History of the Program
Over 40 years ago, the dynamic scout leader Max Eckenburg had a
vision for enriching the lives of young people. He knew keeping
youth engaged
in challenging scout programs was the best way to guide their growth
toward mature, responsible adults and dynamic leaders. Max understood
this reality from his own personal experiences. As a youth in the
1920s, Max was faced with a critical decision one particular
day. Either go
off with his buddies towards mischief or attend a scout meeting.
Max chose scouting that day. His buddies ended up with a police
record.
Since that early decision, Max pledged to himself and his family
to continue with the wholesome gang that had provided the challenge
and
direction he needed as a youth. Those privileged to know Max bare
witness to his staying true to his pledge and the scout law.
 In
the fall of 1964, the Chief Seattle Council hired Max as Ranger
for the newly expanded Camp Sheppard. Because of the camp’s
close proximity to Mt. Rainier and surrounding mountains, Max couldn’t
resist the opportunity to develop something new called “High
Adventure”, a collection of challenging outdoor programs
intended for scouts of all ages. His vision was to build a progressive
program
that challenged cubs, scouts and explorers featuring, back packing,
fishing, swimming, mountaineering, conservation, trail building
and winter sports along with merit badges for each of these activities.
He hoped someday scouts would come from across the country to climb
Mt. Rainier with a well-trained staff.
In the spring of 1966, Max inspired four high school boys to serve
as his first High Adventure Program Staff for the ensuing summer,
Doug Driscoll, Bill Rengstorf, Don Wilson and Bill Nelson. He had
met these challenge seekers thru programs he helped start such
as Explorer Search and Rescue and Cascade Trail Blazers.
The summer of 1966 was the beginning of an exciting 14 season heritage
unmatched to this day. During that amazing time Max’s highly
trained and trusted staff led week long hikes on the Pacific Crest
Trail, the Wonderland Trail, lesser known trails and cross country
routes. Additionally, they climbed Washington State’s major
peaks in 7-day treks, including Mt. Baker, Glacier Peak, Mt. Olympus,
Mt
Stuart, Mt. Ingalls, Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier.
For 14 seasons the master outdoor schoolteacher Max was permanently
implanting
character development combined with leadership skills into his
staff. The staff knew Max had placed his trust in each of them.
Their respect
for Max and his program brought forth the finest qualities in each.
Max had “Provided the Challenge” and they had risen
to meet it. They were responsible for the safety, well-being and
training
of each scout on their treks and Max let them lead with minimal
interference. This cherished trust between Max and his staff was
at the core of
the program that attracted so many.
The program’s popularity grew as the highly trained and capable
staff led hikes and climbs throughout the Cascade and Olympic Mountain
Ranges. In 1971, another of Max’s dreams came true. The Mt.
Rainier climbing program went national. Boys came from as far as
Florida to
climb for one week on the great mountain and sleep on its summit.
Each Rainier climb was lead by Max’s trained staff. The program
grew from 4 staff in 1966 to 18 in 1976.
But like many good things, without adequate funds the program could
not continue. The program’s grand life ended in 1979. During
the 14 year run, 62 staff members had passed through the program
leading over 200 successful one and two week long treks. The cancellation
of
the program was a serious disappointment to Max, the staff and
those
that had participated in the program. The loss of the Sheppard
program left the Pacific Northwest without a High Adventure program.
Max retired in 1983 at age 67 from more then 50 years of very effective
scouting. Sadly, at great lose to the scouting community, the program
and staff melted away.
On more than one occasion after his retirement Max shared his dreams
of the program starting again. Max’s former staff all understood
their Sheppard experience to be the defining element in their lives,
but with young families and new jobs they lacked the time and position
in life to resurrect the program. But Max had planted hearty and
long lasting seeds waiting for the right time to sprout.
Max was diagnosed with liver cancer in 1997. From that time the
focus of his life was building the Northern
Tier trail, resurrecting the Sheppard program and attending to
his illness and the struggle to vanquish the cancer. His struggles
with
cancer and the financial hardship that often accompanies that illness
brought his former staff members back together. Lead by former
staffer Chuck Caley, they provided financial and physical support
to their
ailing mentor. Max Eckenburg died in April 2001 just before his
85th birthday.
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In 2002, three former staff members; Bill Rengstorf, John Miner and
Denny Fenstermaker, began working to restore the High Adventure
Program at
Camp Sheppard. Working with the Camp Director, they laid the foundation
for rebuilding the program.
In
the spring of 2004, Pat Tobin was hired as the Camp Director at Camp
Sheppard. One of Pat’s major goals was to rebuild a High Adventure
program at Camp Sheppard. Like Max, Pat was well qualified to lead
this new program and the former staff knew how to help make it happen.
They had lived the program. They believed in it’s great potential
to build character and life skills in older scouts. Working with
other former staff, the scout office and the scouting community the
program began to take shape.
Drawing heavily on the previous program’s staff experience while staying
attune to the changes in society since those earlier days, the program came together
offering a diverse set of experiences, including back packing, rock climbing,
mountaineering, adventure racing and mountain biking.
Current Program
Camp Sheppard has grown to be the premier High Adventure Base in the
nation. The program motto is Max’s guiding philosophy, “Providing
the Challenge”. It’s slogan is “Mountain Adventures
Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders”. There is a strong committee
of heritage staff and committed volunteers with a heart for following
the High Adventure goals established by Max. The program has local council
support, a long term plan, an attractive and well rounded modern program,
increased signup, sold out climbs including out of state trekkers, a
website, promotion materials, adult support, Igor 2-the cool mascot bus,
a mountain bike shop sponsor, donations, USFS and Mt. Rainier Park cooperation,
new staff coming on board and after more then 28 years, summit climbs
of Mt. Rainier. Pat Tobin has provided
the leadership and vision to bring High Adventure opportunities back
to the Pacific Northwest and to the nation. Camp Sheppard High Adventure
Base does indeed “Provide the Challenge”.
The Need for The Max Eckenburg Trust
To offer a dynamic, challenging and professional program, a well-trained,
highly skilled and competent staff must be recruited, trained and maintained.
The level of responsibility placed on this staff is enormous as they
hold all liability for the safety of the scouts under their leadership
while on backcountry trails, glaciated slopes, rock walls and wind swept
summits. Key to the success of the program is the hours and hours of
experience in the backcountry this staff accrues, for it is experience
that provides the knowledge and wisdom to guide their “scouts” through
their adventures safely. Experience is gained by staff members returning
season after season.
Camp Sheppard High Adventure Base Staff begin at age 16 as Instructors
in Training, growing and gaining experience through their first two summers.
At age 18 they become Instructors, then progress to Lead Instructor
by their 21st year. These 4 to 5 years of experience are vital to the
continuity of the program and the development of a well-trained,
highly competent and skilled staff.
This is also the time in a young man or woman’s life that career
decisions are being made, college or technical training is sought and
independence from parents is occurring. It is financially draining time.
In the past, many staff have had to leave camp to seek higher paying
employment to pay for college expenses, taking with them the knowledge
and experience they have accrued just at the time they are needed to
provide leadership to the program. To be successful, the program must
be able to financially compensate the staff at a level that allows them
to continue their careers as base staff.
Two recent staff members have been faced with these financial realities.
One member’s father told him he should chose driving nails for
the summer instead of returning as a High Adventure staff because the
scout council couldn’t pay him enough towards college expenses.
The other is on the path toward Lead Instructor and perhaps Program Director,
yet
is unable to reconcile the financial gaps created by the council’s
inability to pay wages commensurate with his needs and the level of responsibility
in the Lead Instructor position.
Sheppard Staff are the most valuable asset of the program. Clearly, there
is a need for additional funds to supplement the High Adventure Base
Staff contract wages.
The Max Eckenburg Trust is a private organization created for the single
purpose of providing ECKENBURG MERIT SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS to those scouts
who have chosen to “Provide the Challenge” by becoming Camp
Sheppard High Adventure Base Staff. The funds are awarded to assist the
grantee with college or technical training costs in the school year following
their summer season as base staff. These generous awards fill the gap
between what the council can pay and the expenses realized by a staffer
seeking advanced education or training.
To apply for a Max Eckenburg scholarship, scouts must first work
a season on the Camp Sheppard High Adventure Base Staff. At the end of
the summer season, the staffer must complete the application process.
The foundation trustees will review their scholarship application and
performance after which they may grant a scholarship to the applicant
in accordance with organization bylaws. The maximum grant is $25,000
per year per applicant.
Staff members receiving a grant must submit a written report to the trustees
detailing how the funds were used and what school or educational organization
they were involved with within nine months of receiving the grant and
before applying for another relating to the next school year or period
of instruction.
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