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Paddle Awards

In the 1930s and 1940s, individuals were eligible for the Bronze, Gold, and Silver Paddle awards which recognized “careful attention to camping fundamentals, use of a camera and careful observation”.

To receive the “Order of the Silver Paddle Award”, a canoeist had to identify forty plants and trees, and tell of their uses. Plus, the applicant had to submit three photos of their trip together with a trip diary. Sometimes, a map showing the crew’s route was included with the application. Campers who qualified were awarded a full-length paddle with a silver blade.

Among alumni, we often talk about how, despite differences in generations, the canoe country we travel through remains constant. Looking at the photos and reading these trip diaries further evidences the common legacy in which we all share.


Name City State Council Year
Adamek, Paul Argo IL   1943
Aherns, Frank Osage IA Winnebago 1944
Ahrens, Frank Osage IA Winnebago 1943
Ahrens, Max Rochester MN Gamehaven 1943
Allibone, Barclay Centerville SD Souix 1942
Anderson, Clarence Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1940
Anderson, Lawrence Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1940
Andrews, Jack Bemidji MN   1943
Antus, Alexander Cloquet MN North Star 1943
Asher, Geroge Mitchell SD Sioux 1942
Asher, Robert Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1942
Barnes, William Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1940
Beal, Charles Rochester MN Gamehaven 1936
Behrend, Earl Mason City IA Winnebago 1940
Berg, Robert & Berg Jr., Robert Gonvick MN Headwaters 1943
Bliss, Ted Minot SD Great Plains 1942
Bly, Ervin Moorehead MN Red River Valley 1937
Bossen, Bob Tripp SD Sioux 1942
Branch, Kenneth Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1936
Brill, Gregory Evansville IN South Indiana 1939
Brockman, Gene Indianola IA Tall Corn 1942
Buhl, John St James MN Minnesota Valley 1937 (erroneously 1936)
Buhl, Tom St James MN Minnesota Valley 1938
Butler, W. Mason City IA Winnebago Unknown
Cacharelis, Byron Ely MN   1943
Cameron, Dave Duluth MN North Star 1943
Cannons, Charles St Paul MN St Paul 1938
Carpenter, Keith Bemidji MN   1943
Carr, Billy Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1942
Cowles, Barton Vermillion SD Sioux Unknown
Crowther, James Fairmon MN Cedar Valley 1941
Dailey, Mike Superior WI   1943
Dean, Kenneth Hopkins MN Minneapolis 1943
Dehoff, Gerhard Davenport IA   1936
Dill, Robert Cedar Rapids IA   1936
Dison, Robert Rochester MN Gamehaven 1942
Doty, Herbert Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1942
Eastlick Jr, Morton Excelsior MN Minneapolis 1937
Ehrhardt, George Albert Lee MN Cedar Valley Unknown
Ellis, Ralph Argo IL West Suburban Region 7 1943
Erickson, Arne Duluth MN North Star 1943
Espen, James Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1940
Fitz, Coleman Fairmont MN Cedar Valley 1939
Fitzgerald, John Rochester MN Gamehaven 1939
Francis, Roland St Paul MN St Paul 1941
Freeman, Reine Virgina MN Headwaters 1936
Fremming, Ben Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1940
Friest, Bob Morris MN Red River Valley 1943
Gardner, Vie Fairmont MN Cedar Valley 1940
Gilsen, Bill Morris MN Red River Valley 1942
Gorder, Les Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1940
Grigsbey, Bill Sioux Falls SD Sioux 1942
Grigsbey, Bill Sioux Falls SD Sioux 1943
Gujer, Bob Duluth MN North Star 1943
Gumplo, Ed Peoria IL Creve Coeur Unknown
Hall, B. Duluth MN North Star 1943
Harrell, Wilfred Oakes ND Red River Valley 1943
Hauser, Carl St Charles IA Winnebago 1940
Haven, George Chatfield MN Gamehaven 1945
Henderson, Arthur Kiester MN Cedar Valley 1943
Highberg, Roy Duluth MN North Star 1943
Hoisington, E. Mason City IA Winnebago 1942
Holmes, Jim Cedar Rapids IA Cedar Rapids Area 1939, 1940
Houston, John Rushville IL   1943, 1944
Hunter, Harold Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1940, 1942
Hursh, Orval Superior WI Gitche Gume 1943
Irwin, John Merroa, KS Kaw 1943
Jackson, Bob Red Wing MN Gamehaven 1943
Jauch, Herman Davenport IA Buffalo Bill 1936
Jerome, Sullivan Minneapolis MN Minneapolis Unknown
Johns, Thomas Winona MN Gamehaven 1943
Johnson, Dwain Albert Lee MN Cedar Valley 1942
Johnson, Dwain Albert Lee MN Cedar Valley 1942
Johnson, M. Kansas City KS Kaw 1943
Kaldahl, Oliver Glenwood MN Red River Valley 1945
Kehr, Lew Rochester MN Gamehaven 1943
Kemper, Jim Sioux Falls SD Sioux 1942
Kenney, George Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1936
Kinnunen, Harold Duluth MN North Star 1943
Kittley, Bill Rochester MN Gamehaven 1942
Krause, William Bemidji MN   1943
Krogh, Andrew Kolten ND Lake Agassiz 1942
Kruse, Nick Davenport IA Buffalo Bill 1937
Lackore, Lu Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1943
Lambert, Jack Summit IL West Suburban Region 7 1943
Law, Ralph Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1943
Lawson, Ken Albert Lee MN Cedar Valley 1941
Leines, Thormen Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1941
Lerohl, John Bovey MN Headwaters 1939
Libbey, Bud Grand Rapids MN Headwaters 1939
Lindquist, Russell Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1936
Lockridge, Orlin Evansville IN South Indiana 1939
Mahoney, Tom Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1942
McCarthy, Thomas Chisholm MN Headwaters 1936
McCrae, Spencer Grand Forks ND Lake Agassiz 1936
McIver, Samuel Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1940
Melby, Earl Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1937
Michael, Jim Peoria IL Creve Coeur 1942
Micklish, Willard Morris MN Red River Valley 1939
Milbrandt Jr, Edward Fairmont MN Cedar Valley 1940
Miller, Robert Mason City IA Winnebago 1943
Miner, Dick Devils Lake ND   1943
Mohr, Frederick Ely MN Red River Valley 1944
Mohr, Frederick Ely MN Red River Valley 1944
Monteith, George Virgina MN Headwaters 1936
Mueller, Charles Chisholm MN Headwaters 1936
Munkeby, Milton Southam SD Lake Agassiz 1943
Music, John Rochester MN Gamehaven 1942
Nadler, Herbert St Paul MN St Paul 1942
Nagie, Don Rochester MN Gamehaven 1943
Newton Jr., Floyd Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1940
Norby, James Morris MN Red River Valley 1943
O'Brien, Dillon Grand Rapids MN Headwaters 1936
Ochiltree, Garold Wilton Junction IA   1936
Olson, Arthur Superior WI Gitche Gume 1943
Olson, Barney Minot ND Great Plains 1942
Olson, John St James MN Minnesota Valley 1943, 1944
Ottenson, Paul Owatonna MN   1943
Pallister, Phil Rochester MN Gamehaven 1936
Parks, Jim Rapid City SD Black Hills 1944
Patton, John Waseca MN   1943
Penne, Lowell Minot ND Great Plains 1942
Perkins, L. Morris MN Red River Valley 1942
Perkins, Leland Morris MN Red River Valley 1943
Prastka, George Cedar Rapids IA Cedar Rapids Area 1936
Prigge, Allen Lewiston MN Gamehaven 1942
Probst, Gerald Morris MN Red River Valley 1939
Protzeller, Edward Fairmont MN Cedar Valley 1942
Pyle, Morris Evansville IN South Indiana 1939
Rabel, Lloyd Ely MN Red River Valley 1942, 1943, 1944
Raudenhorst, Bob Oliva MN   1943
Rawn, Stanley Superior WI Gitche Gume 1943
Remole, Robert Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1943
Reynold, Donald Superior WI Gitche Gume 1943
Riess, John Evansville IN South Indiana 1939
Ross, Donald Cedar Rapids IA Cedar Rapids Area 1936
Ross, George Cedar Rapids IA Cedar Rapids Area 1936
Rummell, Robert Cedar Rapids IA Cedar Rapids Area 1936
Sauter, James Superior WI Gitche Gume 1943
Schensted, Warren Glenwood MN Red River Valley 1945
Schoening, Bob Sioux Falls SD Sioux 1942
Schrieber, David Superior WI Gitche Gume 1943
Schumann, Alfred Ely MN Headwaters 1942, 1944
Schumann, Alfred Morris MN Red River Valley 1942, 1944
Search, Herman Russell KS Coronado 1941
Sheffloe, Morton Crookston MN Lake Agassiz 1942
Skarman Jr, Paul Minneapolis MN Minneapolis Unknown
Small, William Albert Lee MN Cedar Valley 1940
Smallwood, Blair Minot SD Great Plains 1942
Soderberg, Robert Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1940
Sourr, Bud Pierre SD Central South Dakota 1939
Spencer, Carl Cedar Rapids IA Cedar Rapids Area 1936
Starner, Don Hampton IA Winnebago 1942
Stewart, Theodore Charles City IA Winnebago 1942, 1943
Storrar, David Minneapolis MN Minneapolis Unknown
Stuntz Jr., Bill Albert Lee MN Cedar Valley 1940
Sutherland, Don Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1940
Swalen, Jerome Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1943
Tiensuu, Victor Lanesboro MN Gamehaven 1941
Tillotson, Gershom Peoria IL Creve Coeur 1942
Timm, Adolph St Paul MN St Paul Unknown
Torgerson, Sheldon Morris MN Red River Valley 1942
Tucker, Jack (swamper Guide 1936) Emily MN   1943
Vifquain, John Belle Plaine IA Waubeek Area 1943
Walker, John       Unknown
Weidenback, Don Scotland SD Sioux 1942
Wetzel, Fred Fairmont MN Cedar Valley 1936
Wetzel, Fred Fairmont MN Cedar Valley 1936
Wilson, George Auora MN Headwaters Unknown
Wood, Bob Redwood Falls MN Minnesota Valley 1942
Woolcook Jr., George Eveleth MN Headwaters 1942
Yerkovich, Micheal Summit IL West Suburban Region 7 1943
Young, Duane Clarion IA Winnebago 1943
Zanmiller, George Northfield MN   1943
Zumberge, Roy Minneapolis MN Minneapolis 1936
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