Arts & Humanities, by Author
Girl, Boy scout troops invade Westwood Mall

Erica Ewers is nine-and-a-half years old. For more than half of her life she has been a Girl Scout.
“Our troop is fun,” Ewers said. “We laugh a lot. We get to learn new things and earn badges. We earned a badge where you had to eat a lot of chocolate.”
Although it all sounds like a lark, Girl Scout troops also are typically involved in service projects like picking up trash and simple acts of generosity such as delivering tray favors to the bedridden. Many of their learning activities center on discovering cultures around the world, this year emphasizing England and Japan.
Fred Rydholm, eighty-one, is a retired science teacher and coach, author, three-time mayor of Marquette, outdoorsman and tree farmer. He has been involved in scouting all his life—first as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout in the ’30s, and then serving on troop committees, as scoutmaster and counselor for many kinds of merit badges.
On April 9, Ewers and Rydholm will come together, along with scores of others, to discover their common ground at the annual Scout-O-Rama at the Westwood Mall.
From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., children and adults will host creative, interactive booths and displays centered on a theme of “Upper Peninsula Heritage.”
“It is the coming together of the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts so we are visible,” said Linda Lehtinen, spokesperson for the Boy Scouts. “We are showing that there are scouts in the community.”
This year the scouts will be joined by members of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. With the participation of this group, they hope to spread the word to longtime Upper Peninsula residents to share their heritage.
“Many adult groups will participate by showing their part in history, what they represent in history, for example, through the logging or mining industry,” Lehtinen said. “This year’s theme will present an opportunity, maybe the last opportunity for children to learn about important historical groups such as the veterans of World War II.”
A special patch is being designed for this occasion. To earn the patch, scouts are presented with a list of booths they must visit and activities to participate in to check off by the end of the day.
“Our goal is to fill up every square inch of the Westwood Mall with interactive booths and displays,” said Mary Vertanen, Girl Scout leader since 1983 and Girl Scout for five years previous to that.
One of the fun activities scheduled is a vintage Pinewood Derby. Most people are familiar with this yearly Cub Scout activity where boys build wooden cars from an inexpensive kit, sometimes adding their own embellishments. The cars can weigh no more than four ounces.
But this year, planners are hoping to entice a group of past participants who may use their old cars or build new ones, in order to bring together all ages of derby enthusiasts. The vintage cars will be pitted against each other in a competition at the mall, using a wooden track.
This year presents a new opportunity for individuals to enter with a display or booth as well as regular group entries. Ribbons will be awarded in both individual and group categories.
There are five judges who will pass from booth to booth during the day to observe and grade based on originality of presentation, how actively the youth engage with the public, uniform or costume appropriateness, proper identification with logos, flags or banners, and the amount of age-appropriate and thoughtful preparation for the project.
“It is a positive experience for the girls,” Vertanen said. “I want to use any opportunity I have to help my girls to be more self-assured and more at ease in front of people. Presentations accomplish that and it’s amazing how well they can do.”
Two of Vertanan’s four troops will build a mine shaft. Visitors will see replicas of copper and iron ore mine shafts and learn to pan for gold.
Another group, Kathy Solwitsch’s Troop 1, will present a Jeopardy board with information, facts and folklore of the U.P.
The adult groups are not judged, but they are enthusiastic about being there so the kids have the opportunity to see them.
“The State Police will be involved, as well other state employees. They are all volunteering because this is their passion, not because it is their job,” said Lehtinen, grateful for the extra community support and goodwill.
February 22 is the birthday of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, the founders of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. In 1907, Lord Baden-Powell returned to England from the Boer Wars alarmed at the “deterioration of English youth.”
Together he and his wife built a powerful organization that has influenced youth all over the world. Their birthday is celebrated by scouts in America under the title “Thinking Day.” On this day scouts gather to remember and consider scouts from all parts of the world.
Scouting activities remain a part of people’s memories their entire life.
“All good memories,” Rydholm said. “We built wood sleds about eight feet long for the Klondike Derby, another opportunity to earn badges. It was staged at the Crossroads or at Shiras Hills before they had all the houses there. The sleds were loaded full and we pulled them ourselves long distances to different stops. At each stop we had to make a fire, cook something, or perform first aid and then we were judged for each act.”
Rydholm recalls even embarrassing moments with pleasure.
“My troop made the maple syrup for the pancake breakfast that year in Vermontville,” he said. “Soapy [Governor G. Mennen] Williams came wearing a nice black suit and as I was clearing his plate, I spilled syrup all down the front of him.”
Rydholm has taken Scouts on numerous trips to the Porcupine Mountains, Isle Royale, Mirror Lake and many other places. They’ve done everything from making wreaths to putting on bean suppers to planting trees.
“I still get letters from people I had as scouts, from everywhere,” Rydholm said. “Of course, they’re all grown up now.”
—Meredith Timpson