Alumni Achievement Award

If you would like to nominate someone for the Alumni Achievement Award, download the form, fill it out and mail it to the committee chair person:

Steve Shark
2718 28th Ave. SW
Fargo, ND 58103
(H) 701-235-1772
Email (1) sshark@daktech.com
Email (2) steveshark@cableone

Alumni Award Nomination Form

The Association has developed the Alumni Achievement Award to recognize those for outstanding service and contributions to the Northern Lights Council Camps over an extended period of time.

Each year, nominations are solicited through the Aurora and are available from the Alumni Achievement committee chair or other officers of The Association. Anyone can make a nomination by completing the Nomination For Alumni Achievement Award form and sending it to the Alumni Achievement Award Chair by June 15th of each year.

Previous recipients of the award are as follows:

Bev Segerholm:
Bev served as the Council Administrative assistant for summer camp operations from 1976 to 2001. For several years, she was the main person to develop all of the promotional materials for the camps. She put in countless hours working behind the scenes in the council office progressing summer camp operations. She was a fried to all unit leaders and worked with them to make it possible for every Scout that wanted to go to camp to have that opportunity.

Ernie Harlow:
Ernie retired from his full time job and took up a new voluntary career working on maintaining camp equipment. Ernie served as a Scout leader throughout most of his life. Much of the quartermaster equipment and tent maintenance performed over the years was a direct result of Ernie’s efforts. Ernie passed away on March 26, 2004 at the age of 79.

Ron Jackson:
Ron’s primary passion was for the camp telephone and communication systems. Ron maintained the system every spring and would resolve problems as they came up throughout the year. Ron served on many committees that progressed the efforts of Camp Wilderness. He inspired many behind-the-scenes people to take initiative and get involved with the camps.

Phil Schorn:
Originally from the out-of-council, Phil came to Camp Wilderness as a full-time Ranger. Phil served as ranger from November 1990 to November 2000. Phil not only served the position of Ranger maintaining and improving the camp facilities, but he also served as one who made people feel welcome at camp. Phil’s natural way of interacting with people made him an ambassador for camp.

Mike Melby:
Mike has an undying love for service. One of the many roles that Mike has served over the years is his role in the Fall Fellowship. He organizes and coordinates the work of hundreds of volunteers on an annual basis. He has also secured many equipment and dollar donations to the scouting program.

Al Czeczok:
Al is the Scoutmaster of the Park Rapids troop, and owns a small construction company that is often called upon for work around camp. Projects such as COPE course construction, warning siren installation, sledding hill lighting, and dozens of other projects are the kinds of projects undertaken by Al and his company. Often these projects are donated to the camp, and projects that are billed are often done for the cost of fuel for equipment used.

Wally Heinle:
Wally served as a volunteer second ranger for Metigoshe Scout Reservation. He performed the majority of the work in re-modeling the commissary into a dining hall and spend countless hours doing behind the scenes activities to make the scouting program better for the scouts. Wally died in 2003 the summer after receiving the Alumni Achievement Award.

Steve Shark:
Steve has served scouting for more than 36 years in several councils. His responsibilities have ranged from Vice District Chairman-Camping to Scoutmaster, to Scouting for Food Chair. Over his scouting career, Steve served as an advocate for the Northern Lights Camps by providing equipment essential for a summer camp. Steve solicited funding from many companies as an active fundraiser for the supplies. When funding was not available, Steve found a way – sometimes funding the equipment himself. Steve continues to serve the youth of today.

Ron Schneider:
Throughout the late 80’s, the 90’s and still today, Ron has served a vital role in setting the vision for the future of the Northern Lights Camps. His dedication to seeing that the vision was transformed into dollars and into equipment, facilities and program will be unmatched for years to come.

Tom Hall:
Tom has been virtually “on Call” for Camp Wilderness. Over the past 30 years, he has helped with literally hundreds of projects ranging from electrical work, construction, as a notary, and as the camp’s locksmith. Tom has literally re-keyed the entire camp o more than one occasion and is always willing to help out with just a simple phone call. Tom has served as a Scoutmaster for over 28 years and has over thirty-six eagle scouts. Tom always has a positive attitude and input towards the program.

Leo Ehrmantraut:
Leo has directed the restoration of Heart Butte Scout Reservation. His efforts have ranged from installation of metal roof on the main lodge to roofing shelters, replacing the water distribution system, to replacing the well, installation of a shower building, fire rings, toilet rebuilding, picnic table restoration and toilet vaults. He has taken the camp from what was to a vibrant and alive camp which is used for area scouting events such as Junior Achievement training, wood badge, camporees, cub scout outings, and conclaves.

Roger Smart/The American Legion East Grand Forks Post 157:
Roger Smart and The American Legion East Grand Forks Post 157 were recognized as receiving the Alumni Achievement award during the 60th Anniversary Celebration of Camp Wilderness. Roger Smart has been a part of the Northern Lights Council Camps for many decades and his countless hours of behind the scenes activities have been the foundation of many projects of camp including the new Cub Camp facilities. The American Legion of East Grand Forks has been a silent partner in several projects and programs that directly affect the Scouts of camp.

Les Herbranson:
Les is a man with a variety of helpful skills that he has quietly contributed to Camp Wilderness since 1957. Les has worked on buildings and equipment from one end of camp to the other, during events such as work weekends, fall fellowships, OA conclaves, Summer Commissioner, Winter Campmaster, and troop events (213, 214, 232). Les also brought back to life some video footage of camp from the 1940. In fact given Les's longevity of service, he may have more hours in as a volunteer, than anyone in the history of camp.

Phil Blomquist:
In total, Phil served 18 years as ranger of the camp. Phil managed activities in camp year round. He prepared buildings for troops in the winter, plowed roads, and welcomed troops and other organizations for spring and fall activities. In the 18 years that Phil was at Metigoshe, the camp was maintained to perfection. Every building, road, and campsite was in perfect condition even during hard times in the council when money was not available. Phil found a way to gather materials and maintain a high standard. Both directly and indirectly, Phil Blomquist affected the lives of every scout, scouter, volunteer, or visitor to Metigoshe Scout Reservation during his time as ranger. Today, Phil continues to provide valuable historical information regarding staff members and a vital part of the history of the Northern Lights Camp.

Chris Soper:
For over 20 years, Chris has been integral to the operation and support of Camp Wilderness. His contributions started as a scout and later served in several capacities on camp staffs. Chris has fervently supported the camp financially. Chris? name can be found in several areas of camp. There are other places that it should be found, but he did not want it that way. Despite living in Kansas, Chris manages to come up to camp to serve for a full week every summer and he has done so for years, serving as a role model for staff and scouts alike. Chris was presented his award up at Camp Wilderness on July 2, 2009.

Art Heinze:
Art Heinze has been devoted to Camp Wilderness for many years. Art's dedication and unwavering support of Camp Wilderness has been an inspiration to Scouts, camp staffs and unit leaders over many years. Art is always willing to take on difficult projects without hesitation. When not lending a hand in other ways, Art can be found in the dining hall or at campfire entertaining scouts and scouters with his harmonica. Art is an inspirational person. He is one whose actions are contagious, and we are all better because of him.

Herb Seaver:
Herb Seaver has been in Scouting for over 40 years. Herb has started and supervised many projects at Camp Wilderness. Some of these include the roof of the dining hall pavilion, the rebuilding of the waterfront staircase, remodeling of several cabins and the consruction of several campsite shelters. In addition, Herb was very involved in the Silver Beaver cabin project. Camp Wilderness is a better place because of Herb's efforts.

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Last Updated 07.20.2010