Man's Scouting award a 'natural' fit

Hancock County's Larry Musser has become one of the first Scouters nationally to be recognized with the new Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Conservation Award. The Black Swamp Area Council, which encompasses 13 northwest Ohio counties, announced the award in a recent press release. "This award is by nomination only and is for an adult Scouter who has rendered distinguished and exemplary service to natural resource conservation and environmental improvement over a sustained period (at least 20 years)," the council wrote. Nominations are accepted from any recognized conservation or environmental protection organization. Musser was nominated by Keep America Beautiful. "One of his major achievements was compiling his fourth edition of the Ecology Handbook of Camp Berry, identifying all species of plant and animal kingdoms located within Camp Berry," the press release states. Musser's Scouting career began as a Cub Scout with Pack 125 in Ada, in summer 1954. He later served as director of nature and conservation on the Camp Berry staff for three summers in the mid-1960s. Musser served on the Hancock County Board of Commissioners staff for 28 years. A Courier story from 2003, when he retired from the county, noted that Musser invented the Hancock County Spring Clean Up program in 1980. In 1981, he developed the recycling program at the Litter Landing facility. In a recent interview, Musser said he grew up in a family interested in nature. He continues to pursue that interest all these years later "'cause I'm having fun" — and because he sees a responsibility to help others. His Camp Berry Ecology Handbook lists 69 types of trees, 228 birds, 13 amphibians and 15 reptiles found at the camp, among other types of wildlife. Musser said he knows how to identify the more common types of birds, but not all of them. But, he said, it isn't knowing each species that matters — it's "the sound of silence" found in nature. In the handbook, he wrote, "Each time I visit Camp Berry, I am once again reminded that my life from childhood to senior citizenship is intrinsically linked to the very acres of land that comprise the Boy Scout camp, which is one of the best places to study and observe ecology in Northwest Central Ohio." Musser has traveled throughout the United States appreciating nature. But, he said, Ohio specifically has "a lot of beautiful state parks and scenic rivers." As for his own favorites in nature, Musser noted that the American bald eagle is both beautiful and patriotic. The Distinguished Conservation Service Award is the Boy Scouts of America's highest conservation award possible. In addition to the Distinguished Conservationist award given to adults, there is a Distinguished Conservation Service Award for youth and a Distinguished Conservation Service Award Certificate for individuals and organizations. The awards were "developed to encourage learning by the participants and to increase public awareness about natural resource conservation through sound stewardship," a Scouting website states. Arthurs: 419-427-8494