OA Lodge History

Nanuk Lodge #355 was established July 1, 1947, with the inception of the Alaska Council of the Boy Scouts of America, based out of the State Capital of Juneau. Initially the Council was responsible for the entire State of Alaska.

The Lodge Totem is the great Alaskan Polar Bear, which the Inuit people call “Nanook”, the lodge name is a variation of that name. By 1957, scouting was developed enough in the Anchorage area to support a new council. The Western Alaska Area Council was formed on July 1, 1955 and retained the original lodge name. Southeast Alaska formed a new lodge, named Kootz, which merged into Nanuk Lodge in 2006, thus becoming the lodge of the Great Alaska Council. Nanuk Lodge is responsible for OA programs across 297,833 square miles, covering the Aleutian Islands, Western Alaska Coast, South-Central Alaska, and the Pan-Handle to the South-East.

Nanuk was a National Quality Lodge in 2004, 2007 & 2009

Nanuk has the following JTE accomplishments:
Bronze – 2013, Gold – 2014, Gold – 2015, Gold – 2016, Silver – 2017, Gold – 2018

Nanuk has been awarded the following awards:
National Camping Award 1996, OA Innovation Award 2014

Lodge Key Three History

The Key Three is made up of the Lodge Chief, Lodge Adviser, and Lodge Staff Adviser. These individuals oversee the complete operations of all lodge functions and business. The Chief is elected annually by our members and the Advisers are appointed by the Scout Executive on a yearly basis. Below are those who have served at the helm of our organization.

Year Lodge Chief Lodge Adviser Lodge Staff Adviser Scout Executive
2026 Strijker Errico Maritn McNichols Dianna Kaszuba Samuel Giacalone
2025 Kinsey Shepard Al Szewczyk Kyle Furgason Samuel Giacalone
2024 Joshua Nelson Al Szewczyk Ian Sands Samuel Giacalone
2023 Joshua Nelson Al Szewczyk Ian Sands Samuel Giacalone
2022 AJ Szewczyk Al Szewczyk Samuel Giacalone Samuel Giacalone
2021 Conner Kniefel Brice Alexander Samuel Giacalone Clifford Crismore
2020 Joe Pavia-Jones Brice Alexander Samuel Giacalone Clifford Crismore
2019 Alexander Christenson/Joe Pavia-Jones Brice Alexander Benjamin Ormsby Clifford Crismore
2018 Ian Sands Samuel Giacalone Benjamin Ormsby Clifford Crismore
2017 Ian Sands Samuel Giacalone Benjamin Ormsby Clifford Crismore
2016 Andrew Arsenault Samuel Giacalone Benjamin Ormsby Clifford Crismore
2015 Michael Wilson Samuel Giacalone Benjamin Ormsby Clifford Crismore
2014 Nigel Floyd Samuel Giacalone Benjamin Ormsby Clifford Crismore
2013 Nicholas Greene Tane Vincent Justin Savidis Clifford Crismore
2012 Jacob Hanchett/Tyler Berger Gordon Ward/Tane Vincent Justin Savidis Clifford Crismore
2011 Andre Giacalone Gordon Ward Justin Savidis Auden Mikkelson
2010 Andre Giacalone Gordon Ward Justin Savidis Auden Mikkelson
2009 Adam Ward Gordon Ward Cal Hiebsch Auden Mikkelson
2008 Samuel Giacalone/Adam Ward Nick Stout/Gordon Ward Cal Hiebsch William Haines
2007 Samuel Giacalone Nick Stout Don Olson William Haines
2006 Chris Beck/Samuel Giacalone Nick Stout Don Olson William Haines
2005 Grant Evans/William Foster Nick Stout Matt Hill William Haines
2004 Konrad Pyle Nick Stout Matt Hill William Haines
2003 Justin Kaucic/John O’Grady Nick Stout Matt Hill William Haines
2002 Justin Kaucic Rindi Patterson    
2001 Scott Patterson Rindi Patterson    
2000 Sam Correa Rindi Patterson    
1999 Duane Granath Rindi Patterson Rick Wride  
1998 Brad Lowry Rindi Patterson    
1997 Jamie Rothwell Ron Bitzer    
1996 Brad Lowry Dale Hartzler    
1995 Kelly King Dale Hartzler    
1994 Kelly King Noah Smith    
1993 Daniel Patchin Noah Smith    
1992 Daniel Patchin Noah Smith    
1991 David Daly Noah Smith    
1990 David Daly Noah Smith    
1989 Edward Glenn Noah Smith    
1988 Edward Glenn Travis Barber    
1987 James Griffin Ray Morris    
1986 James Griffin Ray Morris    
1985 No Record Ray Morris    
1984 Stan Atschley Ray Morris    
1983 Steve Sherrod/Stan Atschley Ray Morris    
1982 Steve Sherrod Ray Morris    
1981 Scott Learned Ray Morris    
1980 Ed Penisten Ray Morris    
1979 Jerold Everand Ray Morris    
1978 Johnny Ellis Ray Morris    
1977 Dennis Mitchell Richard Lewis    
1976 Mark Jackson Richard Lewis    
1975 Mark Jackson Daniel Contini    
1974 No Record Ralph Dobbs    
1973 No Record Ralph Dobbs    
1972 Randall Farris Ralph Dobbs    
1971 Randall Farris James Henson    
1970 Jack Horner James Henson    
1969 John Lambe Hal Hopkins    
1968 Jaque Sumner D.M. McKinnon    
1967 Don W. Stevens Theophilus Putt    
1966 Glen Wardle Joe C. Spurlock II    
1965 Glen Wardle Joseph Marino    
1964 Grover Wright Joseph Marino    
1963 Grover Wright Joseph Marino    
1962 John Borreceo Joseph Marino    
1961 Dick Enberg Jr. Walter Strong    
1960 Fred Braun Walter Strong    
1959 Don Witsoe H.J. Rosen    
1958 Donald Wiley H.J. Rosen    
1957 Dale Clark Maurice F. Powers    
1956 Dale Clark Maurice F. Powers    
1955 Arnie Christiansen Norman A. Lowenstein    
1954 Harry Campbell Norman A. Lowenstein    
1953 Wayne Powers Norman A. Lowenstein    
1952 Bennie Dupris Jr. Norman A. Lowenstein    
1951 Doermus P. Scudder Doermus P. Scudder    
1950 No Chief Elected Doermus P. Scudder    
1949 Doermus P. Scudder Doermus P. Scudder    
1948 Russell A. Apple Doermus P. Scudder Harold Gribble  
1947 Duane Huntly Harold Gribble Harold Gribble  


Section Leadership History

Nanuk Lodge has played a pivotal role in our section since the Lodge joined the Section in 1992. We have a strong history of youth and adult leaders throughout the organization. Here is everyone who has held a nationally-recognized leadership role in our section.

Year Name Position
2024 Scott Hobbs Section Chief (Sept-April)
2023 Scott Hobbs Section Vice Chief
2022 Conner Kniefel Section Vice Chief
2019 Ian Sands Section Chief (Jan – Sept)
2012 Andre Giacalone Section Vice Chief
2011 Andre Giacalone Section Vice Chief
2010 Samuel Giacalone Section Chief
  Adam Ward Section Secretary
2009 Samuel Giacalone Section Chief
2007 Christopher Beck Section Chief
2006 Christopher Beck Section Secretary
2003 Justin Kaucic Section Vice Chief
2001 Raymond C. Wall Jr. Associate Section Adviser
2000 Brad Lowry Section Chief
  Rick Wride Section Staff Adviser
1999 Brad Lowry Section Chief