Greater Saint Louis Area Council
Encyclopedia
The Greater Saint Louis Area Council of the Boy Scouts was formed in 1911 and is based in Saint Louis, Missouri. It is the compilation of several former councils that have merged with the council over the years. Currently, the council serves Scouts in the Saint Louis Metro area, southeast Missouri, and southern Illinois
.
Legend has it that Camp Irondale built the first Olympic sized swimming pool not built for the Olympics. The pool opened in 1945 and replaced the previously used spring fed pool. Sadly, a crack formed in the pool in the 1970s after the pool was in the city of Irondale's control and the pool was rendered unusable. Camp Irondale also had a chapel called Inspiration Hall to serve the Scouts' religious needs. It has beautiful red granite walls and a gravel floor bordered with flagstone.
The camp was closed and sold in 1965 at the end of the summer camp season. The property was sold to a real estate developer. It has been developed into a small subdivision, although many features of the camp remain. The climbing tower, water tower, two lakes, many cabins, the chapel, a post office building, a small pavilion, the parade grounds and flag pole, the new pool that opened in 1946, and the springs that were used to create the old swimming pool. There are also 5-15 old buildings including cabins, nature lodge, and the scoutmaster’s quarters. The old camp is currently under a very slow renovation. A state grant of approximately $90,000 will be needed to fix the Olympic-sized pool and create a new filtration system. The city of Irondale can't afford to fix it by itself and it may not be cost effective for the small town. The Chapel at Irondale has recently been remodeled and rededicated to the city by the Cub Scouts of Pack 697 and Boy Scouts of Troop 697.
In 2010 the Ozark Trailblazers District in the Greater St. Louis Area Council worked all spring and summer to try to restore parts of the old camp that the city of Irondale still owns. The rec hall was partly restored, the pool was cleaned of brush and trees, several campsites were created, and camp signs were placed around the camp.
, a rifle range, a shotgun range, a Scoutmaster's chapel, a maintenance building and ranger's station, houses that the rangers live in, a mud cave, multiple cabins, and Sverdrup lodge, which is used for training and Wood Badge
.
Camp Grizzly/Cub World
Camp Grizzly is a Cub Scout area which includes a program hall, multiple pavilions and campsites, an activity field, a council ring, and Cub World, which is a playground area that is geared towards Cub Scouts and their families. Cub world hosts many day camps each summer including Grizzly Camp, which is the council's day camp experience. Grizzly camp includes time at the pool, adult supervision, and a hot lunch everyday.
Camp May
Camp May is a Webelos camp that conducts Webelos week-long and Webelos Mini-camp each summer. Some of the facilities are used for other purposes in the off-season. Camp May contains numerous campsites, a pool and shower houses, a dining hall and education facility, a council ring, a trading post, an activity field, a gazebo, a scoutcraft
cabin, an archery
a BB gun
range, a rifle range, a shotgun range, a nature lodge, and a flag field. Camp May was originally a Boy Scout Camp when Beaumont first opened in 1954. It was founded to help relieve the over crowded Camps Irondale and Lions Den. With the purchase and popularity of the ranch, the council found themselves struggling to fill weeks of camp at Camp May. To solve the problem, the council needed to find another use for the camp during the summer. In the late 1970s a Cub Scout residential camp pilot program was launched at Camp May. It was so successful that soon Camp May was entirely dedicated to running the program. The Webelo's programs offered include a full week and mini week experience. In the mid-1990s Camp May had up to 10 weeks of Cub Scout residential camp in operation during a single summer.
Emerson Center
Wright Lodge, the original dining hall that had been built with the original purchase of the property, was closed for renovations in August 2004. The building was expanded making more room in the dining hall and adding more training space. In addition, the office and kitchen spaces were modernized in order to meet the present needs of the camp. The lodge reopened in June 2005 as the Beaumont Dining and Education Facility. At the annual meeting in 2009, it was announced that the building was to be renamed in honor of Emerson, who had made a large donation to the council. In September 2009, the center was re-dedicated as the Emerson Center.
Nagel Explorer Base
Nagel Explorer Base is at the east of Beaumont that is primarily used for Exploring and Venturing programs, but it also host's the council's horse camp for 1 week each summer. Its facilities include adirondacks, a program hall, a rifle range, shotgun range, a horse stable, a program field, a large program pavilion, a horse corral, and an equipment building.
. It is located in Knob Lick, Missouri
, which is about 12 miles (19.3 km) south of Farmington, Missouri
. The 5200 acres (21 km²) property sits in Saint Francois County, Missouri
and Madison County, Missouri
. In its center sits Nim's Lake, and running through it is the Little St. Francis River.
which had become too small to serve the needs of the growing Scout Council. Three of the four camps that operate on the property today were a part of the original dedication. Camp Gamble was dedicated on June 17, 1970.
Camp Famous Eagle
Camp Famous Eagle was the first camp to be built. It opened in the summer of 1966. It was named for Morton D. May
who was the chairman of the committee to develop the ranch. May had been a huge force in developing the Beaumont Scout Reservation ten years earlier. Because of his efforts the camp at Beaumont was named Camp May. Due to this fact the camp at S-F took the name Camp Famous Eagle, Famous for Famous-Barr
(part of the May Department Stores
) and Eagle for Eagle Trading Stamps, an in-store promotions at the time.
Camp Sakima
Camp Sakima was the second camp to be built, finishing in time for the first week of campers in the summer of 1966. Camp Sakima is named in recognition of Leif J. Sverdrup
who headed the campaign to raise the funds for the Ranch to be built. The Camp was named Sakima, the Indian word for chief which was his nickname, after concern arose about young Scout's perceived inability to pronounce his last name.
John S. Swift Explorer Base
The John S. Swift Explorer Base also opened in the summer of 1966. It is the only camp on the property that has a dining hall to serve meals to the campers. It was designed for a high adventure based camp to implement the year long exploring program, which would later become the Venturing Program
. It is named for John S. Swift, who was the owner of Swift Printing Company. He believed in the value of the Scouting program so much that when approached by the committee to create the Ranch for funds, he happily donated the amount needed for the base.
Camp Theodore R. Gamble
Camp Gamble was dedicated on June 17, 1970. It was built to meet the ever growing need of space for Scouts that was a result of the Post-World War II baby boom
. It was named in memory of Theodore R Gamble who was serving as president of the Council when he died suddenly. He was also president of the Pet Milk Company. The summer of 2010 was Camp Gamble's 40th anniversary!
Eugene D. Nims Lake
The S-F Scout Ranch is home to the largest privately owned man-made lake in the state of Missouri
. The lake is an essential part of the aquatic program and was a primary goal held by the Ranch founders. This may be because of the failed attempt to create a lake at the Beaumont Scout Reservation. When the land for the Ranch was discovered it did not have a lake. Fortunately, Mrs. Nims stepped in and donated the $55,000 dollars needed to dam up the Wills Branch of the Little St. Francois River
. She donated the money in memory of her husband Eugene D. Nims. He was the founder of Southwestern Bell Telephone
and the lake bears his name. The first attempt to dam the river failed and some Sverdurp engineers came in and redesigned a second dam that created the 270 acres (1.1 km²) lake. The lake has six miles (10 km) of shore line and 7 coves. It is home to many aquatic program features.
Huck's Cove
S-F has its own water park. It is on the southern tip of Nim's Lake. This water park includes: two slides,and a play area with numerous aquatic games and activities.
The Water Treatment Plant
The drinking water on the property comes from the lake. It is treated in a plant located at the Swift Base. The plant is considered a Class C plant by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. If operated at capacity, the plant could serve a town of 10–15,000 people. The treatment process has undergone many renovations in recent years. It is being replaced by a membrane system which will be online by June 2011.
Other Areas
S-F has a number of other areas available for Scout use, including a camporee area, cabins, the Londe Adirondacks, treehouses, a climbing and rappelling area, numerous rifle and shotgun ranges, a high and low ropes course, and many hiking trails.
The three Boy Scout camps (Camp Theodore R. Gamble, Camp Famous Eagle, and Camp Sakima) are open on a rotating basis and only two of them open each summer for Boy Scout Summer Camp. The two camps that are open operate a traditional patrol method based residential camp program. The week offers Scouts the chance to earn merit badges, participate in aquatics programs (including a trip to Huck's Cove and an evening water carnival), spend time in the field sports area, enjoy an opening and closing campfire program put on by the staff that includes humorous skits and songs, and participate in many other activities. On Thursday nights new members are elected into the Order of the Arrow in an awesome tapout ceremony located at the respective camp's cove. The core of the summer camp program is the use of the patrol method to cook meals. For each meal, Scouts must go to the commissary to pick up the ingredients for their meal. The meal is then cooked on site in an outdoor kitchen over fires built by other members of the patrol.
The Ranch is also home to the Swift Base which runs programs for venturers, the BSA's co-ed program for individuals between the ages of 14-21. A typical week for a Swift camper might include rock climbing and rappelling, challenge course, rifle and shotgun shooting, horseback riding, water skiing and tubing, mountain biking, and many other fun activities.
Two session's of a three day — two night experience for Webelos Scouts are offered at the end of the summer at Swift Base. This allows participants an introduction to the camping program in a slightly longer setting than the Dad N' Lad experience.
A short program lasting about 22 hours that provides a brief introduction to outdoor Scout camping for young Cub Scouts. Held twice every summer at all of the camps at the Ranch.
A week long training program held at the "closed" Boy Scout Camp. It is run four weeks out of every summer by the Council Training Department. It is based on a national syllabus. Starting in the summer of 2010 it is being held at Camp Sakima and will be offered for 4 weeks.
A traditional program for older scouts, the Ranger program gets Scouts deep into the backwoods of the undeveloped east side of the property. Scouts are given the opportunity to see parts of the property that they would never get to see while participating in a mountain man style program. Activities include blacksmithing, black powder rifle shooting, tomahawk throwing, candle making, some canoeing, and many other activities. In the summer of 2007 the ranger program introduced a new program called River Ranger. Scouts were given the chance to go with the ranger staff on a week-long river float trip on the Eleven Point River
in southern Missouri
.
A week — long program run by the Shawnee Lodge that specializes in native American activities such as dance and ceremonies. The program is typically run in non-NOAC summers. It has been held at Swift Base and Famous Eagle in the past.
Each summer other Scout programs are held. Examples include, Catholic Adventure Week, LDS Scout Camp, Shooting Sports Camp, Fishing Camp, and Horse Camp.
Each of the Ranch's camps has a camp director who is also a professional who usually works in the department of field service. Each camp has a program director that is the second in command to the camp director. The program director oversees merit badge instruction, campsite program, as well as evening programs that are put on by the staff. The business manager oversees the administration of the camp. There are two commissioners that oversee campsite programs put on by the troop counselors, run leaders meetings, and facilitate problems as they come up. The Commissary manager and his assistant run the food service operation in the camp, and the trading post manager and his assistant run the camp store. In addition, the trading post staff assists with food service for the staff. The rest of the staff is divided into program areas. Each area has a director and a certain number of counselors.
Swift Base
Given the very different nature of the Swift Base, the staff is structure very differently. Similar to the scout camps, Swift has a camp director who is generally a professional Scouter, as well as a program director, and business manager. The business manager directly runs the camp office and trading post, as well as oversees the kitchen staff of two. The program director oversees the rest of the staff of the camp including a fieldsports director, aquatics director, and wrangler. The rest of the staff serves as program counselors, generally rotating between program sites including rock climbing, rappelling, high challenge course, low challenge course, aquatics area, and ski/tube boat driving. These program counselors also serve as the campsite counselors for the five campsites.
Ranch
The central administrative staff for the Ranch includes the food service staff, the rangers, and the staff that works in the Rand Memorial Building. The food service staff works in Astronaut's hall, and makes the ranch's extensive patrol feeding system possible. The Ranch has two rangers who live on the property year round and are responsible for the maintenance of the property, in addition to the operation of the water treatment plant. The Rand staff is also responsible for delivery of supplies to the various camps, as well as the operation of the horse program and Huck's Cove.
summer camp property owned and operated by the Greater Saint Louis Area Council. It is located in Silva, Missouri
. Camp Lewallen opened in 1936, and was built on land owned by the William Lee Lewallen Family. According to the family, Mrs. Lewallen wanted an adequate road built to their farm, and the best way to do that was to allow the Boy Scouts to have a camp there. The property includes the Earl Jarvis Dining Hall, the towering Mount Logan, Scoutcraft, nature and voyageur areas. The Trading Post overlooks the pool for scouts to relax and have a snack. At the shooting sports area Scouts have the chance to shoot a shotgun, a rifle and bow and arrow. At Lake Potashnik, Scouts can canoe, row, fish and kayak. Originally a part of the Southeastern Missouri Council, the Greater Saint Louis Area Council took over operation of the property and its programs in 1993. The staff of the camp operates the weeklong Boy Scout Residential Camp with dining hall cooking.
lodges: Shawnee Lodge, which serves the Greater Saint Louis Metro area, and Anpetu-We Lodge which serves southeast Missouri
and southern Illinois
. The Council is one of only two councils that is home to more than one Order of the Arrow
Lodges, with the other being the Greater New York Councils which operates one lodge in each of its five boroughs. Upon completion of the mergers of the early 1990s, it was decided that the Council was geographically too large to administer one Order of the Arrow program. The decision was made to merge the Ney-a-Ti lodge, from the Egyptian council with the Anpetu-We lodge, and make two lodges within the Council.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
District Organization
- Boone Trails District is located in Saint CharlesSaint Charles County, MissouriAs of 2000, there were 283,883 people, 101,663 households, and 77,060 families residing in the county. The population density was 507 people per square mile . There were 105,514 housing units at an average density of 73 persons/km²...
, LincolnLincoln County, MissouriAs of the census of 2000, there were 38,944 people, 13,851 households, and 10,554 families residing in the county. The population density was 62 people per square mile . There were 15,511 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
, and WarrenWarren County, MissouriWarren County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Warren County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area and is located west of the city on the north side of the Missouri River. As of 2008, the population was estimated to be 31,214. Its county seat is Warrenton...
counties in MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. - Cherokee District is located in Southern ScottScott County, MissouriScott County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 40,422; a 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 40,673. Its county seat is Benton...
, Eastern StoddardStoddard County, MissouriStoddard County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 29,705. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 29,537. The county seat is Bloomfield while the largest city in the county is Dexter...
, New MadridNew Madrid County, MissouriNew Madrid County is a county located in the Bootheel of southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 Census, the county's population was 19,760. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 17,589. The largest city and county seat is New Madrid...
, MississippiMississippi County, MissouriMississippi County is a county located in the Bootheel of Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 13,427. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 13,504. The largest city and county seat is Charleston...
, DunklinDunklin County, MissouriDunklin County is a county located in the Bootheel of Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 33,155. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 31,454. The largest city and county seat is Kennett...
, and PemiscotPemiscot County, MissouriPemiscot County is a county located in the Bootheel in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 20,047. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 18,515. The largest city and county seat is Caruthersville...
counties in MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. - Egyptian District is located in Hamilton, FranklinFranklin County, IllinoisFranklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 39,561, which is an increase of 1.4% from 39,018 in 2000. Its county seat is Benton.-History:...
, WilliamsonWilliamson County, Illinois-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*92.7% White*3.8% Black*0.4% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*0.4% Other races*2.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, and SalineSaline County, IllinoisSaline County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 24,913, which is a decrease of 6.8% from 26,733 in 2000. Its county seat is Harrisburg. Saline County is home to the smallest post office and the largest KFC in the United States....
counties in IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. - Grand Towers District is located in Saint Louis, Missouri.
- Gravois Trail District is located in south Saint Louis County, Missouri.
- Kaskaskia District is located in Perry, JacksonJackson County, IllinoisJackson County, incorporated January 10, 1816, is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 60,218, which is an increase of 1.0% from 59,612 in 2000...
, Union, AlexanderAlexander County, IllinoisAlexander County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 8,238, which is a decrease of 14.1% from 9,590 in 2000. Its county seat is Cairo. Alexander County is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical...
, Pulaski, and Johnson counties in IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. - New Horizons District is located in west Saint Louis County, Missouri.
- North Star District is located in north Saint Louis County, Missouri
- Osage District is located in FranklinFranklin County, MissouriFranklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri on the south side of the Missouri River. Franklin County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area and contains many of the St. Louis exurbs. Census 2010 put the population at 101,492; making it the 10th most populous county in Missouri....
and CrawfordCrawford County, Missouri-State:In the Missouri House of Representatives, most of Crawford County is included within the 150th Legislative District and is currently represented by State Representative Jason T. Smith . In 2008, Smith defeated Democratic challenger James D. Ellis 69.97-30.03 percent; the Crawford County...
counties in MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. - Ozark Trailblazers District is located in WashingtonWashington County, MissouriWashington County is a county located in East Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 25,195. The largest city and county seat is Potosi...
, IronIron County, MissouriIron County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 10,697. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 9,918. The largest city and county seat is Ironton...
, ReynoldsReynolds County, MissouriReynolds County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the Ozark Foothills Region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 6,689. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 6,388. Its county seat is Centerville...
, MadisonMadison County, MissouriMadison County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 11,800. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 12,276. Its county seat and largest city is Fredericktown...
, Saint FrancoisSaint Francois County, MissouriSt. Francois County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 55,641. The 2010 Census, showed the population to be 65,359. The largest city and county seat is Farmington. The county was officially organized...
, and Sainte GenevieveSainte Genevieve County, MissouriSainte Genevieve County, often abbreviated Ste. Genevieve County , is a county located in East Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 17,842. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 17,720. The largest city and county seat is...
counties in MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. - Pathfinder District is located in mid Saint Louis County, Missouri.
- River Trails District is located in Jefferson County, MissouriJefferson County, MissouriJefferson County is a county located in East Central Missouri in the United States. The county was included as the mean center of U.S. population in 1980. It is the sixth most-populous county in Missouri. Census 2010 put the population at 218,733 Its county seat is Hillsboro. The county was...
. - Shawnee District is located in Cape GirardeauCape Girardeau County, MissouriCape Girardeau County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 75,764. While the largest city in the county is Cape Girardeau, the county seat is actually Jackson, which was the first city named in honor of President...
, BollingerBollinger County, MissouriBollinger County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 12,363; despite a 2009 estimate that showed the population to be 11,841. The county seat is Marble Hill, which is the only city in Bollinger County...
, MadisonMadison County, MissouriMadison County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 11,800. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 12,276. Its county seat and largest city is Fredericktown...
, PerryPerry County, MissouriPerry County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 18,132. In 2008 the population was estimated to be 18,743. Its county seat is Perryville. The county was officially organized on November 16, 1820 from Ste...
, and Northern ScottScott County, MissouriScott County is a county located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 40,422; a 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 40,673. Its county seat is Benton...
counties in MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. - Sioux District is located in Southern ReynoldsReynolds County, MissouriReynolds County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the Ozark Foothills Region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 6,689. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 6,388. Its county seat is Centerville...
, WayneWayne County, MissouriWayne County is a county located in the Ozark Foothills Region of Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 13,259. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 12,652. The county seat is Greenville...
, Western Stoddard, CarterCarter County, MissouriCarter County is a county located in the central western portion of the Ozark Foothills Region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. The county was officially organized on March 10, 1859, and is named after Zimri A. Carter, a pioneer settler who came to Missouri from South Carolina in 1812. ...
, ButlerButler County, MissouriButler County is a county located in the southeast Ozark Foothills Region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 42,794. The largest city and county seat is Poplar Bluff. The county was officially organized from Wayne County on February...
, and RipleyRipley County, MissouriRipley County is a county located in the Ozarks of Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 13,509. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 13,485. The largest city and county seat is Doniphan...
counties in MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. - Thunderbird District is located in South Saint Louis, Missouri.
Camps
The Council currently operates Beaumont Scout Reservation, S-F Scout Ranch, Camp Lewallen, and Camp Pine Ridge.Irondale Scout Reservation
Irondale Scout Reservation was founded in Irondale, MO in 1920. Scouts first started camping in the area in 1913. when it was known as Grenia Springs. Later it would be called Camp Roosevelt, but the Camp Irondale name was adopted in 1920, when land was donated to the Saint Louis Council by Clarance Howard.Legend has it that Camp Irondale built the first Olympic sized swimming pool not built for the Olympics. The pool opened in 1945 and replaced the previously used spring fed pool. Sadly, a crack formed in the pool in the 1970s after the pool was in the city of Irondale's control and the pool was rendered unusable. Camp Irondale also had a chapel called Inspiration Hall to serve the Scouts' religious needs. It has beautiful red granite walls and a gravel floor bordered with flagstone.
The camp was closed and sold in 1965 at the end of the summer camp season. The property was sold to a real estate developer. It has been developed into a small subdivision, although many features of the camp remain. The climbing tower, water tower, two lakes, many cabins, the chapel, a post office building, a small pavilion, the parade grounds and flag pole, the new pool that opened in 1946, and the springs that were used to create the old swimming pool. There are also 5-15 old buildings including cabins, nature lodge, and the scoutmaster’s quarters. The old camp is currently under a very slow renovation. A state grant of approximately $90,000 will be needed to fix the Olympic-sized pool and create a new filtration system. The city of Irondale can't afford to fix it by itself and it may not be cost effective for the small town. The Chapel at Irondale has recently been remodeled and rededicated to the city by the Cub Scouts of Pack 697 and Boy Scouts of Troop 697.
In 2010 the Ozark Trailblazers District in the Greater St. Louis Area Council worked all spring and summer to try to restore parts of the old camp that the city of Irondale still owns. The rec hall was partly restored, the pool was cleaned of brush and trees, several campsites were created, and camp signs were placed around the camp.
Beaumont Scout Reservation
The Beaumont Scout Reservation is 2400 acres (9.7 km²) of Scout property operated by the Greater Saint Louis Area Council. It is located in High Ridge, MO.History
The property for Beaumont was acquired during the late 1940s. It was dedicated in 1954. The property was the beginning of the period of transition for the Saint Louis Council that would continue to 1965 with the dedication of the S-F Scout Ranch and the sale of the Irondale Scout Reservation, Lion's Den, and Bereton Explorer Base. Beaumonts summer camp is known as Camp May. Camp May was opened as a Boy Scout Camp and served in that capacity until the mid-1980s when its summer programs were redesigned to primarily serve Cub Scouts.Camps and facilities
Within Beaumont, there are many campsites and camporee areas that are for Scout use, as well as a set of hiking trails that go throughout the reservation, a climbing tower, a low and high ropes courseRopes course
A ropes course is a challenging outdoor personal development and team building activity which usually consists of high and/or low elements. Low elements take place on the ground or only a few feet above the ground...
, a rifle range, a shotgun range, a Scoutmaster's chapel, a maintenance building and ranger's station, houses that the rangers live in, a mud cave, multiple cabins, and Sverdrup lodge, which is used for training and Wood Badge
Wood Badge
Wood Badge is a Scouting leadership program and the related award for adult leaders in the programs of Scout associations throughout the world. Wood Badge courses aim to make Scouters better leaders by teaching advanced leadership skills, and by creating a bond and commitment to the Scout movement...
.
Camp Grizzly/Cub World
Camp Grizzly is a Cub Scout area which includes a program hall, multiple pavilions and campsites, an activity field, a council ring, and Cub World, which is a playground area that is geared towards Cub Scouts and their families. Cub world hosts many day camps each summer including Grizzly Camp, which is the council's day camp experience. Grizzly camp includes time at the pool, adult supervision, and a hot lunch everyday.
Camp May
Camp May is a Webelos camp that conducts Webelos week-long and Webelos Mini-camp each summer. Some of the facilities are used for other purposes in the off-season. Camp May contains numerous campsites, a pool and shower houses, a dining hall and education facility, a council ring, a trading post, an activity field, a gazebo, a scoutcraft
Scoutcraft
Scoutcraft is a term used to cover a variety of woodcraft knowledge and skills required by people seeking to venture into wild country and sustain themselves independently. The term has been adopted by Scouting organizations to reflect skills and knowledge which are felt to be a core part of the...
cabin, an archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
a BB gun
BB gun
BB guns are a type of air gun designed to shoot projectiles named BBs after the birdshot pellet of approximately the same size. These projectiles are usually spherical but can also be pointed; those are usually used for bird hunting. Modern day BB guns usually have a smoothbore barrel, with a bore...
range, a rifle range, a shotgun range, a nature lodge, and a flag field. Camp May was originally a Boy Scout Camp when Beaumont first opened in 1954. It was founded to help relieve the over crowded Camps Irondale and Lions Den. With the purchase and popularity of the ranch, the council found themselves struggling to fill weeks of camp at Camp May. To solve the problem, the council needed to find another use for the camp during the summer. In the late 1970s a Cub Scout residential camp pilot program was launched at Camp May. It was so successful that soon Camp May was entirely dedicated to running the program. The Webelo's programs offered include a full week and mini week experience. In the mid-1990s Camp May had up to 10 weeks of Cub Scout residential camp in operation during a single summer.
Emerson Center
Wright Lodge, the original dining hall that had been built with the original purchase of the property, was closed for renovations in August 2004. The building was expanded making more room in the dining hall and adding more training space. In addition, the office and kitchen spaces were modernized in order to meet the present needs of the camp. The lodge reopened in June 2005 as the Beaumont Dining and Education Facility. At the annual meeting in 2009, it was announced that the building was to be renamed in honor of Emerson, who had made a large donation to the council. In September 2009, the center was re-dedicated as the Emerson Center.
Nagel Explorer Base
Nagel Explorer Base is at the east of Beaumont that is primarily used for Exploring and Venturing programs, but it also host's the council's horse camp for 1 week each summer. Its facilities include adirondacks, a program hall, a rifle range, shotgun range, a horse stable, a program field, a large program pavilion, a horse corral, and an equipment building.
S-F Scout Ranch
The S-F Scout Ranch or "S Bar F" as it is commonly known, is owned and operated by the Greater Saint Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
. It is located in Knob Lick, Missouri
Knob Lick, Missouri
Knob Lick is an unincorporated community in southern Saint Francois County, Missouri. It is located on U.S. Route 67 about eight miles south of Farmington. Knob Lick has a post office with zip code 63651....
, which is about 12 miles (19.3 km) south of Farmington, Missouri
Farmington, Missouri
Farmington is a city in St. Francois County located south of St. Louis in the Lead Belt region in Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 16,240. It is the county seat of St. Francois County. The Farmington Micropolitan Statistical Area embraces St...
. The 5200 acres (21 km²) property sits in Saint Francois County, Missouri
Saint Francois County, Missouri
St. Francois County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 55,641. The 2010 Census, showed the population to be 65,359. The largest city and county seat is Farmington. The county was officially organized...
and Madison County, Missouri
Madison County, Missouri
Madison County is a county located in the Lead Belt region in Southeast Missouri in the United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the county's population was 11,800. A 2008 estimate, however, showed the population to be 12,276. Its county seat and largest city is Fredericktown...
. In its center sits Nim's Lake, and running through it is the Little St. Francis River.
History
A large portion of the former 37000 acres (149.7 km²) of mine and farm lands owned by the Mine La Motte Company, later the Missouri Metals Corporation, was acquired by the St. Louis Area Council in 1961 through the efforts of the St. Joseph Lead Company and Mr. Elver A. Jones, and an initial gift of the Stix, Baer & Fuller Company by Mr. Arthur B. Baer. The name S-F was derived from the St. Louis department store Stix, Baer and Fuller due to their contribution to help buy the property. The property was dedicated during the Shawnee Lodge fall reunion on September 11, 1965 and opened for summer camp in 1966. The need for this Ranch became imminent as a result of the long range plan conducted by the council in 1959 and 1960. This plan, which encompassed a study of the traditional camp facilities of the council such as Camps Irondale, Lion's Den and Brereton, pointed out the need for an area that would be large enough for the council to grow on, and an area large enough to expand the program facilities on, and an area rich enough in history and tradition to offer the incentive for the Scouts of today and tomorrow. The property replaced the Irondale Scout Reservation in nearby Ironton, MissouriIronton, Missouri
Ironton is a city in Iron County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,471 at the 2000 census and is 12 Miles South Of Belgrade. It is the county seat of Iron County.-Geography:Ironton is located at...
which had become too small to serve the needs of the growing Scout Council. Three of the four camps that operate on the property today were a part of the original dedication. Camp Gamble was dedicated on June 17, 1970.
Camp Famous Eagle
Camp Famous Eagle was the first camp to be built. It opened in the summer of 1966. It was named for Morton D. May
Morton D. May
Morton D. May was an American philanthropist and art collector. He was also at various times director, chairman of the board, and chief executive officer of the May Department Stores Company. -Biography:Morton D...
who was the chairman of the committee to develop the ranch. May had been a huge force in developing the Beaumont Scout Reservation ten years earlier. Because of his efforts the camp at Beaumont was named Camp May. Due to this fact the camp at S-F took the name Camp Famous Eagle, Famous for Famous-Barr
Famous-Barr
The Famous-Barr Co. , St. Louis, Missouri, was a division of Macy's, Inc. . It was formerly the hometown division of The May Department Stores Company, which was acquired by Federated on August 30, 2005. On February 1, 2006, it was subsumed into the newly created Macy's Midwest division.The...
(part of the May Department Stores
May Department Stores
The May Department Stores Company was a national department store chain in the United States, founded in 1877 by David May. The company ceased to exist in 2005 when it was merged with Federated Department Stores, Inc . Prior to the merger it was headquartered in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri...
) and Eagle for Eagle Trading Stamps, an in-store promotions at the time.
Camp Sakima
Camp Sakima was the second camp to be built, finishing in time for the first week of campers in the summer of 1966. Camp Sakima is named in recognition of Leif J. Sverdrup
Leif J. Sverdrup
Leif Johan Sverdrup was a Norwegian born, American civil engineer and general with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the first half of the 20th century...
who headed the campaign to raise the funds for the Ranch to be built. The Camp was named Sakima, the Indian word for chief which was his nickname, after concern arose about young Scout's perceived inability to pronounce his last name.
John S. Swift Explorer Base
The John S. Swift Explorer Base also opened in the summer of 1966. It is the only camp on the property that has a dining hall to serve meals to the campers. It was designed for a high adventure based camp to implement the year long exploring program, which would later become the Venturing Program
Venturing (Boy Scouts of America)
Venturing is part of the program of the Boy Scouts of America for young adults, men and women, from the age of 14 years old or 13 years old and completed eighth grade through 21....
. It is named for John S. Swift, who was the owner of Swift Printing Company. He believed in the value of the Scouting program so much that when approached by the committee to create the Ranch for funds, he happily donated the amount needed for the base.
Camp Theodore R. Gamble
Camp Gamble was dedicated on June 17, 1970. It was built to meet the ever growing need of space for Scouts that was a result of the Post-World War II baby boom
Post-World War II baby boom
The end of World War II brought a baby boom to many countries, especially Western ones. There is some disagreement as to the precise beginning and ending dates of the post-war baby boom, but it is most often agreed to begin in the years immediately after the war, ending more than a decade later;...
. It was named in memory of Theodore R Gamble who was serving as president of the Council when he died suddenly. He was also president of the Pet Milk Company. The summer of 2010 was Camp Gamble's 40th anniversary!
Eugene D. Nims Lake
The S-F Scout Ranch is home to the largest privately owned man-made lake in the state of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. The lake is an essential part of the aquatic program and was a primary goal held by the Ranch founders. This may be because of the failed attempt to create a lake at the Beaumont Scout Reservation. When the land for the Ranch was discovered it did not have a lake. Fortunately, Mrs. Nims stepped in and donated the $55,000 dollars needed to dam up the Wills Branch of the Little St. Francois River
St. Francis River
The Saint Francis River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, about long, in southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas in the United States...
. She donated the money in memory of her husband Eugene D. Nims. He was the founder of Southwestern Bell Telephone
Southwestern Bell
Southwestern Bell Telephone Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T. It does business as AT&T Southwest and other d/b/a names in its operating region.The company is currently headquartered in Dallas, Texas at One AT&T Plaza.-History:...
and the lake bears his name. The first attempt to dam the river failed and some Sverdurp engineers came in and redesigned a second dam that created the 270 acres (1.1 km²) lake. The lake has six miles (10 km) of shore line and 7 coves. It is home to many aquatic program features.
Huck's Cove
S-F has its own water park. It is on the southern tip of Nim's Lake. This water park includes: two slides,and a play area with numerous aquatic games and activities.
The Water Treatment Plant
The drinking water on the property comes from the lake. It is treated in a plant located at the Swift Base. The plant is considered a Class C plant by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. If operated at capacity, the plant could serve a town of 10–15,000 people. The treatment process has undergone many renovations in recent years. It is being replaced by a membrane system which will be online by June 2011.
Other Areas
S-F has a number of other areas available for Scout use, including a camporee area, cabins, the Londe Adirondacks, treehouses, a climbing and rappelling area, numerous rifle and shotgun ranges, a high and low ropes course, and many hiking trails.
Boy Scout week-long residential camp
The three Boy Scout camps (Camp Theodore R. Gamble, Camp Famous Eagle, and Camp Sakima) are open on a rotating basis and only two of them open each summer for Boy Scout Summer Camp. The two camps that are open operate a traditional patrol method based residential camp program. The week offers Scouts the chance to earn merit badges, participate in aquatics programs (including a trip to Huck's Cove and an evening water carnival), spend time in the field sports area, enjoy an opening and closing campfire program put on by the staff that includes humorous skits and songs, and participate in many other activities. On Thursday nights new members are elected into the Order of the Arrow in an awesome tapout ceremony located at the respective camp's cove. The core of the summer camp program is the use of the patrol method to cook meals. For each meal, Scouts must go to the commissary to pick up the ingredients for their meal. The meal is then cooked on site in an outdoor kitchen over fires built by other members of the patrol.
Venturing week-long adventure camp
The Ranch is also home to the Swift Base which runs programs for venturers, the BSA's co-ed program for individuals between the ages of 14-21. A typical week for a Swift camper might include rock climbing and rappelling, challenge course, rifle and shotgun shooting, horseback riding, water skiing and tubing, mountain biking, and many other fun activities.
Webelos Mini Camp
Two session's of a three day — two night experience for Webelos Scouts are offered at the end of the summer at Swift Base. This allows participants an introduction to the camping program in a slightly longer setting than the Dad N' Lad experience.
Dad N' Lad
A short program lasting about 22 hours that provides a brief introduction to outdoor Scout camping for young Cub Scouts. Held twice every summer at all of the camps at the Ranch.
National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)
A week long training program held at the "closed" Boy Scout Camp. It is run four weeks out of every summer by the Council Training Department. It is based on a national syllabus. Starting in the summer of 2010 it is being held at Camp Sakima and will be offered for 4 weeks.
Ranger program
A traditional program for older scouts, the Ranger program gets Scouts deep into the backwoods of the undeveloped east side of the property. Scouts are given the opportunity to see parts of the property that they would never get to see while participating in a mountain man style program. Activities include blacksmithing, black powder rifle shooting, tomahawk throwing, candle making, some canoeing, and many other activities. In the summer of 2007 the ranger program introduced a new program called River Ranger. Scouts were given the chance to go with the ranger staff on a week-long river float trip on the Eleven Point River
Eleven Point River
The Eleven Point River is a river in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, United States. It originates near Willow Springs, Missouri. It more than doubles in flow when Greer Spring Branch runs into it, adding over of water per day to the river. The name derives from the Mississippi Valley...
in southern Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
Order of the Arrow summer camp
A week — long program run by the Shawnee Lodge that specializes in native American activities such as dance and ceremonies. The program is typically run in non-NOAC summers. It has been held at Swift Base and Famous Eagle in the past.
Other programs
Each summer other Scout programs are held. Examples include, Catholic Adventure Week, LDS Scout Camp, Shooting Sports Camp, Fishing Camp, and Horse Camp.
Administrative
The Ranch is led by the ranch director, a professional Scouter who also serves as the director of camping overseeing operations at the council's other properties. In its history, the Ranch has been served by seven directors (See chart below). The rest of the Ranch staff are seasonal contract employees that run each camps' program.| Ranch Director | Years Served |
|---|---|
| Mel Loewenstein | 1966–1969 |
| Don Rall | 1970–1971 |
| Paul Brockland | 1972–1981 |
| Denny Horn | 1982–1985 |
| Tim O'Donnell | 1986–1993 |
| Pat Martchink | 1994–2010 |
| Brian Sens | 2011- |
Camp operation
Each of the Ranch's camps has a camp director who is also a professional who usually works in the department of field service. Each camp has a program director that is the second in command to the camp director. The program director oversees merit badge instruction, campsite program, as well as evening programs that are put on by the staff. The business manager oversees the administration of the camp. There are two commissioners that oversee campsite programs put on by the troop counselors, run leaders meetings, and facilitate problems as they come up. The Commissary manager and his assistant run the food service operation in the camp, and the trading post manager and his assistant run the camp store. In addition, the trading post staff assists with food service for the staff. The rest of the staff is divided into program areas. Each area has a director and a certain number of counselors.
Swift Base
Given the very different nature of the Swift Base, the staff is structure very differently. Similar to the scout camps, Swift has a camp director who is generally a professional Scouter, as well as a program director, and business manager. The business manager directly runs the camp office and trading post, as well as oversees the kitchen staff of two. The program director oversees the rest of the staff of the camp including a fieldsports director, aquatics director, and wrangler. The rest of the staff serves as program counselors, generally rotating between program sites including rock climbing, rappelling, high challenge course, low challenge course, aquatics area, and ski/tube boat driving. These program counselors also serve as the campsite counselors for the five campsites.
Ranch
The central administrative staff for the Ranch includes the food service staff, the rangers, and the staff that works in the Rand Memorial Building. The food service staff works in Astronaut's hall, and makes the ranch's extensive patrol feeding system possible. The Ranch has two rangers who live on the property year round and are responsible for the maintenance of the property, in addition to the operation of the water treatment plant. The Rand staff is also responsible for delivery of supplies to the various camps, as well as the operation of the horse program and Huck's Cove.
Camp Lewallen
Camp Lewallen is 580 acres (2.3 km²) of Boy ScoutBoy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
summer camp property owned and operated by the Greater Saint Louis Area Council. It is located in Silva, Missouri
Silva, Missouri
Silva is an unincorporated community in Wayne County, Missouri, United States. It is located on U.S. Route 67 about thirteen miles east of Piedmont. The community was founded in 1909 and was named after a woman named 'Sylvia', a friend of the postmistress...
. Camp Lewallen opened in 1936, and was built on land owned by the William Lee Lewallen Family. According to the family, Mrs. Lewallen wanted an adequate road built to their farm, and the best way to do that was to allow the Boy Scouts to have a camp there. The property includes the Earl Jarvis Dining Hall, the towering Mount Logan, Scoutcraft, nature and voyageur areas. The Trading Post overlooks the pool for scouts to relax and have a snack. At the shooting sports area Scouts have the chance to shoot a shotgun, a rifle and bow and arrow. At Lake Potashnik, Scouts can canoe, row, fish and kayak. Originally a part of the Southeastern Missouri Council, the Greater Saint Louis Area Council took over operation of the property and its programs in 1993. The staff of the camp operates the weeklong Boy Scout Residential Camp with dining hall cooking.
Order of the Arrow
The Council is served by two Order of the ArrowOrder of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America . It uses American Indian-styled traditions and ceremonies to bestow recognition on scouts selected by their peers as best exemplifying the ideals of Scouting. The society was created by E. Urner Goodman, with the...
lodges: Shawnee Lodge, which serves the Greater Saint Louis Metro area, and Anpetu-We Lodge which serves southeast Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and southern Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The Council is one of only two councils that is home to more than one Order of the Arrow
Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America . It uses American Indian-styled traditions and ceremonies to bestow recognition on scouts selected by their peers as best exemplifying the ideals of Scouting. The society was created by E. Urner Goodman, with the...
Lodges, with the other being the Greater New York Councils which operates one lodge in each of its five boroughs. Upon completion of the mergers of the early 1990s, it was decided that the Council was geographically too large to administer one Order of the Arrow program. The decision was made to merge the Ney-a-Ti lodge, from the Egyptian council with the Anpetu-We lodge, and make two lodges within the Council.
Shawnee Lodge
The Shawnee Lodge was formed in 1930 and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2005. It is one of the largest lodges in the country, usually drawing around 2,000 brothers for its annual Fall Reunion. Several of its members have risen to national positions during its history. In 1986 Steve Meinhold was elected to be the North Central Region Chief, becoming the first Shawnee Lodge member to hold a national position. In 2006, Russ Bresnahan was elected to serve as the central region chief. In the year 2009 Jack O'Neill served as National Chief, the first Shawnee Lodge member to hold that position. Jack served as section vice chief for one year and Section Chief for two years before being elected National Chief. He was a member of the council's Summer Camp staff. He was a part of the Shawnee Lodge Vigil Class of 2008 and is an Eagle Scout from Troop 169, at Assumption Parish in South St. Louis County.Programs
- Camp Promotion http://shawneelodge.org/index.php/programs/camp-promotion
- In 2009, the Camp Promotion program was redesigned so that Cub Scout packs would be promoted instead of Boy Scout troops.
- OA Troop/Team Representative http://shawneelodge.org/index.php/programs/troop-representative
- Elangomat http://shawneelodge.org/index.php/programs/elangomat
- Beyond Brotherhood
- Quality Chapter
- Lodge Newsletters http://shawneelodge.org/index.php/news/the-lookout
- Paper newsletter distributed three times a year (The Lookout)
- Digital version of traditional newsletter (eLookout)
- Periodic email updates (eLookout Update)