Due to safety concerns, the castle had to be closed, but a group of volunteers, including Steve Adams, Jeremy Batson, Gary Gauthier, Todd Gegenheimer, Kirk Henry, David Houpy, Chad Humphrey, Eddie Marcel, Ian Rands, Tara Rosenkranz, Matt Tizzard and others from Pack 117, Troop 117G, and Troop 269, Alan Holekamp, the Council’s Executive Vice President, and Kevin Phillips, the Fleur de Lis District Chair, demolished, repaired, and replaced most of the castle’s wooden structure for it to be used safely again.  Visitors will notice a whole lot of new lumber, but the real picture involves dedicated volunteers utilizing their skills and spending an extensive amount of personal time to make the castle available again for the use and enjoyment by Scouts and other youth who visit camp.  Additionally, the new sword in the stone made by Robert Mercer of the Gulf Coast Blacksmith Association at no cost to the Council has been installed in front of the castle.  Future improvements already in process and to be completed over the next several months include a new sign, banners, repairs to the castle battlements and cannons, a new drawbridge, and pressure washing of the castle’s old wood and cement façade.  For those who will be attending Cub World this weekend, please take time to thank the volunteers who worked on the repairs and may be in attendance and Mr. Mercer who will be in attendance demonstrating how to make rope by the castle.