Dan Bestul

Dan Bestul was the most senior of the whole staff, and garnered our respect. He was particularly good with stories that would turn the mood from rousing welcome to one of contemplating what the week was about. From time to time I have used some of them for my own "Scoutmaster’s Minutes" at the close of our troop meetings.

One time we were getting ready for the Order of the Arrow tap-out (calling-out) ceremony, and Dan was giving directions as to where to light the fire, commenting how it would burn. A staff member said something along the lines of, "How can you be sure of that?" With calm certainty and a hint of indignation, Dan said, "I built it."

I also remember one time Dan was standing up on a chair in the Dining Hall (after hours), wearing a cape or garbage bag or something, making some sort of speech on "Bestul State University, better known as BSU." But as I recall, "b.s." was more descriptive of what he was actually speaking about.

The merger of the two lodges to form Wulapeju Lodge did not go well at first, with a lot of bitterness on both sides. This also led to the rivalry between Camp Lowden and Canyon Camp, which was also pretty bitter for many years. Dan’s work up in our neck of the woods [Grant County, Wisconsin – the far northwestern part of Blackhawk Area Council] was very important in helping to get folks to see Wulapeju Lodge as a real entity, and not just a name for two different lodges. His efforts at Lowden, as well as his efforts in our chapter, were very important to that process.

Dan was our leader, kind of like a "union rep" between "staff" and "junior staff." He kept the peace and was very good at it. Both Dan and his brother Joe were devout "cheese heads" from "God’s Country" (Wisconsin) and don’t anyone mess with it! We from Illinois were just "lesser" humans!

Joe Bestul and Paul Vick were the comic relief! At the Saturday morning "Lowden Logger" breakfast, Joe’s most famous line was from the musical Camelot: "Whoso pulleth this plastic knife from this brown sugar and cinnamon shall be the rightful ruler of all of Bree-tan." At this point half of us would break into "You wonder what the king is doing tonight." From there most of Camelot was "performed" a capella. To this day I know all the songs by heart.

Dan was one of those persons who would do anything and do it with joy. As his Camp Director in 1976, I can attest that he was very committed not only to the camp, but to the young men who were camping there. He brought not only wonderful knowledge, but just as importantly the joy of Scouting into the lives of the young men.

Dan was like an older brother for me when I was on staff and a mentor to us lowly new staff members. I remember the summer he went to Maine High Adventure Base and his brother Joe went to Philmont. Dan came back with stories of black fly bites (which I now know are awful because I live in Maine). Their stories convinced me that Philmont was the place to go and I went on a council trek and worked there three summers because of it.