen – Marker E
- Old Pump Shed – Marker F
- Water Tower – Marker P
Help & Provide us with Additional Info
- Main Camp Wilderness Area
- Bell Tower –
- Chapel – Virgil Reed Chapel in the Pines
- Flag Field –
- Lookout Tower –
- Pollinator Project –
- Tree Plantation/Dr. Baker – Marker A3
- Tree Plantations – Marker
- Tree Plantation/Pop Stone – Marker O2
- Osprey/Eagle Nest –
- Camp Wilderness Program Areas
- Activity Field –
- Archery Range –
- Climbing Tower (new) –
- Climbing Tower (old) –
- Dirt Park (ATV’s)
- Disc Golf Course
- Fishing Area and Piers –
- Nature Area –
- OA Callout Site –
- OA Quill Hill –
- Project COPE –
- Rife Range –
- ScoutCraft Program Area –
- Shotgun Area –
- Sledding Hill –
- Sparrowhawk Campfire Arena –
- Trail Blazers –
- Waterfront –
- Camp Wilderness Campsites
- South Side
- North Side
- West Side
- East Side
- Old Commissioner Program
- Outpost Programs
- Butler Wilderness Outpost –
- Campsites
- Program Areas
- Historical
- Campfire Arena (old main) –
- Campfire Area First – Marker G
- Camp Dump –
- Chapel/First – Marker I
- Chuckwagon – Marker M
- HandiCrafts
- Homestead/Flothe – Marker ?
- Homestead/Matson / Lof – Marker O1
- Horse Corral – Marker
- Old Nature Areas –
- OA Gateway – Marker N
- Old OA Grounds – Marker T
- Old Rifle Range – Marker
- Sawmill – Marker Q
- Skeet Shooting Range –
- Toboggan Slide – Marker H
Help & Provide us with Additional Info
- Bad Axe Road –
- Bog Walk –
- Burke Trail System– A4
- Canoe Trails –
- Cross Country Trail –
- Inside Gateway –
- Main Gateway –
- Main Road –
- Original Road –
- Original Survey Notes –
- Wilderness Road –
- North Country National Scenic Trail
Additional Maps of Camp Wilderness
Help & Provide us with Additional Info
- Bad Axe Lake
– - Big 4 Lake –
- Boardman Lake –
- Buck Lake –
- Crescent Lake –
- Crow Wing Lake –
- Deep Lake –
- Heart Butte Lake –
- Lily Lake –
- Little Buck Lake –
- Logging Lake –
- Mantrap Lake –
- Metigoshe Lake –
- Pa-Hin Lake –
- Reed Lake –
- Shoe Lake –
- Wabaunaquat Lake –
- Wolf Lake –
Help & Provide us with Additional Info
Camp Staff List / Staff Photos
Individuals who made an impact at Camp Wilderness
- Unknown Legends – Help us identify these individuals
- Edgar Olson – Wrote the Camp’s Alma Mater
- Herman Stern – Founding Father of Camp Wilderness
- George Edwin Black– Black Building Namesake
- George Boardman – Early Council Executive
- John Lien – First Camp Cook
- John Lindblom – Camp Surveyor
- Neville Pearson – Photographed Camps First Years
- Dr. Norman Baker – Founding Father of Camp Wilderness
- Dr. Steve Werpy – Long Time Camp Staffer
- Virgil Reed – First Camp Director
- Who would you add to the list?
Friends of Camp Wilderness – eventually became the Alumni Association
Help & Provide us with Additional Info
80th Anniversary of Camp Wilderness – website & activities
- 1949 Dedication –
- 10th Anniversary –
- 20th Anniversary –
- 30th Anniversary –
- 40th Anniversary –
- 50th Anniversary –
- 60th Anniversary –
- 65th Anniversary –
- 70th Anniversary –
- 75th Anniversary –
- 80th Anniversary –
- 85th Anniversary –
- 90th Anniversary –
- 95th Anniversary –
- 100th Anniversary –
Help & Provide us with Additional Info
- Additional Activities to do at camp
- Additional Maps of Camp Wilderness
- Camp Critters
- Camp Development Plans
- Camp in the News
- Camp Newsletters
- Campmaster Program
- Camp Staff List / Staff Photos
- Camp Wilderness Timeline
- Tall Tales & Legends of Camp Wilderness
- Non Scouting Events at Camp Wilderness
- Pa-Hin Lodge (Order of the Arrow) at Camp
- Past Programs
- NYLT at Camp Wilderness
- Wood Badge at Camp Wilderness
Help & Provide us with Additional Info
What Local Landmarks do you remember?
- Township/County
- Resorts/Ski Lodges/Clubs
- Restaurants/Cafes/Laundromats
- Tourist Sites & Local Interest
- Family Cabins
Help & Provide us with Additional Info
- Serving with Honor Wall – Mission
- Log Pavilion Brick Campaign
- Fire Tower Steps/Landings/Cab
- 60th Anniversary Capital Campaign
- Climbing Tower Replacement Campaign
- Jon L. Wanzek Center For Scouting
- Capital Credit Union Scout Center
Help & Provide us with Additional Info
- Northern Lights Council
- 50th Anniversary of the NLC
- Districts of NLC
- View every NLC CSP
- Silver Beaver Recipients
- Scouts & Scouters – Doing Great Deeds
- Buildings & Monuments Dedicated to Scouting
- Great Plains Area Council – HQ/Minot, ND
- Minot Council
- Minot District Council
- Lake Agassiz Council – HQ/Grand Forks, ND
- Grand Forks Council
- Grand Forks County Council
- Greater Grand Forks Area Council
- Grand Forks Area Council
- Devils Lake Council – HQ/Devils Lake
- Lake Region Area Council – HQ/Devils Lake
- Missouri Valley Council – HQ/Bismarck, ND
- Bismarck Area Council
- Williston Council – HQ/Williston, ND
- Red River Valley Council – HQ/Fargo, ND
- Fargo Council – HQ/Fargo, ND
- Park Region Council – HQ/ Fergus Falls, MN
Voyageurs Area Council (Northern Lakes District) – HQ Hermantown, MN
- Headwaters Area Council (No
- History of Region 10
Help & Provide us with Additional Info
/ Help & Provide us with Additional Info
Additional Camps (past & present)
Northern Lights Council- Butler Wilderness Outpost (see sections above) – Park Rapids, MN
- Camp Wilderness (see sections above) – Park Rapids, MN
- Big 4 Scout Camp – Minot, ND
- Camp Neche ( in the process of ownership change) – Bismarck, ND
- Camp Nushka – Brook Lake, MN
- Heart Butte Scout Reservation – Lake Tschida, ND
- Tom Brantner Memorial Camp – Glyndon, MN
- Missouri Valley Council
- Heart Butte Scout Reservation – Lake Tschida, ND
- Camp Chatoka – Williston, ND
- Camp Chan Owapi – Wildwood Lake, ND
- Chevron Boy Scout Camp – Killdeer, ND
- Missouri Valley Council Camps – Unknown
- Great Plains Area Council
- Metigoshe Scout Reservation – Lake Metigoshe, ND
- Big 4 Scout Camp – Minot, ND
- Boy Scout Camp, Rice Lake, ND
- Camp Spanish Point, Lake Sakakawea, ND
- Great Plains Council Camps – Unknown
- Great Plains Area Boy Scout Camps – Unknown
- Spoklie Hall Camp – west of Minot on the Mouse River.
- Williston Council Camps – Unknown
- Metigoshe Scout Reservation – Lake Metigoshe, ND
- Red River Valley Council
- Camp Wilderness (see sections above) – Park Rapids, MN
- Camp Shawondasee – Long Lake, MN
- Camp Rokiwan – Spirtwood Lake, ND
- Camp Wakpalla – – Grand Rapids, ND
- Camp Harding (original name for Shawondasse) – Long Lake
- Camp Runestone – Near Alexandria, MN
- Park Region Council
- Camp White Eagle, Eagle Lake, MN
- Lake Agassiz Council
- Camp Wabaunaquat – White Earth Lake, MN
- Camp Kiwanis – Wood Lake, ND
- Camp Chandawag / Oak Island – Lake of the Woods, MN
- Lake Agassiz Council Camps – Unknown
- Camp Rotary – Lake Sarah, Erskine, MN
- Camp Hi – Adventure Unknown
- Voyageurs Area Council (Northern Lakes District)
- Camp Nushka – Brook Lake, MN
- Possible Additional Camps
- Burleigh Camp? – unknown
Help & Provide us with Additional Info
Help & Provide us with Additional Info
Individuals who made an impact in the Northern Lights Council
- Unknown Legends – Help us identify these individuals
- Silver Beaver Recipients
- Scouts & Scouters – Doing Great Deeds
- —————————————————————–
- Kayo Aslagson –
- Merle Atkinson – Fergus Falls Scouter
- Dr. Dick Baker – Fergus Falls Scouter
- Dr. Norman Baker – Founding Father of Camp Wilderness
- George Edwin Black– Black Building Namesake
- Phil Blomquist – 2nd Ranger at Metigoshe
- George Boardman – Early Council Executive
- Francis Butler – Council President
- Matt Butler –
- Don Carlson – Fargo Scouter
- Art Christopherson –
- Curtis Frye –
- George Gard, Jr.
- Gary Greff –
- Al Hartl –
- Wally Heinle – Minot Scouter
- Father Joseph Kiselbach –
- Loren Kronemann
- Odin Lagen –
- Jim Lavold –
- John Lien – First Camp Cook
- John Lindblom – Camp Surveyor
- Grady Mann –
- Edgar Olson – Wrote the Camp’s Alma Mater
- Gene Orson – West Fargo Scouter
- Neville Pearson – Photographed Camps First Years
- Ken Pringle – Minot/Bottineau Scouter
- Virgil Reed – First Camp Director
- Bob Schaible –
- Walden Schmidt
- Otto Slemmen – 1st Ranger at Metigoshe
- Sandy Sorenson – Fargo Scouter
- Herman Stern – Founding Father of Camp Wilderness
- Art Stortroen – Fergus Falls Scouter
- Melvin Townsend
- David Vore –
- Owen Voxland – Moorhead Scouter
- Jon Wanzek –
- Dr. Steve Werpy – Long Time Camp Staffer
Who would you add to the list?
- Council Executives –
- Council Presidents –
Camp Wilderness
- Camp & Program Directors
- Rangers & Assistants
- Chaplains
- International Staff
- Camp Staff List / Staff Photos
- Friends of Camp Wilderness – eventually became the Alumni Association
National Scouters of Significance
- William D. Boyce – Time living in North Dakota
- Founding Fathers of Scouting
- Requirements for the Scouting Heritage Merit Badge
- Merit Badge Worksheets
- Scouting Timeline
- Scouting Biographies
- Handbooks Overview
- Scouting Magazine
- Brownsea Island
- National Jamboree Overview
- Programs of Scouting
- Virtual Visit of our Camp Wilderness History Center
- Troop Histories & Stories of the Northern Lights Council
- Collecting Scouting Memorabilia
- Scouting Games
- Sample Questions for History Interview
- Additional Information
- Suggestions and Additions to this section of the History Project
Camp Wilderness History Center
The Northern Lights Alumni Association has established the actual trail and a digital trail with the hopes for a deeper understanding of the heritage and legacy of Camp Wilderness and the Northern Lights Council.
Our focus is telling the story of the Northern Lights Council and the camps within—not only by honoring all we have today, but also by remembering where we came from. Our present-day council is the result of the evolution of five councils, five lodges, and more than 20 camps.
The Northern Lights History Center’s collections are comprised of various artifacts donated by friends of Scouting. We rely on these donations and financial support from people like you to preserve and display the history of the council and its camps. Help us uphold the story of the Northern Lights Council by donating items, supporting us financially, and by joining the History Committee.
What we need and our areas of focus -
| Our Needs | Camps | Councils/Lodges |
|---|---|---|
Information (when, why, who, how, etc…) | Camp Wilderness | Missouri Valley Council |
| Photos/Videos | Camp Wabaunaquat | Great Plains Area Council |
| Memorabilia | Metigoshe Scout Reservation | Lake Agassiz Council |
| Patches | Heart Butte Scout Reservation | Red River Valley Council |
| Newspaper Clippings | Camp Shawondasse | Chatoka Lodge |
| Guide Books | Big 4 Scout Camp | Thunderbird Lodge |
| Stories & Anecdotes | Camp Spanish Point | Chan-o-wapi Lodge |
Working at the History Center | Camp Kiwanis/ Wood Lake | Minniduta Lodge |
| Helping with Research | Camp Chandawag/ Oak Island | Pa-Hin Lodge |
Cataloging and storing items | Camp Chatoka | Northern Lights Council |
| Building Displays | What did we miss? | Park Region Council |
Gifts to the Northern Lights Council for the History Center are deductible from taxable income in accordance with the provisions of Federal income tax law. However, the History Committee or Council employees cannot, in their official capacity, give appraisals for the purpose of establishing the tax deductible value of donated items. Evaluations must be secured by the donor at his/her expense. The donor receives no goods or services in consideration of this gift.
Contact the History Committee for more information on how you can help
email Bob Rezac or 701-261-7597
email Chad Swenson or 701-388-2494
