Yawgoog Scout Reservation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2008)

Yawgoog Scout Reservation

Organizational data
Owner	Rhode Island Boy Scouts
Location	61 Camp Yawgoog Rd. Rockville, Rhode Island 02873
Country	United States
Coordinates	41°31′7.79″N 71°46′30.01″W / 41.5188306, -71.7750028
Founded	1916
Founder	Donald North
Reservation Director	Thomas Sisson
Scouting portal

Yawgoog Scout Reservation (Camp Yawgoog) is a 1,800-acre (7 km²) reservation for Scouting located in Rockville, Rhode Island and operated by the Narragansett Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Founded in 1916, Yawgoog is the fourth oldest continuously run Scout camp in the United States. ^[1] It runs an eight-week summer camping program every summer where Boy Scouts stay for a week with their troops. The Reservation is divided into three camps: Camps Three Point, Medicine Bow, and Sandy Beach. Generally each camp offers the same programs and experiences.

1 History
2 Landscape
3 Organization and traditions
4 Awards
5 See also
6 External links
7 References

[edit] History

The entrance to Camp Yawgoog

The Kelley Environmental Education Center

In 1916 Scout Executive Donald North, after inspecting some twenty lakes in Rhode Island, recommended the deserted Joseph Palmer farm property on Yawgoog Pond as a permanent reservation for Scouting. The 150-acre (0.6 km²) piece was leased to Rhode Island Boy Scouts (RIBS) in 1916 and purchased in 1917. Yawgoog and Wincheck, according to local tradition, were the names of two Narragansett Indian Chiefs. The water rights to the pond, all of their equipment, fourteen mill houses, a store, and approximately 200-acre (1 km²) of unimproved land were obtained in 1953 when the Boy Scouts purchased a controlling interest in the Yawgo Line and Twine Company. ^[2] The reservation continues to be separately owned by RIBS even after its acquisition by BSA. Chief Yawgoog serves as the mascot for the camp. He is usually portrayed in a cartoon, shirtless, wearing leather Indian trousers and mocassins, smoking a calumet, holding a canoe over himself and appears as if he is about to set off canoeing.^{[citation needed]}

Yawgoog is also responsible for creating the first Totin' Chip program. John Page, nicknamed "Johnny Appleseed," created the program in 1950. Six years later, in 1956, the Apprentice in Training (AIT) program was started in an effort to better train incoming staffmen. The AIT corps, the first of its kind, was later renamed the Counselor in Training (CIT) corps and set the standard for subsequent programs across the country. ^[3]

The reservation is divided into three distinct camps. Each camp operates independently and has a dining hall, waterfront, and trading post. Originally, however, Yawgoog campers set up tents as part of one centralized camp on what is now Tim O'Neil Field. In 1924, Yawgoog was divided between Upper Camp and Lower Camp, and three camps eventually emerged.^{[citation needed]}

Yawgoog is normally active during the summer for eight weeks of operation. During the off season tent camping is allowed at various campgrounds and cabin camping is allowed in any of the four cabins available. These spaces are available for troops who wish perform outdoor events when summer camp is not in session.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Landscape

The Ashaway Aquatics Center

Yawgoog is located in the southwestern corner of Rhode Island—the closest town Hopkinton, RI, which sits at 41.44N -71.79W. The terrain of the reservation is fairly flat, with only one hill (Hill 407) located in the southwestern corner of the reservation. Most of the reservation is forested and consists of deciduous and evergreen trees. On May 4-6, 1930, the camp suffered a forest fire. Much of the forest was destroyed and subsequently replaced with white pines due to their ability to grow quickly. Remnants of the fire are unnoticeable today. There are several islands on Yawgoog Pond, the largest named King Phillips.^{[citation needed]} Flushable toilets are currently being installed, first at Medicine Bow, then Three Point, and finally at Sandy Beach. Moreover, for 2008, the Yawgoog Alumini Association hopes to raise enough funds to replace each camps' amphitheater as well as replacing the aging the single shot riffles^[4]

The following are some notable places at Yawgoog: The George Bucklin Memorial (a replica of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police barracks; administration), The Donald North Court, The Yawgoog Heritage Center (contains artifacts from throughout Yawgoog's history), Tim O'Neill Field (has large flagpole that serves in a dress parade every Sunday at the conclusion of each week of camp), the three camp waterfronts (each having three swimming zones: 0 to 3-foot (91 cm), 3-foot (91 cm) to 7-foot (213 cm), 7-foot (213 cm) to 12-foot (366 cm)), and the A. Livingston Kelley Environmental Education Center.

[edit] Organization and traditions

Each camp is usually run by a camp director, assistant camp director, and two program commissioners (three for Camp Sandy Beach), all of which answer to the Reservation Director (currently Thomas Sisson^{[citation needed]}). As there are three distinct camps, each has its own songs, cheers, history, and traditions.

[edit] Camp Three Point

Camp Three Point Water Front

Camp Three Point, named for the three points of the Scout Oath, was the first of the three camps to be founded. It has been deemed "The oldest and most tradition-filled camp" on the reservation.^{[citation needed]} Today Camp Three Point encompasses the Challenge Course, the Bucklin Building, the Arthur Livingston Kelly Environmental Education Center, The Three Point Waterfront, the first New Frontier Center on reservation, and the 407 Outfitters, the Reservation's largest trading post. It also is home to the Memorial Bell Tower, which tolls at 12 P.M. daily in honor of those Scouts who died serving their country. Camp Three Point's camp color is hunter green. Its mascot is Danny the Deer, who resides in Sharpe Lodge, built in 1924.

Campsites at Camp Three Point are named after famous people in Yawgoog history or old scouting nicknames: Donald C. Dewing (Scoutmaster of Troop 82 for over 50 years), Forty-Niner, Frontier, Musketeer, Oak Ridge, Pioneer, Santa Fe Sleepy Hollow, Tuocs (Scout spelled backwards), Wells Fargo, Street, Scott and Zucculo.

[edit] Camp Medicine Bow

Camp Medicine Bow Dining Hall

After the founding of Camp Three Point, the popularity of the reservation grew to the point where a second camp was needed. Built around Rathom Lodge in the 1920s, Medicine Bow encompasses the center section of Yawgoog's developed land. It houses the Counselor-in-Training Corps, the Baden Powell provisional camp, the Crafts Center (H. Cushman Anthony Stockade), the Medicine Bow Waterfront (The Albert Gunther Waterfront), the Ashaway Aquatics Center, a horizontal climbing wall, and the (Armington Memorial)Health Lodge. Medicine Bow also generally houses the staff from Reservation Services, who bring food to the camps and take care of the camp's business happenings. It is also home to the reservation's motorboat, "The Charlie Brown", which patrols the pond for capsized boats. Medicine Bow's color is red, and its mascot is Elmo the Elk, who presides over Rathom Lodge during meals. Camp Medicine Bow's nickname is, "The Heart of Yawgoog", or "the cream between the two oreo cookies."^{[citation needed]}

A2 Rope Course

The campsites of Camp Medicine Bow are named after Native Americans with two exceptions: Baden-Powell Provisional Camp and Campsite Dan Boone. The other camps include Cautantowit, Manchose, Manitoo, The Great One, Campsite of the Counselor In Training Corps, Netop, Neimpaug, Waskecke, Weemat, Wetuomuck, Wunegin, and Wuttah.

[edit] Camp Sandy Beach

Located somewhat to the north of Medicine Bow lies Camp Sandy Beach. It was built in the late-1920s around Jesse H. Metcalf Lodge. Today, Sandy Beach calls itself the "youngest and most spirited camp" as well as "the Powerhouse of Yawgoog." Sandy Beach maintains the Lane-Bliven Rifle Range, the Archery Range, the Trap Range, Camp craft, Beach Frontier, the Sandy Beach Waterfront, and the Scoutmaster Essentials Program. Sandy Beach's color is blue, and their mascot is Jim the Moose. The camp also houses the Reservation Baker, who works in the Bake Shoppe attached to the kitchen.

Camp Sandy Beach campsites are named after famous Americans in history and include the following: Abe Lincoln, Audubon, Backwoods, Davy Crockett, Donald H. Cady, George Washington, Jim Bridger, Jim Bowie, James West, John Glenn, Kit Carson, Lewis & Clark, Neil Armstrong, Sequan, Norman Rockwell, Richard Byrd, Silver Buffalo, and Teddy Roosevelt.

[edit] Awards

There are many awards offered at Yawgoog Scout Reservation available to all groups, Scouts, Scouters, Troops and Patrols. A reservation-wide award is the Fishing Derby, where each week the winner takes home a fishing pole. Within each camp, the Troop of the Week and Camp Champion awards are given out.

Yawgoog Segments are perhaps the most common awards. Segments are small, curved, rectangular patches which go around the Yawgoog patch on a circular piece of material such as felt or leather. A felt circle found at the trading post can hold up to four rows of segments. The original ten segments started in 1951 were strips of cloth. They are the three CYs, the 1 through V tenure years, the Knights of Yawgoog and the now defunct Wincheck braves. There are now several segments awarded at the reservation.

Campsite segments
Awarded for attending Camp Medicine Bow	Awarded for attending Camp Sandy Beach	Awarded for attending Camp Three Point	Awarded for attending Counselor In Training Corps	Awarded for attending the Baden Powell Provisional Camp

Aquatics segments
Canoeing, Earned by completing orientation and going out in a cannoe, 19??- Current.	Kayaking, Earned by completing orientation and going out in a Kayak. Must be 13, 19??-Current.	Mile Swim, Earned by completing the mile swim, 19??-Current.	Skipper, Earned by completing orientation and going out in a sailboat, 19??-Current.

Challenge segments
A1,Earned by completing the low rope course and group challenges, 19??-Current.	Advanced Challenge, Earned by completing the low rope course and group challenges, 19??-Current.	A2, Earned by completing the high rope course. Must be 14, 19??-Current.	A3, Earned by climbing the “Giant’s Ladder”, 19??-Current.	Handicapped Awareness Trail, Earned by completing the trail, 19??- Current.	Rappelling, Earned by Rappelling Down a Tower, 19??-Current.

CY (youth leadership) segments
Bronze CY, Lowest CY, 1951-Current.	Gold CY, Middle segment, 1951-Current.	Silver CY, Highest segment, 1951-Current.

Adult leadership segments
Assistant Scout Master, Givent to Assistant Scout Masters, 19??-Current.	Knights of Yawgoog, Given to new adults who stayed a full week at Yawgoog. They are Given also a Potato to wear around their neck for the leaving Sunday, 1951- Current.	Scout Master, Given to the Scoutmaster of the Troop, 19??-Current.	Seinor Partol Leader, Given to the SPL of the Troop, 19??-Current.	Staff, Given to Scouts who serve a full summer at Yawgoog on staff, 19??- Current.

Other segments
Trap, Given to those who complete orientation and shoot a Shotgun. Must be at least 15 to shoot, 19??-Current.	Yeoman, Given to those who complete orientation and shoot a 120 on a bow and arrow, 19??-Current.	Eagle Merit Badge, Earned by Scouts who complete an Eagle required merit badge at Yawgoog, 2002-Current.	Ecology, Given to those who successfully complete a Nature related merit badge at the KEEC, 19??-Current.	Hiker of Yawgoog, Given to those who Hiked all the trails, 19??-Current.	Order of the Arrow, Given to those who are part of the OA, 19??-Current.
Troop of the Week, Given to Troops who earn Troop of the Week, 19??-Current.	Yawgoog Amuni Association, Given to those who are part of the YAA by making a donation. 1985ish-Current.	Yawgoog Heritage Center, Given to those who go to the Heritage Center, 2003-Current.	Worship, Given to those who attend daily mass, 19??-Current.	Recycling, Given to Scouts who recycle 10 cans, 19??-Current