The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON – Scouts from Dayton Boy Scout Troop 332 returned home Saturday, following a week at BSA's Camp Baldwin, a high-adventure camp located on the eastern slope of Mt. Hood. The boys reported having a great time at what may be the troop's last campout, unless new leadership steps forward.

Camden Costello of Dayton, and Tom and Seamus House, Skylar and Brayden Wood and Daltin Lambert, all of Waitsburg, spent last week at Camp Baldwin with Assistant Scoutmaster Bill Warren and parent chaperones Kevin House and Torie Costello.

The scouts earned merit badges and experienced mountain boarding, rock climbing, an overnight mountain bike ride, as well as windsurfing and white-water rafting in the Deschutes River.

Unlike the majority of BSA camps that serve meals in the cafeteria, Camp Baldwin serves "Jamboree-style" meals. The camp provides the food, recipes, Dutch ovens and griddles for each patrol, and the Scouts cook their own meals right at their campsite.

"It was great! There was plenty of food and we could cook it just how we wanted it," said Skylar Wood.

The Scouts reported enjoying a great week together, but it may the last they share as Troop 332.

Brian Houdak, who has served as a dedicated Scoutmaster for eight years, submitted notice of his resignation earlier this year. Houdak has not had a child of his own in the program for several years and is stepping down due to work and family commitments.

"I truly believe in the excellence of skills and values the Boy Scout program instills in the youth that participate and it has been an honor to have the opportunity to see many of your boys grow and mature into strong, trustworthy young leaders and contributing members of our community while working to expand their knowledge of the outdoors and the skills needed to thrive there and in life," said Houdak in an email to the Scouts and their parents.

Assistant Scoutmaster Bill Warren, who often leads meetings and service projects, and takes time away from his duties at Warren Orchards to attend camp with the Scouts for a week each summer, is also stepping down. Warren's son, Matthew, who achieved the Eagle Scout rank in February, is no longer a troop member, and Warren said he has many outside commitments.

Troop 332, which is sponsored by the Dayton Kiwanis Club, has served the community actively in both Dayton and Waitsburg for many years. Each year, the Scouts help with the Kiwanis Turkey Bingo and Ham Bingo events, they serve the American Legion Veteran's Day breakfast, and they clean the bleachers each night during the Columbia County Fair.

The Troop also performs community service projects such as recently moving boxes of books at the Dayton Memorial Library. In Waitsburg, Troop members raise the flag for Waitsburg's Memorial Day Service and lend a hand to Santa during Hometown Christmas.

Cub Scout Pack 336 in Waitsburg become inactive several years ago due to lack of leadership, as well.

Anyone interested in leading or assisting with a Cub Scout Pack or a Boy Scout Troop in either Dayton or Waitsburg should contact Christy House (Waitsburg) at 337-6009 or Bill Warren (Dayton) at 382-42 for more information.