Carl Christensen

Carl Christensen served on the Camp Lowden staff from 1952-1958 while in high school and college. He also worked weekends in the spring and fall of 1952-1955, assisting Bill Mulford with the Black Hawk Trail Hike and doing maintenance and repair projects, including painting the swimming pool.

During the summer of 1955, H.J. Homann came to camp to present Carl with the Eagle Scout Award and in 1956 he received the Vigil Honor in the Order of the Arrow. As a member of the Order of the Arrow, Carl served on calling-out teams and as lodge chief. Carl recalls,

Camp Lowden was my second home through my high school and college years. Bill Mulford was my "second father" until I graduated from college. His wife Dorothy was "Ma" Mulford to me, just as she was to many other staff members over the years. Stuart Conover, Ted Kjellstrom, and Ken Merwin were the senior staff leaders during my first two years on staff and were my role models.

Some of my favorite campfire memories are running down "Highlander Hill" with a flaming torch to light the campfire, as well as leading songs and serving as master of ceremonies.

Camp staff was both hard work and hard play. I enjoyed being given increasingly greater responsibilities and it was an opportunity to grow and mature and develop leadership skills. I enjoyed watching 15 year old "kids" join the staff and over several summers mature into capable youth leaders. I developed friendships with many fellow staff members, some of which continue to this day.

Russ Sarver recalls,

Carl Christensen displayed great leadership. He treated all staff members as equals and was always helpful with any projects or problems that might arise. I learned a lot of leadership skills from Carl and it was a pleasure to work with him.

Gene Coats recalls,

Carl was very highly respected by us "younger" staff members. I was especially impressed by him since I was aware that he was planning to continue with Scouting as a professional.

David Mulvain recalls,

If I remember correctly, Carl was the director of the swimming program in 1956. In order to qualify for the Black Hawk Voyageur Canoe Trip on the Flambeau River, we all had to have several water-related merit badges and Red Cross certifications. I still remember the endurance swim. Every now and then Carl would jump in the water and I would have to do a simulated rescue. He was a big guy, at least compared to me. As I reached over his body to take control of the rescue, he would lock down on my arm and down to the bottom we would go. After several of these "rescues," I was exhausted. It seemed more like he was rescuing me. Nonetheless, after all the training and preparation I received from Carl, I passed the test and had a wonderful time on the Flambeau.

Carl was another in the long line of Camp Lowden staff members who went on to become a professional Scouter. In 1959 he graduated from the 217th National Training School at Schiff Scout Reservation, Mendham, New Jersey and joined the Blackhawk Area Council professional staff as assistant district executive, serving Winnebago County. From 1961-1963 he was a district executive in Blackhawk Area Council.

Carl would return to Camp Lowden in 1962 and 1963 to serve as camp director.

From 1963-1967 he was the district executive of the largest multi-staff district in the Chicago Area Council. From 1967-1971 he was assistant director-finance service, and director of development in Chicago Area Council, serving under Scout Executive Alden Barber, who later became Chief Scout Executive.

He then served as Director of Development in Allegheny Trails Council, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1971-1978 and Director of Support Services in the South Florida Council, Miami, Florida, from 1978-1988.

From 1988-1999 he was Associate Director, then Assistant Director, Finance Support Division, National Council office, Irving, Texas, and from 1998-2001 was Administrative Assistant to the Chief Scout Executive.

Dave Bates recalls,

Carl was camp director when my brother Jim worked at Lowden and Jim was highly complementary of Carl. Carl came to the national BSA office where he was an associate director of council finance while I worked at Philmont. During that time I had the opportunity to give Carl and his wife Pat a tour of the Philmont backcountry. A couple of years after that (in 1995) I came to the national office as director of camping and conservation and renewed my friendship with Carl. During that time he became assistant to the Chief Scout Executive. We both retired in the mid-2000s. We still keep in touch.

Frank Collins was a district executive for Blackhawk Area Council while I was a Scout. Frank spearheaded a combined district camporee called "Steamboat Round the Bend" where Scouts from our districts floated down the Mississippi on the Avalon steamboat. It was the most memorable camporee I have ever attended. During the "Adventurama" in 1958 Frank worked with me on the rifle range. He later became assistant Scout executive for the council and then moved on to a council in New York State and later became an area director. While I was director of program at Philmont, Frank served as national director of program. After retiring from the BSA he worked at H&R Block and was our tax representative. He passed away in 2005.

Carl Christensen and Frank Collins were both dedicated Scouters who inspired others, including me, and who first served in Blackhawk Area Council and Camp Lowden.

Ken Merwin recalls,

When thinking about Carl Christensen, many things come to mind: trustworthy, loyal, helpful...well, you know the rest. More than any other fellow staff member in my experience, Carl embodies the Scout Oath and Law. The example that he set for all of us on the staff is right up there with Stuart Conover in the hard work and the strength he demonstrated and my personal admiration for both of them is unending.

I think Carl was destined to be a professional Scouter and to go to the top, which he did. Much of his Scouting career was spent in Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania doing fundraising, a career element which we shared, which gave us opportunities to see each other in professional settings.

There is a reason why Scout ranks go beyond First Class. Those who go the extra mile, and do the extra work, become Eagle Scouts. I was privileged to witness Carl’s Eagle presentation, to be present at his wedding, and to treasure a lifelong friendship with him. Carl Christensen is an Eagle in every sense.