Learn how groups like the Boy Scouts gave young people purpose and connection, while also instilling values and teaching skills.
Stop 10 Audio
Transcript
A child or teenager at Amache could choose from many different clubs, groups, and chapters to join, like the Red Cross, the Girl Scouts, the YMCA, the YWCA, the Young Buddhists of America, the Girl Reserve, or a group of girls within a high school class, and the club that I was part of, the Boy Scouts. Each club or group usually used one of the rec halls as their meeting place.
This rec hall in Block 10E was the headquarters of Amache Chapter of the Boy Scouts of America. Our Troop 179 met weekly at the 10 H Rec Hall. We participated in many different activities, both in camp and outside of camp. Our Troop’s Drum and Bugle Corps played at camp wide ceremonies, festivals, or sports games, and we went to Granada Train Station to send off the young men of Amache who were joining the U. S. Army to fight for America. We played as loud as we could so the townspeople would know that our young men were going off to war for them. Sadly, we also had to play at the memorial services when 31 of our men were killed in action in Europe. During the summer of 1943, the FFA club of Amache High and the Boy Scouts were sent to Mancos, Colorado to dismantle some abandoned Civilian Conservation Corps barracks and load them onto flat card so they could be reassembled and used as motor pool buildings in Amache.
In the summer of 1944, Troop 179 went on a one week camping trip to Two Buttes Reservoir and had a wonderful time. In both instances, we relished the time outside of the confines of the barbed wire fences. We volunteered at Amache farms and several times we were permitted to make local overnight camping trips outside of camp to the banks of the Arkansas River, starting in late 1943.
We raised money for a war bond drive campaign and sold war stamps to help our war efforts. Even though we were confined behind barbed wire fences with guard towers, we were still a very active troop that was able to learn and exemplify the values of the Boy Scouts of America.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS: Continue driving north on this road for about 0.4 of a mile. On the right (east) side of the road there will be a panel about the Silk Screen shop. This is Stop #11, the final stop on the driving tour.