An 11-year-old boy from River Forest, Illinois, died Thursday after a tree fell on him while he was hiking a trail at the Owasippe Scout Reservation in Twin Lake, Michigan. The boy, whose name has not been publicly released, was walking through a wooded trail at the Scouting America summer camp when the tree fell and struck him shortly after 5 p.m., according to the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency crews, including Muskegon County sheriff’s deputies and firefighters from the Blue Lake Fire Department, rushed to the scene. Blue Lake Township Fire Chief Joe Knop described the incident as an ‘act of God,’ saying the boy was in the exact spot where the tree fell, adding that ‘there’s no preventing some of those things.’
No other campers or individuals were injured in the incident. The boy’s parents were notified, and camp officials said they are providing support to campers. The family has asked for privacy as they grieve the loss.
The Owasippe Scout Reservation, the nation’s oldest continuously operating Scout camp, spans nearly 4,800 acres in western Michigan. Scouting America mourned the death in a statement Friday, offering condolences and prayers to the Scout’s family, friends, and fellow Scouts. The organization emphasized its commitment to prioritizing the safety and well-being of all Scouts and participants.
The loss has been felt throughout the Michigan community, with Fire Chief Knop saying that the tragedy has affected the local fire department, Scout leaders, and campers, who are a ‘close-knit family.’
The incident is currently under review by the appropriate authorities, with Scouting America cooperating fully in the investigation.
