An 11-year-old boy died after being struck by a falling tree while attending a summer camp at the Owasippe Scout Reservation in western Michigan, officials confirmed Friday.
The incident occurred just after 5 p.m. on Thursday as the boy was walking on a trail, according to the Muskegon County Sheriff's Office. The boy, from River Forest, Illinois, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not yet been released.
Scouting America's Pathway to Adventure Council announced the boy's death, stating that emergency services were called and that the boy's parents have been notified. No other campers were injured.
In a statement, the organization expressed its devastation, extending condolences to the scout's family, friends, fellow scouts, and leaders. "The safety and well-being of every young person in our programs is our highest priority," the statement read. Scouting America is cooperating with authorities in their investigation and has stated that it is providing support to all those affected by the tragedy.
The Owasippe Scout Reservation, established in 1911, is the oldest operating Boy Scout camp in the United States and spans over 75 miles of wilderness. The Pathway to Adventure Council owns the reservation and operates four camps within it: Blackhawk, Wolverine, Reneker Family Camp, and Cub/Arrow of Light Camp. It remains unclear which camp the boy was attending or his specific location on the reservation at the time of the incident.