Troop 106 traveled up to the UP of Michigan on August 3rd for a 5-day trip of planned activities and some well-deserved rest from a busy summer.

The Scouts camped at the property of Bob and Sharon Martinson, grandparents of Scout Graham Byrd. Upon arrival, the scouts set up camp along the lakefront and enjoyed their first sunset on Lake Michigan.

The first day the Scouts took a canoe trip down the Manistique River for a 4-hour trip, which consisted of about 15 miles. During the trip, the scouts went through a national wildlife forest and experienced some tight obstacles they had to get the canoes through. About halfway through the journey, the scouts stopped and enjoyed a lunch they had packed prior to leaving camp. At the end of the route, an outfitter met the group at a boat dock and shuttled the boats and scouts back to the starting point. The scouts and adult leaders were tired and happy to see the pickup person, but enjoyed the trip down river.

On the second day the scouts got up early and went to a boat dock in the little town of Fairport to meet the fishing boats from the Peterson Brothers Fishing Company. The Scouts arrived early and were able to see the two fishing boats come in to off load their catch from the morning. The Scouts then were invited in to watch the process of the fish, from whole fish to fillets ready to purchase, which we did and enjoyed them on the grill that evening. Before leaving the docks the scouts went over to one of the Peterson boats and saw the process of washing out one of the fishing nets.

After going back to camp and having breakfast, the scouts traveled to Munising on Lake Superior and took a glass bottom boat tour on Lake Superior. The scouts got to see a wooden ship that had sunk over 150 years ago and was still in excellent shape. The boat captain then went to an area where the coast guard had to blow up a ship that had wrecked for safety concerns, so the scouts got to see a large debris field of that ship wreck.

After the boat tour the scouts visited a national park and saw a waterfall and took photos and looked at how the water has washed away rocks and dirt over the years.

On day three, the scouts traveled to Manistique. On the way they stopped at a State Park called Kitchitikipi, which translates to Big Springs. At the park the scouts were able to go onto a wooden float, which they had to help turn the wheel to make the float move. During the float crossing the scouts observed a large area with active springs that they could see through the bottom of the boat. In the water were some good sized trout, but no fishing was allowed by the State.

After leaving Big Springs the scouts headed to tour a lighthouse. At the lighthouse the scouts were able to climb 99 stairs to the top and see out the glass top of the tower. During the visit a volunteer who works at the lighthouse spoke to the scouts about the history of the lighthouse, families who lived at the lighthouse and even some haunted stories of the lighthouse.

After the lighthouse the scouts stopped at a drive-in called Clyde's, and had a great lunch of burgers, fries and shakes.

On the way back to camp the scouts stopped at another State Park named Fayette. At Fayette the scouts took a walking tour of an old mining town and all the structures that still stand today. At the park there is also a small boat dock, which had some good sized cabin cruisers parked for the night and a couple of the scouts tried their luck at fishing from the dock, but only came up with large chunks of grass and weeds.

Photo courtesy of Shannon Byrd

Troop 106 scouts finishing up their glass bottom boat tour on Lake Superior. From left to right are Chris Collins, Matthew Collins, Ben Collins, Jon Byrd, Logan Schultz, Jason Schultz and Graham Byrd.

On Sunday morning the scouts picked up camp and thanked the hosts for a very exciting camping experience and then headed home. On the way home, Scout Master Chris Collins suggested a stop in Green Bay where the scouts could eat the packed lunches they had made prior to leaving camp. In Green Bay the scouts enjoyed the lunches and were able to visit a chocolate shoppe the Mr. Collins suggested. The chocolate didn't disappoint the scouts, it was some of the best chocolate they have ever had.