By Cam Grubic, South Unit Park Ranger

Hannen Lake Park property was purchased from the Hannen family in Blairstown, Iowa in 1957, with the lake and park itself being constructed shortly after. This little bit of information is fairly well known to the locals, but Benton County Conservation staff have been digging through the archives in hopes of unearthing some of the department’s unique seventy year history. As it turns out, we’ve found the Scouts of America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) have had a powerful and lasting impact at the park that can be traced back to the beginning.

For many Americans, the tradition of scouting can trek back through generations. Scouting’s bold traditions and oath includes being dutiful to yourself and the community you belong to. If you’ve been fortunate to spend time around young scouts or their families, then I’m sure you’ve probably realized what I am talking about, and it doesn’t take long to start counting the benefits of their lasting commitment to the communities around them. I was planting oak trees with Pack 46 near the White Oak Shelter at Hannen Lake in early May, and realized the signs of the scouts' work and historical value are all around the park. Paul Stults, a Blairstown native, said he and two of his brothers were in Boy Scouts in the 1960’s and 70’s, adding “with the scouts alone, we planted a lot of trees out there every year, probably at least 100 trees.” A recent article we found in the archives said the conservation board had help planting over 15,000 red, white and scotch pines in the early days. Paul continued reminiscing, “my fondest remembrance was the monkey bridge that the Boy Scouts built somewhere in the sixties or early seventies. We put in bird houses and such. . . a lot of great memories there.” Today, many of those trees are the mature forests that surround the park.

That legacy has lasted through to the present day as parents, grandparents, and other community leaders put in the effort and continue to foster the next generations of scouts to follow. We truly have been lucky to have the support of the scouting community. The scouts and families of Pack 46 and Troop 8 dedicate an annual walk dedicated to “Keep America Beautiful”, where the focus is the removal of litter and other unsightly findings on over two miles of the park’s roads and trails. Because of their efforts, they continue to collect a record low litter count each year. Jeff Cook, Cubmaster of Pack 46 from Atkins said “from camping at Hannen Lake as a youth, to bringing my Cub Scout Pack there as a Cubmaster, to seeing my oldest child complete their Eagle Scout Project there.,” he continued to say “Hannen Lake has been a meaningful part of my Scouting journey through every stage of my life.”

Scouts and families continue to go above and beyond, often directing Eagle Scouts to get in touch with the park office to see what kind of project needs they can be a part of. Most recently, Eagle Scouts John Sebedka and Tristan Cook have made significant additions to the park for patrons to enjoy. In 2024, John added waterfowl nesting structures around the lake, and a wildlife viewing blind near a grove of fruiting trees and shrubs that conservation staff planted with volunteers in the spring 2022. Tristan recently replaced an outdated bridge on a trail loop, connecting campground users and hikers with easier trail access to restrooms around a cove on the lake’s west shoreline. He also designed and constructed a five by sixteen foot bridge to replace a foot trail where a culvert used to sit on the northeast end of the lake, reopening a section of the trail that had been closed for several years. Now Tristan’s younger sister has an Eagle Scout plan in the works that she wishes to complete at Hannen Lake this fall.

It is often said “it takes a village,” which can be said of any kind of work or organization. . . I am sure the local leaders in our scouting programs have said those exact words. But, what I hope they know and remember at the end of the day, is that we see them as part of our conservation village, too. Because it does take a lot to keep all aspects of a park functioning moving forward; especially for 70 years! It often takes the derived meaning of a Scout’s Oath to get the job done:

“On my honor, I will do my best 

To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;

To help other people at all times;

To keep myself physically strong, Mentally awake, and morally straight.”