The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1939-10-05
Kathleen McCorquodale,
Paxton Go-GetterS


I was awarded this trip to the
Conservation camp at Itasca park
.or my work in conservation dur
ing this past year.
We left Redwood Falls with the
delegates and leader of Murray
county, for Itasca Friday morn
ing, September Is. When we ar
rived we were given acquaint-
ance blanks to fill out. We were
to ask one of the leaders how tall
she was, others how much they
weighed, and the color of their
eyes. Everyone knew each other
very well by the end of the eve
ming. We fried steak at an out
door fire where we ate our sup
per. During our campfire assem-
bly, talks on the history of the
park and what it should mean to
us were given. Later inside the
assembly hall moving pictures
were shown on game birds and
their homes.
Saturday morning, during as
sembly, reports from different
counties were given on their
phases of conservation work. In
the afternoon we toured the park.
We first visited Douglas Lodge
which is at the end of the south
eastern arm of Lake Itasca. Here
we saw many large Norway pine
trees that were from SO to $50
years old. Next we went to the
opl ~ the l0lyA xI,horo xyra cow
the mighty Mississippi start out
as a tiny brook. Here was also an
old stockade which was very in
teresting. We then went to the
forestry lookout tower where we
climbed to the top Goo feet in
the air) and became honorary
members of the squirrel family.
At assembly in the evening more
reports and talks were given on
conservation of land, trees, fish
and animals. Movies of songbirds
and game birds were shown by
Professor Breckenridge from the
University of Minnesota.
Sunday morning services were
held in preacher Grove" This is
a piece of level land where Nor
way pines, 200 years old, are
growing. A banquet was given as
Sunday dinner. Favors of birch
nut cups and cone and pine need
lie placecards were used. In the
afternoon we took a boat trip on
the three arms of Lake ItaSca. We
visited Schoolcraft Island. On the
banks of the northwestern corner
of the lake we saw the two eagles
and their nests. The bald eagle
has nest to which it adds little
each year until the nest weighs
nearly two tons. There are only
two bald eagles known to be in
Minnesota. The eagle often lives
to be 100 years old. Also Sun
day afternoon Stafford King, state
auditor, spoke to us on apprecia-
ton of our wild life and natures
many gifts.
Monday morning we were di-
vided into groups and took turns
in learning about fish, identified
ton of trees, bird life and soil
conservation. In the afternoon we
went on hikes. We saw the float
ing bog and wild rice swamps.
We also visited some beaver huts
ard the museum In the evening
we had our candlelighting services
after which we all parted and
went to our cabins singing SAT the
Close of the Camp"
Tuesday morning at the assem-
bly, Miss Suntag and Mr.. Ingwal-
Alison were given gifts for they
are leaving Minnesota state Al
staff for New Jersey and Missouri.
We returned home with regret for
leaving such a beautiful place.
One of the most stressed acti-
vities of the camp was group
singing. Sunset services were
held each evening at the edge OF
the lake. Each morning the flag
was raised and the salute given.
I know that anyone who is
really interested in conservation
and nature would work hard to
earn a trip, as I have had, for
themselves for they will never
know what nature really means
or the beauty which she has UNI
til they have become close friends
with her.