Three Fires Council

For other uses, see Council of Three Fires.
Three Fires Council

Standard Council Shoulder Patch
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Country United States
Website
http://www.threefirescouncil.org

The Three Fires Council of the Boy Scouts of America is located in Illinois. In 1992, it was formed from the merger of Two Rivers Council and DuPage Area Council (named for Dupage County); it was briefly called "Two Rivers-DuPage Area Council". Its council service center is located in St. Charles, Illinois. Three Fires operates Camp Big Timber near Elgin, Illinois and Camp Freeland Leslie near Oxford, Wisconsin and Scout Shops in St. Charles, Illinois and West Chicago, Illinois. It operates the BSA Adventure Camp jointly with Des Plaines Valley Council near Rochelle, Illinois.

Organization

Camp Freeland Leslie

Camp Freeland Leslie

Chickamauga Campsite at Camp Freeland Leslie
Location Oxford, Wisconsin
Coordinates 43°48′37″N 89°35′57″W / 43.8103°N 89.5992°W
Founded 1972
Website
http://www.freelandleslie.com/

The Three Fires Council owns and operates Camp Freeland Leslie (CFL) near Oxford, Wisconsin, approximately 25 miles northeast of the Wisconsin Dells. The camp offers over 500 acres of natural settings: pine forests, prairies, swamp, streams, abundant wildlife and a lake entirely on the property. The camp was purchased by the former DuPage Area Council in 1970. Camp Freeland Leslie was first used as a summer camp in 1972. Camp Freeland Leslie is a patrol cooking camp, and does not operate a dining hall.[1]

Boy Scout Summer Camp

The Boy Scout Camp at CFL runs in weeklong sessions. As with most Scout camps, CFL offers opportunities for Scouts to operate as patrols. A variety of activities are offered at Camp Freeland Leslie that allow patrols to grow and develop, ranging from meal preparation to organized patrol events during the weekly "Wednesday Games" and "Friday Night Event."

There are six program areas where merit badges are taught in CFL: Aquatics (Waterfront), Ecology-Conservation (Nature), Outdoor Skills (Scoutcraft), Eagles Nest, New Frontiers, and Shooting Sports (Range).

The Aquatics area (often called the Waterfront) uses the private Lake Emrick to offer the Canoeing, Kayaking, Lifesaving, Rowing, Small-Boat Sailing, and Swimming merit badges. They also operate the Mile Swim BSA, Snorkeling BSA, BSA paddleboarding, instructional swimming, and the Polar Bear swimming event.

Lake Emrick

The Eagles Nest area is based around helping Scouts obtain the rank of Eagle. Eagles Nest offers the Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Emergency Preparedness, Personal Fitness, and Welding merit badges. Eagles Nest also offers the First Class Trail program, which is designed to help Scouts earn their First Class rank.

Eagles Nest program area 2010

The Ecology-Conservation area (often called Nature) offers the Astronomy, Bird Study, Energy, Environmental Science, Fish and Wildlife Management, Fishing, Forestry, Geology, Insect Study, Mammal Study, Nature, Reptile and Amphibian Study, Soil and Water Conservation, and Weather merit badges.

The New Frontiers area offers the Archaeology, Art, Basketry, Cinematography, Indian Lore, Leatherwork, Metalwork, Painting, Photography, Radio, Sculpture, Space Exploration, and Wood Carving merit badges.

The Outdoor Skills area (also known as Scoutcraft) offers the Camping, Cooking, First Aid, Game Design, Geocashing, Orienteering, Pioneering, Search and Rescue, and Wilderness Survival merit badges.

The Shooting Sports area (often called the Range) offers the Archery, Fingerprinting, Rifle Shooting, and Shotgun Shooting merit badges.[2]

Webelos Adventure Camp (WAC)

In addition to six weeks of Boy Scout resident camp being offered each summer, there are also three sessions for Webelos-aged Cub Scouts. The Cub Adventure Camp features a different theme each year. The Webelos program is largely structured around earning Activity Badges.

LDS Encampment

From year to year, CFL occasionally hosts Boy Scout Summer Camp sessions specifically for Scout units of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The camp operates as a patrol cooking camp with an enhanced merit badge program and greater opportunities for high adventure and older Scout programs. The schedule of camp activities is specifically designed for meeting the needs of the group attending the encampment.

Off season camping and activities

Camp Freeland Leslie is also available year round for unit camping. Over a dozen campsites are available for outdoor camping. In addition to the campsites, the Deicke Center is also available during the off season to be rented for unit outings. This modern building is complete with bunks, central heating, equipped kitchen, and indoor toilet/shower facilities. There are ski resorts in the area which makes this a popular base camp for many units during the winter. A full time resident Ranger resides year round at camp to help facilitate unit camping.[3]

Campsites

There are 15 campsites at CFL, including a family camping area and a handicap accessible campsite with electricity. The campsites are named after historical U.S. wartime locations: Ticonderoga, Manassas, Gettysburg, Appomattox, Trenton, Shiloh, Saratoga, Chickamauga, Bunker Hill, Antietam, Valley Forge, Fort McHenry, Concord, and Lexington. In 2007, the handicap accessible campsite was opened with the name Yorktown.

Lowaneu Allanque Lodge

Lowaneu Allanque Lodge is the Order of the Arrow Lodge affiliated with Three Fires Council. The Spring Fellowship is held at CFL, as well as Ordeal and Brotherhood ceremonies during summer camp. Many Three Fires Council Order of the Arrow events take place at Camp Freeland Leslie.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.freelandleslie.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=64
  2. ↑ http://www.freelandleslie.com/images/documents/2014%20CFL%20BS%20Merit%20Badge%20Schedule.pdf
  3. ↑ http://www.freelandleslie.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=65

External links