On June 11, 2008 an F3 tornado tore through the Little Sioux Scout Camp northeast of Omaha killing four young boys participating in an Eagle Scout leadership training weekend and injuring dozens. In the devastating aftermath, stories of incredible heroism arose from the destruction as children rescued children, pulling one another from the rubble while performing life-saving first aid.

On the 9/11 Anniversary 2009, FDNY firefighters including survivors of the World Trade Center attacks, will raise the spirits of the survivors of the Little Sioux tornado as they work shoulder-to-shoulder with the young Scouts and their families to help rebuild the camp and erect a Chapel on the foundation of the structure where the four boys were lost. This very special Chapel will be built with timbers salvaged from the tornado, literally transforming the devastation into something full of Hope.

The 9/11 Anniversary rebuilding project is being sponsored by The New York Says Thank You Foundation whose mission is to help rebuild communities affected by disaster as a way of saying “Thank You” for all the love and support Americans from across the country extended to New Yorkers in the days, weeks, and months
following September 11.

To support this “Pay It Forward” effort to help rebuild the Little Sioux Scout Camp on the 9/11 Anniversary 2009, please visit www.NewYorkSaysThankYou.org and click on the DONATE NOW button. Your donation is 100% tax-deductible and any amount you contribute is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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Community agencies are helping out at Little Sioux Scout Ranch as part of Earth Day, April 22.

Kinghorn Gardens will be providing landscaping in front of the brand new Welcome Center at Little Sioux Scout Ranch. This building is the first completed tornado shelter at camp, able to withstand winds up to 250 miles per hour.

Kinghorn Gardens is providing a landscaping plan, design and production to help make the Welcome Center more “welcoming” as part of their contribution to the Boy Scouts on Earth Day and the Professional Landcare Network’s (PLANET) nationwide day of service. PLANET is the national lawn and landscape association.

Great Western Bank is also making an environmental contribution at Little Sioux on Earth Day. They have donated 12 large trees to replace trees wiped out in the ranger’s yard during the June 11, 2008 tornado. The bank is planting the trees in addition to donating them.

There’s more to do at the Little Sioux Scout Ranch. If you’d like to help fund projects at Little Sioux Scout Ranch, or our camps, please call 402.431.9BSA (9272).

About Mid America Council
The Boy Scouts of America, Mid-America Council is the largest youth-serving agency in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota, serving 33,155 youth in 58 counties. The Council, supported by 8,929 volunteers, is headquartered in Omaha, with a satellite office in Sioux City, Iowa.

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On June 11, 2008 an F-3 tornado tore through 200 acres of the Mid-America Council’s 1800 acre Little Sioux Scout Ranch located at the Loess Hills, in Iowa. There were 124 Scouts and Scouters attending the Council’s National Youth Leadership Training Course, “Pahuk Pride”, that night when four Scouts lost their lives.

Mid-America Council plans to install a replica of the exclusive McKenzie Statue at the entrance of the Mid-America Council – Durham Scout Center, as a tribute to not only the four young men, but also to the 120 others that personified the scouting movement that night with their heroic actions and compassion for their fellow Scouts.

What is the McKenzie Statue?

Dr. R. Tait McKenzie was a surgeon, physical educator, artist, and sculptor. He was a personal friend of Lord Baden-Powell. Dr. McKenzie was a member of the Philadelphia Council Executive Board from 1911 until his death in 1938. When asked in 1914 to create something tangible “that would stand as a symbol of what scouting stood for, “Dr. McKenzie sculpted his beloved statue portraying the “Ideal Boy Scout.”

The sculptor portrayed in his statue the traits of character he knew the movement to install in a boy. To Dr. McKenzie, the uncovered head represented reverence and obedience; the ax on which the hand rests was a symbol of George Washington’s truthfulness.

The Philadelphia Council (now known as Cradle of Liberty Council) sells these life-size cast bronze statues only as an accommodation as a special request. Since the first was erected, 31 statues have been cast and are located around the world. Each of the life-size statues weighs 500 pounds and stands 6’ feet tall. They are individually cast, which is a very time consuming process and can take up to 6 months to complete. Considerable time, effort, and skill is required to supervise each casting. This is done by the Sculptor-in-Residence at Princeton University, one of Tait McKenzie’s students. He approves the location of each statue.

Other McKenzie Statue Locations:
– Boy Scouts of Canada, National Office
– Central Region Council: Naperville, IL
– Dauch Service Center, Detroit Area Council: Detroit, MI
– Gerald R. Ford Council: Grand Rapids, MI
– Gilwell Park: England
– Great Sauk Trail Council: Ann Arbor, MI
– Greater Cleveland Council: Cleveland, OH
– Indianhead Council: St Paul, MN
– Middle Tennessee Council, Brentwood, TN
– Milwaukee County Council: Milwaukee, WI
– Occoneechee Council, Raleigh, NC
– Simon Kenton Council: Columbus, OH
– Southwest Michigan Area Council: Kalamazoo, MI
– University of Pennsylvania, PA
– Winnebago Council: Waterloo, IA

This project is estimated to cost $28,000 total. The statue itself costs $15,700, shipping to Omaha $2,000, concrete base $5,000, Bronze Plaque listing the N.Y.L.T. participants $2,500, Bronze Plaque listing the contributing Councils.

The Mid-America Council is inviting all Councils to help memorialize the young heroes of June 11, 2008. If you are interesting in supporting this effort, please ask your local Boy Scout Council how they are collecting donations. A list of the Council’s that support the project will be listed on the base of the statue.

The following Councils have already forwarded their support: Evangeline Area Council; Jayhawk Area Council; Mid-Iowa Council; Northern Star Council; Okefekokee Area Council; Orange County Council; Patriot’s Path Council; Pennsylvania Dutch Council; Philmont Scout Ranch; Pine Burr Area Council; Potomac Council; Westchester-Putnam Council.

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