“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” –Mahatma Gandhi
Exhibit Details
Doing double duty as health lodge and program area, Scouts can participate in First Aid, Emergency Preparedness, and Personal Fitness MBs, as well as SIP, First Aid Meets and Track Meets. And of course, they can fix cuts and bruises too.
Note: This program area was discontinued and is replaced by the Matje Eagle Resource Center starting in 2026.
One of Ernie Heegard’s many roles at camp in the ’70s and ’80s was that of Personal Fitness Merit Badge.
Merit Badge Work
1974 – Contributed by Rev. James Goudie
Probably First Aid or Emergency Preparedness merit badge helping a poor victim…
Personal Fitness MB
Contributed by Rev. James Goudie
Camp Director Ernie Heegard, measures Scouts’ broad jump distances for Personal Fitness merit badge in the mid-seventies.
Pete Ross' E. Prep class
1981 – Contributed by G. Ernest Heegard
Pete Ross, the 1981 Program Director, teaching Emergency Preparedness in the Picnic Grove.
EP Mobilization Practice
1983 – Contributed by Jay Kemmerer
Jeff Spritzer teaches the Scouts about how to run effective crowd control during mobilization.
EP Practice
1983 – Contributed by John Kemmerer
Jeff Spritzer works with the Scouts for their Emergency Preparedness merit badge.
Blood Triangle Instruction
2025 – Contributed by Collin Wheeler
Health and Fitness Instructor Eddie B. teaching Scouts about the Blood Triangle in First Aid.
Documents
A simple true / false exam used by the Health Lodge staff for Personal Fitness merit badge. 1973 – Contributed by G. Ernest Heegard
First Aid Videos
Display Details
First Aid is an important Eagle-required merit badge, and there is always lots of hands-on training conducted by the Camp Horseshoe staff.
Backboard Training First Aid instructor Brian Flanagan tries his best to get the Scouts to perform an adequate backboarding of a possible neck/head injury victim, but they still have much to learn. 2006 – Contributed by AnonymousGoodman Pavilion MB Class Mark Graham teaches Scouts about First Aid and some particulars about biology. 2002 – Contributed by Alexander MustoFirst Aid Carry Scouts practice a carry during First Aid MB in the Picnic Grove. 2006 – Contributed by Andrew CoeChest Compressions Staff member Brian Flanagan teaches chest compressions on Resusci Annie, but knees aren’t really part of the repertoire. 2005 – Contributed by AnonymousRequirements for First Aid MB Health and Fitness Director Anthony Cascone goes over some of the requirements of the First Aid MB. 2005 – Contributed by Anonymous
E. P. Drill
Display Details
The infamous Emergency Preparedness (E.P.) drill usually results in some lost sleep and severe confusion, and while often colorful in their scenarios, the instructors do expect their students to take it seriously.
Brian Consolo looks at his stopwatch as the scouts in Emergency Preparedness MB mobilize at the Goodman pavilion. Too much time and they’ll have to start again.
Marshall Boyd
2006 – Contributed by Anonymous
The Horseshoe staff takes pride in making realistic (ok, sometimes fantastical) scenarios for their EP classes to solve, including fake injuries. Staffer Marshall Boyd waits in “agony” for someone to come and treat his severed right arm.
Emergency Preparedness Drill
2018 – Contributed by Anonymous
This drill took place at the Camp Horseshoe Chapel in 2018 and appears Matt Candy is in need of some serious assistance.
E-Prep Drill at COPE
2024 – Contributed by Collin Wheeler
Nature Director Ali Roworth in costume creepily watches an E-Prep Drill at COPE.
Videos
Horror Film at Horseshoe? One of the “victims” of this Emergency Preparedness Drill seems to be grunting like a zombie, but it appears that he has a compound fracture in this Blair Witch Project-style documentary. 2006 – Contributed by Andrew CoeE-Prep Drill at Pool A Chaotic Pool E-Prep Drill during Week 5 of 2025. 2025 – Contributed by Collin Wheeler
Track Meet
Display Details
Personal Fitness merit badge is taken to a new level as the Health & Fitness department often hosts a Track Meet challenge each week.
Morning Track Meet
2017 – Contributed by Tom Williams
Runners compete for the Track Meet gold here at the start of the race at the top of the Camp Horseshoe parade field.
First Aid Challenge
Display Details
Occasionally the Health & Fitness department hosts a First Aid Challenge to see who is the best “Improvised health care provider” in camp.
Two-Man Carry
2003 – Contributed by Anonymous
A heavily bandaged “victim” is carried by two teammates in their quest to be the best “improvised health care providers” in camp.
1928 Horseshoe First Aid Class
1928 – Contributed by John B. Rettew III
One of the first First Aid classes at Horseshoe being held outside the White House. The White House served as the first camp hospital.
Other Pictures
Display Details
Here we will display some miscellaneous pictures from the department.
Health and Fitness Staffers
2025 – Contributed by Collin Wheeler
Health and Fitness staffers (from left) Camille B., Collin Wheeler, and Eddie B. hold the Health and Fitness sign one last time. The Department was merged at the end of 2025 with the Eagle Resource Center to create the Matje Resource Center.
Memorabilia
Display Details
Health & Fitness related memorabilia will be displayed here.
See Also
Click HERE to see the museum’s main Memorabilia room.
Health & Fitness SIP Segment
2008 – Contributed by Anonymous
A Scout or Scouter can earn this award by attending the Health & Fitness SIP 4 out of 5 days during the summer camp week.
2008 Health and Fitness T-Shirt
2008 – Contributed by Andrew Coe
This shirt was issued for the Health & Fitness staff of Camp Horseshoe in 2008.
2014 Health Lodge T-Shirt
2014 – Contributed by Andrew Coe
Here is the Camp Horseshoe Health Department T-Shirt for 2014, reminding everyone “Do not lock your knees!” while attending a retreat ceremony.
2017 Health Lodge Staff T-Shirt
2017 – Contributed by Brian Kotzer
The 2017 Camp Horseshoe Health Lodge Staff T-Shirt.
2024 Health & Fitness Department Staff T-Shirt
2024 – Contributed by Collin Wheeler
The 2024 Health & Fitness Department Staff T-Shirt.
2025 Health & Fitness Department Staff T-Shirt
2025 – Contributed by Collin Wheeler
The 2025 Health & Fitness Department Staff T-Shirt.
Blue Card
1978 – Contributed by Ted Ryan
This Applicant’s Record from the “Personal Fitness” MB was signed by one G. Ernest Heegard, 29-year director of Camp Horseshoe.
2025 Health Lodge Plaque
2025 – Contributed by Andrew Coe
The 2025 Health Lodge Plaque.
Health & Fitness Area Directors
Display Details
Here is the listing of known Health & Fitness area directors for Camp Horseshoe. Note: This department was most recently named Health and Fitness but has been named First Aid & EP or just Health Lodge over the years. The program area was discontinued in 2025 and the merit badge responsibilities from this department area were relocated to the Matje Eagle Resource Center starting in 2026.
