By Dave Ritchie
Since 2003 the Boy Scouts of Troop #101 in Monroe have journeyed to New Diggings. Each May the Masonic Cemetery in New Diggings has hosted a campout for the Scouts. The property owned by the Grand Lodge is home to Olive Branch Lodge. The wooded site offers the scouts a chance to camp and in return the scouts clean up sticks and other debris left by the winter.
Above: The scouts take a break after doing the Canyon Camp bucket brigade. Front row from left: Frank Wolf and Ashton Klemm. Back row: Donavan Guth, Cameron Baker, Barret Berg, Owen Klemm, Hudson Davis, Gregory Wolf, Nathaniel Richardson and William Richardson.
The 22-year relationship has benefited both groups dedicated to very similar ideas. Smith Lodge No. 31 in Monroe is well represented in Troop 101 with Master Jason Berg being an adult leader, P.M. Nick Baker serving as Assistant Scout Master and Scout Master Will Jacobson having turned in a petition.
