Camp Teetonkah
Encyclopedia
The Great Sauk Trail Council serves Livingston County
, Washtenaw County
, Jackson County
, Lenawee County
, Hillsdale County
, Monroe County
, Eastern Calhoun County
, and the city of Flat Rock
, in the US State of Michigan
.
The Great Sauk Trail Council was a result of a merger in 1993 between the Wolverine Council and Land O'Lakes Council. The new council was known as the Wolverine-Land O'Lakes Council until the Great Sauk Trail Council name was decided upon.
, located on Bruin Lake. Camp Munhacke is the primary camp for the Great Sauk Trail Council, hosting Cub Scout Summer Camp during the summer. The camp features four cabins and 12 campsites. It is also borders the Pinckney Recreation Area
and connects to the Pottawatami Trail. The camp host 2k campers in a 6 week season, and approximate 15,000 through the course of the year.
Camp Muscootah is a 40 acre (0.1618744 km²) camp located five minutes west of Hillsdale, Michigan
. The camp offers 13 campsites, an open pavilion, and a large firebowl.
Rustic camping: pack it in and pack it out. Go Green!
. Opened in 1912, it is the second-oldest Boy Scout camp in America. The camp can be found on Jackson County's Big Wolf Lake and features a new dining hall, three cabins, four Adirondack shelters and seven campsites.
Camp Teetonkah is one of the oldest Boy Scout Camps still operating in the United States. Originally, the camp consisted of about 50 acres (202,343 m²). The facility's 1930 camp brochure says it will be Teetonkah's eighteenth season. It would seem that if one subtracts 18 from 1930 you would come up with 1912 but that is incorrect. If 1930 was the 18th year and you count them backwards, their first year was 1913. Upon digging a little deeper, Teetonkah has operated on the same land since 1913 but the land was owned privately until the Jackson Council took official title in 1917 stated in the deed to the camp. Many early camps were not always owned or owned right away. Some councils rented or leased the land or simply had free use of it from the owners until they had the finances to buy it. The Jackson Council held its first summer camp operation there (at Teetonkah) in 1913 and continued to do so for the next eighty-plus years. The facility now operates as a weekend camp as do Camps Belzer and Miakonda. Many local, deceased Scouters have had their ashes scattered at Camp Teetonkah so they're part of the camp for eternity—perhaps the ultimate act of camp and Scouting loyalty. The list of those forever part of the camp includes a former council president as well as a council executive. According to a 1921 news clipping, the name "Tee-Tonk-Ah" means "Big Lodge" It also means "Buffalo". Teetonkah award camp patches from as early as 1921 to its final season of summer camp in 1994. At weak attempt to bring the camp back, in 2010 the camp reopened for three weeks of program. http://scoutcamp.org/oldestcamps.asp
In 1913, the Jackson Boy Scout Council held its first summer camp at Teetonkah, and continued to hold summer camps for 81 years. Since then, the council stopped holding summer camp at any of its three properties. Scout scuttlebutt is that the council will revive a summer camp program at Teetonkah in the next few years. However, camps in Michigan must meet strict state guidelines.
Today, Teetonkah is available for use by Boy Scout troops and Venturing crews. A few groups use the facility for more than a weekend camp-out. Training events include National Youth Leadership Training
, Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Great Sauk Trail Council.
In 2006 and 2007 a dining hall was built that has an industrial kitchen, 14 unisex showers, adult male, female, and youth boys bathroom and 250 person dining room, the building also has seating area for additional 250 people underneath a pavilion attached to the dining hall.
In 2008–2011 the camp has gone through lumber selected harvest. This was in accordance of forestry plan put into place. This also allows the creation of seven new camp sites.
In 2009 Water was reactivated to two cabin areas and one campsite, as money permits the camp plans to have running water in all camp sites. Prior 2008 the camp was known to have orange water, now the camp has a water softener system able to handle the entire camp.
During the Fourth of July weekend, the camp host to firework display to residents of Wolf Lake, provided by Wolf Lake Pyro's, making the two night show one of the largest in the area.
Camp Teetonkah is a Boy Scout camp in the Great Sauk Trail Council. Camp Teetonkah is located near Grass Lake, Michigan
, and is located on Wolf Lake. Camp Teetonkah was founded in 1912. The council took the title in 1917. Originally Camp Teetonakah was located on a 50 acres (202,343 m²) piece of land,but now is a 210 acre (0.8498406 km²) camp. Camp Teetonah has had many challenges to face over the years, including temporary closure and an attempt to sell the camp by its council owners. However, fierce resistance and a fund raising campaign by Teetonkah loyalists to prevent its sale, forced the council to abandon the sale plan and eventually to invest in refurbishing existing facilities, construction of new ones, and reinstatement to very active use by the council and its membership. The camp is steeped in its long and substantial history of decades of affiliation with area members of the Boy Scouts of America's honor society, the Order of the Arrow.
Livingston County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 156,951 people, 55,384 households, and 43,531 families residing in the county. The population density was 276 people per square mile . There were 58,919 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile...
, Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County, Michigan
Washtenaw County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 344,791. Its county seat is Ann Arbor. The United States Office of Management and Budget defines the county as part of the Detroit–Warren–Flint Combined Statistical Area...
, Jackson County
Jackson County, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 158,422 people, 58,168 households, and 40,833 families residing in the county. The population density was 224 people per square mile . There were 62,906 housing units at an average density of 89/sq mi...
, Lenawee County
Lenawee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 98,890 people, 35,930 households, and 26,049 families residing in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile . There were 39,769 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile...
, Hillsdale County
Hillsdale County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 46,527 people, 17,335 households, and 12,550 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile . There were 20,189 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
, Monroe County
Monroe County, Michigan
Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2010 population is 152,021. The largest city and county seat is Monroe. The U.S. Census Bureau defines all of Monroe County as conterminous with the Monroe Metropolitan Area...
, Eastern Calhoun County
Calhoun County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69* I-94* I-194* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Albion.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Battle Creek.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Marshall.-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-37* M-60* M-66* M-78* M-89* M-96* M-99...
, and the city of Flat Rock
Flat Rock, Michigan
- Racial makeup :As of the census of 2000, there were 8,488 people, 3,181 households, and 2,306 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,266.9 per square mile . There were 3,291 housing units at an average density of 491.2 per square mile...
, in the US State of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
The Great Sauk Trail Council was a result of a merger in 1993 between the Wolverine Council and Land O'Lakes Council. The new council was known as the Wolverine-Land O'Lakes Council until the Great Sauk Trail Council name was decided upon.
Organization
The council is administratively divided into districts:- Chief Lenape Trails District serving Jackson CountyJackson County, MichiganAs of the census of 2000, there were 158,422 people, 58,168 households, and 40,833 families residing in the county. The population density was 224 people per square mile . There were 62,906 housing units at an average density of 89/sq mi...
, Lenawee CountyLenawee County, Michigan-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 98,890 people, 35,930 households, and 26,049 families residing in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile . There were 39,769 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile...
, Hillsdale CountyHillsdale County, Michigan-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 46,527 people, 17,335 households, and 12,550 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile . There were 20,189 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
, and Eastern Calhoun CountyCalhoun County, Michigan-Interstates:* I-69* I-94* I-194* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Albion.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Battle Creek.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Marshall.-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-37* M-60* M-66* M-78* M-89* M-96* M-99... - Three Fires District serving Livingston CountyLivingston County, Michigan-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 156,951 people, 55,384 households, and 43,531 families residing in the county. The population density was 276 people per square mile . There were 58,919 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile...
- Running Waters District serving Monroe CountyMonroe County, MichiganMonroe County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2010 population is 152,021. The largest city and county seat is Monroe. The U.S. Census Bureau defines all of Monroe County as conterminous with the Monroe Metropolitan Area...
and the city of Flat RockFlat Rock, Michigan- Racial makeup :As of the census of 2000, there were 8,488 people, 3,181 households, and 2,306 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,266.9 per square mile . There were 3,291 housing units at an average density of 491.2 per square mile... - Huron Trails District serving Washtenaw CountyWashtenaw County, MichiganWashtenaw County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 344,791. Its county seat is Ann Arbor. The United States Office of Management and Budget defines the county as part of the Detroit–Warren–Flint Combined Statistical Area...
Camps
Camp Munhacke is a 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) camp located roughly 15 minutes north of Chelsea, MichiganChelsea, Michigan
Chelsea is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,398 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a village....
, located on Bruin Lake. Camp Munhacke is the primary camp for the Great Sauk Trail Council, hosting Cub Scout Summer Camp during the summer. The camp features four cabins and 12 campsites. It is also borders the Pinckney Recreation Area
Pinckney Recreation Area
Pinckney State Recreation Area is a Michigan state recreation area in Dexter, Sylvan and Lyndon Townships, Washtenaw County and Putnam and Unadilla Townships, Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The park is and sits at an elevation of . The park is connected to the nearby Waterloo...
and connects to the Pottawatami Trail. The camp host 2k campers in a 6 week season, and approximate 15,000 through the course of the year.
Camp Muscootah is a 40 acre (0.1618744 km²) camp located five minutes west of Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale is a city in the state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,305. It is the county seat of Hillsdale County, and is run as a council-manager government....
. The camp offers 13 campsites, an open pavilion, and a large firebowl.
Rustic camping: pack it in and pack it out. Go Green!
Camp Teetonkah
Camp Teetonkah is a 210 acre (0.8498406 km²) camp near Grass Lake, MichiganGrass Lake, Michigan
Grass Lake is a village in Jackson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,082 at the 2000 census.In 1842 the Michigan Central Railroad bypassed the original village and built a depot to the west...
. Opened in 1912, it is the second-oldest Boy Scout camp in America. The camp can be found on Jackson County's Big Wolf Lake and features a new dining hall, three cabins, four Adirondack shelters and seven campsites.
Camp Teetonkah is one of the oldest Boy Scout Camps still operating in the United States. Originally, the camp consisted of about 50 acres (202,343 m²). The facility's 1930 camp brochure says it will be Teetonkah's eighteenth season. It would seem that if one subtracts 18 from 1930 you would come up with 1912 but that is incorrect. If 1930 was the 18th year and you count them backwards, their first year was 1913. Upon digging a little deeper, Teetonkah has operated on the same land since 1913 but the land was owned privately until the Jackson Council took official title in 1917 stated in the deed to the camp. Many early camps were not always owned or owned right away. Some councils rented or leased the land or simply had free use of it from the owners until they had the finances to buy it. The Jackson Council held its first summer camp operation there (at Teetonkah) in 1913 and continued to do so for the next eighty-plus years. The facility now operates as a weekend camp as do Camps Belzer and Miakonda. Many local, deceased Scouters have had their ashes scattered at Camp Teetonkah so they're part of the camp for eternity—perhaps the ultimate act of camp and Scouting loyalty. The list of those forever part of the camp includes a former council president as well as a council executive. According to a 1921 news clipping, the name "Tee-Tonk-Ah" means "Big Lodge" It also means "Buffalo". Teetonkah award camp patches from as early as 1921 to its final season of summer camp in 1994. At weak attempt to bring the camp back, in 2010 the camp reopened for three weeks of program. http://scoutcamp.org/oldestcamps.asp
In 1913, the Jackson Boy Scout Council held its first summer camp at Teetonkah, and continued to hold summer camps for 81 years. Since then, the council stopped holding summer camp at any of its three properties. Scout scuttlebutt is that the council will revive a summer camp program at Teetonkah in the next few years. However, camps in Michigan must meet strict state guidelines.
Today, Teetonkah is available for use by Boy Scout troops and Venturing crews. A few groups use the facility for more than a weekend camp-out. Training events include National Youth Leadership Training
National Youth Leadership Training
National Youth Leadership Training is the current incarnation of youth leadership development training offered by the Boy Scouts of America . The program is conducted at the council level over a week or over two weekends. It is intended to provide standardized, in-depth training covering a number...
, Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Great Sauk Trail Council.
In 2006 and 2007 a dining hall was built that has an industrial kitchen, 14 unisex showers, adult male, female, and youth boys bathroom and 250 person dining room, the building also has seating area for additional 250 people underneath a pavilion attached to the dining hall.
In 2008–2011 the camp has gone through lumber selected harvest. This was in accordance of forestry plan put into place. This also allows the creation of seven new camp sites.
In 2009 Water was reactivated to two cabin areas and one campsite, as money permits the camp plans to have running water in all camp sites. Prior 2008 the camp was known to have orange water, now the camp has a water softener system able to handle the entire camp.
During the Fourth of July weekend, the camp host to firework display to residents of Wolf Lake, provided by Wolf Lake Pyro's, making the two night show one of the largest in the area.
Manitous Lodge
Manitous Lodge is the Order of the Arrow which is scouting’s national honor society. the lodge is part of the Great Sauk Trail Council. Manitous is translated as Mystic Lodge in Ojibway, and the lodge totem is the medicine wheel. The four chapters in the lodge, Munhacke, Teetonkah, Tecumseh, and Allohak, correspond in location with their respective districts also names of the original lodges in the early days of the order of the arrow in southeast Michigan. Manitous holds two ordeals a spring day of service,and a fall fellowship. some other activities include a april work day and a winter banquet. The LEC (Lodge executive committee) is the back bone for the lodge it Consists of a lodge chief who is the head; vice chief of membership who oversees the chairman for vigil, brotherhood, ordeal, ceremonies, history, communications, and elongomat; then we have the vice chief of program who over sees the chairmen for service, special events, camp promotions, training, awards, and section conclave; then we have the vice chief of chapters who oversee the chapter chiefs which are the guys that go around and support the OA by going to troop meetings, taking elections, promoting camping, and running their own meetings they consist of the chief for Allohack, Munhake, Tecumseh, and Teetonkah. Each chapter has a chapter chief, vise chapter chiefs, and a secretary or scribe who takes notes.Camp Teetonkah is a Boy Scout camp in the Great Sauk Trail Council. Camp Teetonkah is located near Grass Lake, Michigan
Grass Lake, Michigan
Grass Lake is a village in Jackson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,082 at the 2000 census.In 1842 the Michigan Central Railroad bypassed the original village and built a depot to the west...
, and is located on Wolf Lake. Camp Teetonkah was founded in 1912. The council took the title in 1917. Originally Camp Teetonakah was located on a 50 acres (202,343 m²) piece of land,but now is a 210 acre (0.8498406 km²) camp. Camp Teetonah has had many challenges to face over the years, including temporary closure and an attempt to sell the camp by its council owners. However, fierce resistance and a fund raising campaign by Teetonkah loyalists to prevent its sale, forced the council to abandon the sale plan and eventually to invest in refurbishing existing facilities, construction of new ones, and reinstatement to very active use by the council and its membership. The camp is steeped in its long and substantial history of decades of affiliation with area members of the Boy Scouts of America's honor society, the Order of the Arrow.
External links
- http://scoutcamp.org/oldestcamps.asp By David L. Eby