Mount Diablo Silverado Council
Encyclopedia
Mount Diablo Silverado Council is a local council of the Boy Scouts of America
(BSA) and is one of six councils that serves the San Francisco Bay
area in California
. The council's office is located in Pleasant Hill, California
.
It serves chartered organizations and BSA units in Contra Costa County, Lake County
, Napa County, Solano County (except the cities of Dixon
, Rio Vista
, and Vacaville
), and the cities of Albany
and Berkeley
in northern Alameda County. The council is located in BSA Western Region
Area III.
The Mount Diablo Silverado Council can trace its history back to the Berkeley Council. The Berkeley Council received its charter from the Boy Scouts of America National Council in March 1916.
The Berkeley Council apparently expanded to become the Berkeley-Albany Council and in about 1932 merged with the Contra Costa Council to become the Berkeley-Contra Costa Council which was renamed the Mount Diablo Council in 1951.
In 1916 the Berkeley Council appears to have been the first council in Northern California to receive a charter from the Boy Scouts of America National Council. The Oakland-Piedmont Council followed later in 1916. The San Francisco Council and also the Alameda Council followed in 1917.
Further Information: Mt. DIablo Silverado Council Districts, Scoutreach
Notes on DIstrict Names:
External Links (non-council):
. The Wolfeboro Pioneers is a Boy Scout camping honor society
based out of Camp Wolfeboro near Arnold, California
. The society was founded in the summer of 1929 by returning Scouts and Scouters who were devoted to creating and preserving the camp's unique tradition. An insight into the society in 1996 is given by a Scouter on the Scouts-L list.
Beginning in the 1930s, the Order of the Arrow
absorbed many of the small Boy Scout honor societies that had thrived during Scouting's first two decades. This happened in 1944 in Silverado Council. The Order of the Arrow established itself in Mt. Diablo Council in the early 1950s.
Today, only a handful of minor organizations, the Wolfeboro Pioneers among them, exist in the United States. The Wolfeboro Pioneers is one of the largest of these minor organizations. Every summer, it inducts roughly 100 Scouts, a good annual induction rate for a minor organization. These Scouts come not only from California, but from around the nation and world.
Originally only the initial returning Scouts were "pioneers" and for a number of years no one was added to their number. The society realized that if they were to survive it would be necessary to induct in new members who possessed the same spirit of the original pioneers. The original procedure was that if a Scout met the requirements described above and had worked on at least one pioneer sponsored work party, then he was eligible for nomination. Prior to the final campfire of the week the pioneers would gather on pioneer rock and nominate candidates and plead their case. Upon end of discussion, a vote would be taken.
To be eligible for candidacy, Scouts must have spent two weeks at Camp Wolfeboro, one of which must have been in a previous year. They must have held (or be holding) a position in their troop that is on the approved list for Eagle within the Boy Scout Handbook
11th edition, p. 446. They must also be First Class rank or above and have Scoutmaster approval before eligibility can take effect.
Some troops, due to unusual size or other quality, amend these eligibility rules. For example, some troops choose to nominate only Scouts that are Star or higher.
Scouters/parents must be nominated by a member of the troop they are camping with. The nomination must be seconded, and thirded by individuals present at the Thursday night Pioneer meeting. The only requirement for adults is that they have spent two weeks at Camp Wolfeboro, one of which must have been in a previous year. Unlike in the election of Scouts (excluding Venturers
), females are eligible for election.
A second duty of the Wolfeboro Pioneers involves the preservation of the history of Camp Wolfeboro through the creation and maintenance of the Pioneer scrapbooks, as well as the writing and printing of "Wolfeboro Sings", the official songbook. The scrapbooks are currently updated through the summer of 1998 and contain photos, clippings, and patches from the camp's history. Currently (as of June 2007) the Pioneers are actively working on updating the Camp Wolfeboro history since 2000 in the scrapbooks, as well as pursuing a new edition of "Wolfeboro Sings."
There are three Pioneer rocks. One in the center of camp, one at the main campfire circle and a third secret one. No one is permitted to walk on the rock unless they are a Pioneer.
. The actual color of the Pioneers has varied considerably over the 75+ year history, ranging from teal
to darker royal blue
. Many pieces of Pioneer apparel have been created over the years since 1929, including t-shirts, polos
, neckerchieves
, and fleece jackets. As well, a large variety of patches, designed primarily for the temporary insignia location on the right breast pocket of the Boy Scout uniform, have been issued, most of which can be viewed at camp in the Pioneer scrapbooks.
Boy 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...
(BSA) and is one of six councils that serves the San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
area in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The council's office is located in Pleasant Hill, California
Pleasant Hill, California
Pleasant Hill is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 33,152 at the 2010 census. It was incorporated in 1961...
.
It serves chartered organizations and BSA units in Contra Costa County, Lake County
Lake County, California
Lake County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of California, north of the San Francisco Bay Area. It takes its name from Clear Lake, the dominant geographic feature in the county and the largest natural lake wholly within California...
, Napa County, Solano County (except the cities of Dixon
Dixon, California
Dixon is a city in northern Solano County, California, United States, located from the state capital, Sacramento. The population was 18,351 at the 2010 census. Other nearby cities include Vacaville, Winters and Davis....
, Rio Vista
Rio Vista, California
Rio Vista is a city located in the eastern end of Solano County, California in the San Francisco Bay Area, on the Sacramento River, in the Sacramento River Delta region. The population was 7,360 at the 2010 census....
, and Vacaville
Vacaville, California
Vacaville, California is a city located in the northeastern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area in Solano County. The city is nearly half way between Sacramento and San Francisco on I-80. It sits approximately from Sacramento, and from San Francisco...
), and the cities of Albany
Albany, California
Albany is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. The population was 18,539 at the 2010 census.-History:In 1908, a group of local women protested the dumping of Berkeley garbage in their community...
and Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
in northern Alameda County. The council is located in BSA Western Region
Western Region (Boy Scouts of America)
For administrative purposes, the Boy Scouts of America is divided into four regions—Western, Central, Southern, and Northeast. Each region is then subdivided into areas...
Area III.
History
The Mount Diablo Silverado Council was formed in 1992 as the result of a merger between the former Silverado Area Council and the former Mount Diablo Council.The Mount Diablo Silverado Council can trace its history back to the Berkeley Council. The Berkeley Council received its charter from the Boy Scouts of America National Council in March 1916.
The Berkeley Council apparently expanded to become the Berkeley-Albany Council and in about 1932 merged with the Contra Costa Council to become the Berkeley-Contra Costa Council which was renamed the Mount Diablo Council in 1951.
In 1916 the Berkeley Council appears to have been the first council in Northern California to receive a charter from the Boy Scouts of America National Council. The Oakland-Piedmont Council followed later in 1916. The San Francisco Council and also the Alameda Council followed in 1917.
Districts
- Aklan District
- Black Diamond District
- Chief Solano District
- Herms District
- Iron Horse District
- Lake District
- Marsh Creek District
- Meridian District
- Muir District
- Napa Valley District
- Silver Gate District
- ScoutReach District (Not listed as a current district on Council web site.)
Further Information: Mt. DIablo Silverado Council Districts, Scoutreach
Scoutreach
The Scoutreach Division of the Boy Scouts of America emphasizes service to rural and urban areas and to minority populations. The African American Focus works with African American populations in partnerships with the NAACP, various the African American churches and other groups...
Notes on DIstrict Names:
- The name Aklan appears to be derived from the word ″Saclan″ which is the name of the language spoken by the Bay MiwokBay MiwokThe Bay Miwok were a cultural and linguistic group of Miwok, a Native American people in Northern California who lived in Contra Costa County. They joined the Franciscan mission system during the early nineteenth century, suffered a devastating population decline, and lost their language as they...
.
- The Black Diamond District appears to be named after the Black Diamond Mines. The Black Diamond Mines Regional PreserveBlack Diamond Mines Regional PreserveThe Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve is a 6,000-acre park located north of Mount Diablo in Contra Costa County, California under the administration of the East Bay Regional Park District. The 60 miles of trails in the Preserve cross rolling foothill terrain covered with grassland, California...
is located in this district.
- The Chief Solano District is named after Chief SolanoChief SolanoChief Solano, original native name Sem-Yeto, meaning "brave or fierce hand", and christianed at about age ten with the Spanish name Francisco Solano, was born about 1798-1800 near Suisun Bay, California in California. Sem-Yeto was a famous chief and leader of the Suisunes tribe, a Patwin people of...
.
- The Herms District and Camp Herms are named after Professor Emeritus (University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, BerkeleyThe University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
) and Lieutenant-Colonel William (“Billy”) Brodbeck Herms (1876–1949). He was a founding Council Executive Board Member (in 1916) and also the Council President (1926–1949).
- The Iron Horse District appears to be named after the railroad that passed through it. Part of the Iron Horse Regional TrailIron Horse Regional TrailThe Iron Horse Regional Trail is a pedestrian and bicycle rail trail in the East San Francisco Bay Area in California.This trail is located in inland central Alameda and Contra Costa counties, mostly following a Southern Pacific Railroad right of way established in 1891 and abandoned in 1977...
is located in this district.
- The Meridian DIstrict appears to be named after the Mount Diablo MeridianMount Diablo MeridianThe Mount Diablo Meridian, established in 1851, is the main surveying reference point for much of northern California and Nevada. The initial point is the summit of Mount Diablo.-External links:* *...
that runs north-south through the district.
- The Muir District appears to be named after John MuirJohn MuirJohn Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions...
(1838–1914). The John Muir National Historic SiteJohn Muir National Historic SiteThe John Muir National Historic Site is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, in Martinez, Contra Costa County, California. It preserves the 14-room Italianate Victorian mansion where the naturalist and writer John Muir lived, as well as a nearby tract of native oak woodlands and grasslands...
is located in the Muir District.
- ScoutReach is not a geographically defined district.
External Links (non-council):
- Aklan District
- Black Diamond District
- Chief Solano District
- Herms District
- Iron Horse District
- Lake District
- Marsh Creek District
- Meridian District
- Muir District
- Napa Valley District
- Silver Gate District
Camps
- Camp Herms is located in El Cerrito, CaliforniaEl Cerrito, California-Transportation:The city's primary transportation infrastructure consists of the El Cerrito Plaza and El Cerrito del Norte BART stations along with several local bus lines, operated by AC Transit, providing access to the surrounding area and the nearby cities of Albany, Berkeley and Richmond...
. This camp serves as a year-round camp with Cub Scout Day Camp during the summer. It is situated atop the El Cerrito Hills and can be used as the hub of local historical site visits to San Francisco and the surrounding area. Camp Herms was originally named Camp Berkeley and opened for use in 1930. The camp was renamed Camp William B. Herms in 1939. Further Information: Camp Herms., Some Historical Data on Camp Herms - Camp Lindblad offers year-round traditions and wilderness camping on over 200 acre (0.809372 km²) in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains. Camp is open year round, with five fully staffed weekends of Cub Scout family camping opportunities throughout the year. The rest of the year is open for use by all interested groups. The camp is currently on the market for USD$4 million and is likely to be sold to private interests. Further Information: Camp LIndblad
- Camp Silverado (closed) is located on Silver Lake near Kit Carson, California. The Council leases the land from the United States Forest ServiceUnited States Forest ServiceThe United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
. - Camp Wolfeboro is a Boy Scout summer camp located on the north fork of the Stanislaus RiverStanislaus RiverThe Stanislaus River in California is one of the largest tributaries of the San Joaquin River. The river is long and has north, middle and south forks...
near Bear Valley at 38°24′39.83"N 120°4′41.81"W. The council leases the land from the United States Forest ServiceUnited States Forest ServiceThe United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
. Camp Wolfeboro is currently used for eight weeks each summer as an accredited BSA summer camp, hosting up to 500 Scouts per week, with a total summer attendance of more than 1,600 Scouts. The camp has traditionally relied upon its youth staff to develop and present the "Wolfeboro Rassle" quick skits at each morning's flag assembly to present the week long theme culminating in a campwide game Thursday, with a concluding skit at the final campfire on Friday evening. Since 2005, the camp has also run an approximately six-week Fall Camp program designed for individual Scout troops and Venturing crews to use the property for rock-climbing, waterfront activities, and shooting sports. Although the waterfront is infamous for its cold mountain river water, the pristine water quality has allowed this camp to continue to offer the Snorkeling BSA Award at a time other camps have dropped the program for lack of water clarity at their locale. The Snorkeling BSA Study Guide, formerly on file at Newport Sea Base BSA and the Catalina High Adventure program, was originally designed by a staff member and his Scuba certified father at Camp Wolfeboro and is still used at the waterfront during the summer season. The camp's fall program immediately follows the end of the regular 8-week summer season. Camp Wolfeboro was founded by the former Berkeley Council in 1928 in the area known as Hell's Kitchen, across the river from a family-oriented camp, Camp Baxter. Camp Baxter later closed down and its property was absorbed by Camp Wolfeboro, who built camp sites and remodeled the Camp Baxter dining hall and medical shack into a nature lodge and hike shack. Further Information: Camp Wolfeboro
Wolfeboro Pioneers
The Wolfeboro Pioneers are one of the few surviving local BSA honor societies in the United States that has not been absorbed by the 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...
. The Wolfeboro Pioneers is a Boy Scout camping honor society
Honor society
In the United States, an honor society is a rank organization that recognizes excellence among peers. Numerous societies recognize various fields and circumstances. The Order of the Arrow, for example, is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America...
based out of Camp Wolfeboro near Arnold, California
Arnold, California
Arnold is a census-designated place in Calaveras County, California, United States. The population was 3,843 at the 2010 census, down from 4,218 at the 2000 census. Arnold is located on State Route 4.-History:...
. The society was founded in the summer of 1929 by returning Scouts and Scouters who were devoted to creating and preserving the camp's unique tradition. An insight into the society in 1996 is given by a Scouter on the Scouts-L list.
Beginning in the 1930s, the 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...
absorbed many of the small Boy Scout honor societies that had thrived during Scouting's first two decades. This happened in 1944 in Silverado Council. The Order of the Arrow established itself in Mt. Diablo Council in the early 1950s.
Today, only a handful of minor organizations, the Wolfeboro Pioneers among them, exist in the United States. The Wolfeboro Pioneers is one of the largest of these minor organizations. Every summer, it inducts roughly 100 Scouts, a good annual induction rate for a minor organization. These Scouts come not only from California, but from around the nation and world.
Election procedures
Since then, individuals have been inducted into the society through election. Eligible Scouts are nominated by the Scoutmaster and elected by their troop. The number of Scouts eligible per troop depends on the number of Scouts in the troop rounded up to the closest tenth then divided by ten (i.e. if the troop size is 30, then three Scouts are eligible, if 21 then still three Scouts are eligible). Elections are conducted in pairs by Pioneer members (usually uniformed) who disperse throughout the various campsites. The Pioneers are responsible for reading and explaining the election procedures to the assembled Scouts. The Scoutmaster has the ability to veto the troop's decision. Votes are then taken back to Pioneer Rock where they are counted by Pioneer officials.Originally only the initial returning Scouts were "pioneers" and for a number of years no one was added to their number. The society realized that if they were to survive it would be necessary to induct in new members who possessed the same spirit of the original pioneers. The original procedure was that if a Scout met the requirements described above and had worked on at least one pioneer sponsored work party, then he was eligible for nomination. Prior to the final campfire of the week the pioneers would gather on pioneer rock and nominate candidates and plead their case. Upon end of discussion, a vote would be taken.
To be eligible for candidacy, Scouts must have spent two weeks at Camp Wolfeboro, one of which must have been in a previous year. They must have held (or be holding) a position in their troop that is on the approved list for Eagle within the Boy Scout Handbook
Boy Scout Handbook
The Boy Scout Handbook is the official handbook of the Boy Scouts of America. It is a descendant of Baden-Powell's original handbook, Scouting for Boys, which has been the basis for Scout handbooks in many countries, with some variations to the text of the book depending on each country's codes and...
11th edition, p. 446. They must also be First Class rank or above and have Scoutmaster approval before eligibility can take effect.
Some troops, due to unusual size or other quality, amend these eligibility rules. For example, some troops choose to nominate only Scouts that are Star or higher.
Scouters/parents must be nominated by a member of the troop they are camping with. The nomination must be seconded, and thirded by individuals present at the Thursday night Pioneer meeting. The only requirement for adults is that they have spent two weeks at Camp Wolfeboro, one of which must have been in a previous year. Unlike in the election of Scouts (excluding Venturers
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....
), females are eligible for election.
Ceremony
Shortly after the final dinner on Friday night, Scouts assemble at Bravo How campfire circle at the foot of Pioneer Rock. The ceremony begins with the Pioneer historian giving a short history of the camp and the organization. After that, the Pioneers, assembled on the rock, lead the Scouts seated on the logs below in singing the traditional song, "Patsy Ory Ory Ay." When this is completed, the Pioneers slip away and form a ladder on either side of the trail leading to the main campfire circle. In a matter of minutes, the Scouts, Scouters, and parents who have come to watch the event form a column behind a number of Pioneer torchbearers who lead the way to the main campfire circle. The Pioneers lining the parade route hold their fingers in the Scout Sign and stand at rigid attention to signal the somber nature of the event and to call for observance of its importance through absolute silence. The Scouts are seated and the Pioneers disperse and retreat to the second Pioneer Rock, situated so that it overlooks the main campfire circle. The Pioneer Sergeant-at-Arms, breaking the silence, decrees in a booming voice: "Let The Fires Of Friendship Burn!" The campfires are then lit and, for the next hour, Scout troops perform songs and skits for the assembled crowd. After the skits have finished, the Calling-Out Ceremony begins. The Pioneers form a human "ladder" that runs from the stage to the top of Pioneer Rock. Each Scout is called out and is helped up the ladder to the top of Pioneer Rock. Along the way, they are congratulated by current members. After the ceremony ends, they embark on an initiation process that takes until the early hours of the morning.Duties
The Wolfeboro Pioneers' official mission is to preserve and improve Camp Wolfeboro and its traditions. To this end, the Wolfeboro Pioneers assist in the opening and closing of camp each summer, as well as assisting in multiple service projects throughout most summers (in addition to the Camp Wolfeboro Workparty each Tuesday evening). Examples of the work the Pioneers have done include the maintenance of the road into camp, as well as the refurbishments of the dining hall in recent years. The Pioneers are also responsible for at least 90% of the trails within camp.A second duty of the Wolfeboro Pioneers involves the preservation of the history of Camp Wolfeboro through the creation and maintenance of the Pioneer scrapbooks, as well as the writing and printing of "Wolfeboro Sings", the official songbook. The scrapbooks are currently updated through the summer of 1998 and contain photos, clippings, and patches from the camp's history. Currently (as of June 2007) the Pioneers are actively working on updating the Camp Wolfeboro history since 2000 in the scrapbooks, as well as pursuing a new edition of "Wolfeboro Sings."
There are three Pioneer rocks. One in the center of camp, one at the main campfire circle and a third secret one. No one is permitted to walk on the rock unless they are a Pioneer.
Apparel
The official color of the Wolfeboro Pioneers is "Pioneer Blue," which currently most closely resembles azureAzure
In heraldry, azure is the tincture with the colour blue, and belongs to the class of tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of horizontal lines or else marked with either az. or b. as an abbreviation....
. The actual color of the Pioneers has varied considerably over the 75+ year history, ranging from teal
Teal (color)
Teal is a medium blue-green color. It is named after the Common Teal, a member of the duck family, whose eyes are surrounded by the color.Teal is one of the initial group of 16 HTML/CSS web colors formulated in 1987, shown below....
to darker royal blue
Royal blue
Royal blue describes both a bright shade and a dark shade of azure blue. It is said to have been invented by millers in Rode, Somerset, a consortium of which won a competition to make a dress for the British queen, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz....
. Many pieces of Pioneer apparel have been created over the years since 1929, including t-shirts, polos
Polos
Polos generally refers to a high cylindrical crown typically worn by mythological goddesses.Polos may also refer to:* The plural of polo* In music, the polos is one of the interlocking parts of Kotekan...
, neckerchieves
Neckerchief
A neckerchief, necker or less commonly scarf is a type of neckwear associated with Scouts, cowboys and sailors. It consists of a triangular piece of cloth or a rectangular piece folded into a triangle. The long edge is rolled towards the point, leaving a portion unrolled...
, and fleece jackets. As well, a large variety of patches, designed primarily for the temporary insignia location on the right breast pocket of the Boy Scout uniform, have been issued, most of which can be viewed at camp in the Pioneer scrapbooks.