Camp Wanocksett

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The main field of Camp Wanocksett, from the Administration building porch

Camp Wanocksett is a 250-acre Boy Scouts of America camp located in Dublin, New Hampshire, about two miles east of Monadnock State Park. It is used by the Nashua Valley Council, which is based in mid-northern Massachusetts, and the Order of the Arrow Grand Monadnock Lodge 309. Located in the forest, Camp Wanocksett borders Thorndike Pond.^[1]

1 History
2 Important Locations
3 See also
4 External links
5 References

[edit] History

[edit] Early Years

The camp was started in 1924. Its name is derived from a combination of three mountains in the area; Watatic, Monadnock, and Wachusett. It had previously been a farm. Its first camp director was Ted Butlier. It was originally the council summer camp for the Wachusett Council, serving Massachusetts towns from Leominster through Petersham. In 1965 the Fitchburg Area Council, between Lancaster and Acton, Massachusetts, merged with the Wachusett Council to form the present-day Nashua Valley Council.

[edit] Rebuilding Years

In the mid-1960's, scouting was thriving throughout the US, and the number of scouts attending Camp Wanocksett was the highest it would ever be; the staff ran eight full weeks of camp programs. However after the Vietnam War, scouting's popularity nationwide declined. Other Boy Scout summer camps in nearby council camps in Massachusetts, such as Camp Resolute in Bolton of the Knox Trail Council, continued to enjoy a certain success. However Camp Wanocksett suffered steeply declining attendance. By the early 1980's, very few scouts attended summer camp, and the 1985 camp staff amounted to less than 20 members. Through the hard work of reformers such as John Coyle, Camp Wanocksett's spirit was revived. Compared to the 1985 camp season, the 1986 season "exploded" and the number of scouts attending camp was much higher than it had been in previous years. The 1986 season was also known as the "Year of the Revival" and Camp Wanocksett steadily grew from the efforts of those men and women into the program that is known around the Northeast Region today as one of excellence.

[edit] Recent

In 1990, Tim Todd became the Camp Director after having served as Program Director under Paul Burns in 1989. Tim brought much to the camp, primarily a sense of excitement and craziness which helped the young staff at the time to grow and learn. Many a Friday evening campfire was capped off with Tim Todd's rendition of a campfire story. Dan Somes was the Program Director under Tim Todd in 1990 and then Dale Baskin (Archery Director 1990) continued in that position from 1991 to 1993. At the end of the 1991 season, Tim Todd left and Tom Swift became the Camp Director. Under his leadership and with Dale Baskin as the Program Director, Wes Durant as the Camping Committee Chairperson and a slew of young staff members and a deep resevoir of alumni volunteers, Camp Wanocksett began to grow. The Hullabaloo song was added, the campfire format was altered to make it more of show, Sunday nights saw the Merit Badge Fair on the main field. Shotgun Merit Badge was added in 1994 along with many other programs and activities.

Camp Wanocksett continues to thrive, and runs seven full program weeks each summer. In 2005, seven-year Camp Director Jeff Dee retired, and was succeeded by Matthew Ford, who is returning in 2008 for his third year as Camp Director. Program Director Daniel Megan, who has been coming to Camp Wanocksett for 21 years, will return for his 19th year on staff in 2008. All troops in the Nashua Valley Council attend summer camp. To this day, Camp Wanocksett continues its legacy of a great scouting program and strong tradition of excellence.

[edit] Important Locations

[edit] Amphitheater

In 2005, the camp's new amphitheater, was opened for use. The amphitheater is used for the opening and closing campfires each week as well as the Songfest every Wednesday night.

[edit] Campsites

The tent sites around the camp provide shelter for the Scouts who stay there during the summer. These sites are generally occupied by a single Troop each. The sites (named Abanaki, Apache, Blackfoot, Crow, Iroquois, Kiowa, King Philip, Merrimac, Mohawk, Monadnock, Provisional, Rotary, and Big and Little Sioux) feature an Adirondack, two-person canvas platform tents, a latrine, and campfire pit.

[edit] Chapel

Chapel point lies at the southern end of camp, secluded from much of the other areas of camp. An all-faiths religious service is held at the Chapel every Thursday evening during the camp season.

[edit] Main field

The main field is essentially the center in Camp Wanocksett. Many of the important buildings are located around its perimeter, including the Administration and Trading Post building, staff cabins, and the Aquatics, Handicraft, and C.O.P.E. program areas or stations. Every morning, all the campers gather for the flag-raising ceremony, and in the evening, just before dinner, for retreat.

[edit] OA field

Order of the Arrow tap-outs occur every Wednesday night during the camp season at the OA field. The Gischachsummen team, a group of Native American-style dancers, of Grand Monadnock Lodge 309, performs the ritual in which members become Ordeal candidates for the Order of the Arrow.

[edit] Staff

Camp Wanocksett generally has a staff of around 60 people every summer. The staff consists of CIT's (councilors in training) who must be at least 14 years old, junior staff (they make up the majority of the staff) of boys age 15-17, and senior staff, whom are at least age 18 (and sometimes 21 based on the position/responsibility). The senior staff are generally the program area directors. The administration consists of the Camp Director, Program Director, and their assistants, and the CIT Director. Administration positions tend to require a minimum age of 21. The boys on staff are well known to be friendly and devoted to serving the scouts and scoutmasters attending camp.