History of the Camp

Camp Steiner, elevation 10400, is found in the heart of the Uinta Mountains approximately 33.5 miles from Kamas, Utah, and about 45 minutes from Evanston, WY. The camp is owned by the Boy Scouts of America's Great Salt Lake Council. It is the highest camp in the Northern Hemisphere, and the second highest camp in the world, only trailing a camp in South America. The camp is surrounded by several mountains; Agassiz, Paul's Point, Mount Baldy and Reid's Peak. There is a heart shaped lake, Scout Lake, in the heart of the camp, and serves many purposes during the week.

Camp usually runs from end of June to August. Most of the time there is snow until mid to late July and afternoon thunderstorms the rest of the camping season. Boys' love coming up to camp to get away from the city life. There is no electricity in camp, and the water is pumped out of Scout Lake, filtered, then run through several water lines to the different camp sites. Usually the first couple of weeks there is no running water, and water is brought in from East Fork, another GSLC camp nearly 25 miles away. Living up at Camp Steiner would seem to some as unheard of. Living is rough and takes a lot of strength to survive the summer.

Camp's High Life

Highlights of Camp Steiner are always happening. The main thing every boy remembers at the end of the week is the chilling waters of Scout Lake, the wildlife they saw, and their favorite staff member or merit badge. Monday morning always started with a tour of the camp and the swim checks or cold water checks. When boys jump in the water their breath is taken away from the cold water. What some boys don't know is usually at staff week (the week before boys) there is usually ice still floating in the water. The rest of the week continues with merit badges, campfire programs, polar bear plunge, flag ceremonies, mountain man relay, and water games.

Wildlife in the area is scarce, but when you see something, it is usually amazing. There are plenty of deer and chipmunks, the occasional long eared rabbit, and plenty of trout that is stocked in the lake a few times during the summer. A few might see a cougar, rocky mountain big horn, moose, black bear (only one sighted ever in history in 2007), and eagle.

Merit badge time was always fun for most of the boys. Favorite merit badges always consist of woodcarving, canoeing (those that can brave the cold water), fishing, fly-fishing, archery, and rifle shooting. Many other merit badges are offered, and depends on the boy you talk to what their favorite merit badge is, or teacher.

Scout Master Minute_Friendly

Scout Master’s Minute
Written by Ki Goff between 2004 and 2005

Friendly

Probably all of you know some guy who is grouchy all the time. His neighbors try to be nice to him, but he just won’t be friendly. Maybe he’ll build a great wall around his house to keep people away.

Let me tell you about another kind of neighbor I heard about. There was no wall around his property, and somebody noticed that a strip of grass between his yard and his neighbor’s yard was unusually green. How come? He was asked.

“Oh,” he laughed, “my neighbor and I are so afraid we’ll cheat each other that we always water and fertilize the grass across the line on the other fellows side. That strip of grass down the property line gets twice as much water and fertilizer as the rest of our yards”. Instead of a fence to keep each other away, that man and his neighbor had a vivid green reminder that they were friends.

The point of this story is that if you want to have friends, you can’t build walls between yourselves and other people. Instead, cultivate that space between you by being as fair to the other guy as you’d like him to be to you. Living things flourish under friendly conditions.

Mafe King

Story of the Battle of Mafe King
Written by Ki Goff

The situation at the small town of Mafe King was grave. The British were holding out under the leadership of Baden-Powell, but just barely. They were eating their horses and donkeys for food, careful not to waste anything. They were surrounded by 9,000 Boers. They only had 1.250 armed men, and the willing villagers to help them survive the 217 day siege. With no equipment or supplies, Baden-Powell had to bluff his way through each night.

(Give examples of his bluffs). The buried land mines, the spot light system, the fully man(ikin)ed forts, the barb wire fence.

Baden-Powell had to find some way to get information past the Boer lines and into the hands of his friends. So he would go out, disguised as a butterfly hunter, and bring along a sketch book. When asked what he was doing, he would tell the inquirer that he was looking for a particular butterfly. What his questioners failed to realize was that hidden in the sketches of the wings were maps of the Boer encampments, and information.

He would give these pictures to young boys, his scouts, volunteers from the village, who would take it through the Boer encampments. If stopped they would explain that they were going to sell them, to get money for food. The Boers wouldn’t expect such young boys to be involved in the conflict.

We received at least one of these pictures. We are sending you (the troops) in to bring some relief to the soldiers, and Baden-Powell. Medicine, food, supplies, and the good news that his brother is leading the charge that will rescue the small town of Mafe King. Your troop friend is acting as your guide, he has an established reputation with the Boers, they trust him. He will help to guide you through the Boer encampments, and reach Baden-Powell.

Remember the Boers can no hear you speaking, or they will kill you. Be careful. Think things through. Work together. Work quickly, you will only have about ten minutes for each task that stands in your way. Good luck.

Courses for Seige

Snapping Turtle Pit

The troop must get across the “pit” using the two by fours. If any fall, take away 1 point, up to ten. If all of them get safely across, the troop earns 10 points.

The Bomb

Troop guide can only tell them their assignment is “to get the bomb to its final destination point.” If the troop follows the instructions, and don’t move the bomb, they receive 10 points. If they successfully move the bomb without it going off, they receive 7 points. If they move the bomb, but leave it at the wrong position, it is worth 5 points. If they move the bomb, and it goes off, they receive 0 points.

Poison Fence

The boys must get through the fence without touching the line. They are allowed to use each hole, only once or twice (depending on the size of the troop). If the boy touches the fence line, the troop loses a point, up to -10, and that boy can not help until the next activity. If all successfully make it through, the troop is awarded 10 points.

Spotlight Run

The boys need to dodge through the spotlights, without stepping into the beam of light. If they are caught in the beam, it is minus a point, up to 10 points. If all make it successfully through, the troop is awarded 10 points.

Map Reconnaissance
Five boys are given 45 seconds to run to the map, memorize all that they can, and then return. They report to the troop guide all that they can remember.
15 tents
2 large tents
3 medical tents
1 dining hall
2 explosive sheds
8 towers
9 artillery
2 gates
A mountain range to the west
A forest to the south

1 point for every item they recall. They receive 2 extra points if they have the right numbers, 1 if they have most of the right numbers. Total 28 points.

Man Down

A boy is shot by two guards, his leg is bleeding badly, and he has a stomach wound. The boy begs for water. The troop must perform the proper first aid for the leg (3 points), construct a stretcher from materials available (4 points), and transport the boy safely to a different area (3 points). If they don’t give him any water, it is an extra 2 points.

Total Points_______ (out of 60) could be a total of 90 points with all the extra points.

I Need a Scout

I Need A Scout
Written by female staff summer 2005
To the tune of “Part of Your World” From the Little Mermaid

Look at my smile, isn’t it great?
Wouldn’t you think that I’d have a date
Look’n at me, yeah, you’d think,
“She’s got everything.”

Look at my clothes, look at my face
Just once I’d like to go to a nice place,
Fast-food and dollar matinees-they’re not everything.

I’ve got hair spray and make-up a plenty,
I’ve used toothpaste and mouthwash galore.
Wanna go Dutch? I’ve got twenty.
But who cares? No big deal, I want more.

I wanna be where the scouters are.
I wasn’t one as my silver beaver—One who’s not afraid of. . .
What’s that word again? Oh. . . Commitment.

In nature class you don’t get too far;
Dates are required for real romancing’.
Hopin’ for an engagement. . .
What’s the word again? Ring!

A scout who is fun, a scout who is cute,
A guy who would look real good in a boy scout suit
I’m really great; why don’t I date?
I need a scout!

What would I give if I could live in the Uintas
What would I pay to spend a day on Mt. Baldy
Betcha they’d call if they weren’t all just so intimidated.
Sweet young maiden—sick of wait’n-
Ready for more!

And ready to know what the Eagles know.
Ask’em my questions and get some answers.
What is a scouter and why is he. . .
What’s the word? Prepared!

Why can’t they think and see me now?
I am a woman worth more than eight cows!!!
I’m really great; why don’t I date?
I want a scout!

Steiner Bound

Steiner Bound
Written by Ki Dilts Goff Summer 2004

The moon shines on the water, and the lake is filled with light.
And the whisper of green pine trees echo in the chilling night.
Time touches these rocks, seems to turn back all the clocks.
And I can’t fight the feeling that is ever slowly steeling over us.

Chorus
Lengthen your stride we’re headed home.
Steiner bound at last, there’s a pride that’s in these stones,
A mountain we can call our own and a spirit all scouts share, lingers ever there.
Lengthen your stride, we’re Steiner bound at last.

The rain echo’s of laughter, pattering against the ground.
And life grows ever stronger, with the drum beat of the sound.
Flashes of lightning, and I can feel the air sing.
There’s a fire in my soul, flares each time the thunder rolls nearby.

Chorus

Watch the sun crack over Hayden’s.
Split the mountain with the day.
I’m standing in, the morning light, soaking up the rays.

Chorus

Camp Songs

L.O.V.E.
Written by Zachary Cross

L. is for the way you lookout, for me.
O. is for our oars that are, classy.
V. is invigorating, temperature that’s devastating.
E. is for the endless, scouter’s and their merit badges.
And love, is what we show at the waterfront.
From all the biggest scouts to the smallest runts.
Steiner’s aquatic’s team will put in every eye a gleam.
And we’ll, always be there for you!