Tidewater Council
Encyclopedia
Tidewater Council is the local council of the Boy Scouts of America
(BSA) that serves southeastern Virginia
and north-eastern North Carolina
. This region is often referred to as South Hampton Roads
or the Tidewater or Tidewater Virginia area; hence the name of the council. Its Order of the Arrow
counterpart is the Blue Heron Lodge; which was founded in 1946 when a team from Octoraro Lodge in Pennsylvania inducted the first members of Blue Heron Lodge.
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#efefef;" | District
! style="background:#efefef;" | Area served
|-
|North
|All areas of Virginia Beach north of I-264, and Norfolk excluding Southside Norfolk
|-
|Princess Anne
|All areas of Virginia Beach lying south of I-264 and Knotts Island, NC
|-
|Three Rivers
|All of Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Southside Norfolk
|-
|South
|Gates, Chowan, Perquimans, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Dare and Currituck (less Knotts Island) Counties, North Carolina
|-
of Chicago, Illinois and only three years after the founding of the movement itself by Sir Robert Baden-Powell in England
. However, it was several years later, on January 29, 1914, that the local council was issued a second-class charter without a professional scout executive.
On September 21, 1911, 28 of Norfolk's most prominent businessmen met to form the Norfolk Council, BSA. The first council president was Richard L. Dobie. Other officers elected included Harvey M. Dickerson, vice president; J.G. Holladay, secretary; and W.W. Marr, treasurer. Thomas Sparrow became the Norfolk Council's first scout executive on October 1, 1919.
In 1934, the Cub Scout program was formally adopted by the Norfolk Council. The challenge of the day was "new ambition for greater service to more boys throughout America."
In January 1935, the council was given its present name, The Tidewater Council, Inc., BSA. The North Carolina counties of Currituck, Camden, Gates, Perquimans, Pasquotank and Chowan were accepted as part of the council. Dare County, N.C., was added in January 1942.
The council has been realigned many times to reach its current strength of seven districts. Today the council serves more than 11,000 boys and girls through 355 packs, troops and posts and through a force of adult volunteer Scouters numbering 4,500.
In 1946, the council formed an Order of the Arrow
lodge when ceremonialists from Octoraro Lodge #22 inducted the first members. In 1947, the totem of a blue heron
was selected and the lodge was named Blue Heron Lodge #349.
between Surry
and Spring Grove on the banks of the James River
. It encompasses 916 acres (3.7 km²) of woodland, open fields and marshes. The terrain includes a natural ravine system and ranges in elevation from 20 to more than 100 feet (30.5 m) above sea level. Pipsico Scout Reservation's northern boundary extends for a mile and half along the banks of the historic James River; directly across from the historic settlement of Jamestown
. Pipsico is subdivided into 4 camps, Camp Lions, Camp Kiwanis, Camp Rotary and Camp Powhatan. Cliffs 60 to 75 feet (22.9 m) high overlook a picturesque mile long sandy beach and several cypress tree coves. The cliff walls are studded with marine shells and fossils providing tangible evidence of the James River's influence on life over the centuries. The beach has proven to be a beach comber's delight for discovering nautical treasures like shark teeth, prehistoric whale bones, driftwood and a peaceful observation site for beautiful shoreline sunrises and sunsets.
Tidewater Council purchased this land in 1958. It has been preserved and maintained as close to its natural state as possible. The "Red Trail" hiking trail that encircles the reservation provide a variety of visual and ecological wonders for hikers of all ages to marvel at. Along the trail you may chose to stop and see the "Pipsico Tree," a tulip poplar nearly 20 feet (6.1 m) in circumference that predates the arrival of the first English colonists or stroll along the sandy beach of the James River and observe the flight of the bald eagles that nest on the reservation.
Pipsico offers year-round Scouting in Camp Lions, Camp Kiwanis, Camp Rotary and Camp Powhatan, and summer camp in Camp Lions, which was renovated and reopened in 1988 with a new swimming pool, dining hall, and various support buildings. Summer camp activities include: Scoutcraft
, climbing and rappelling tower, shooting sports, aquatics, hiking trails, a 17th century archaeological dig site and handicrafts. October 10 to the 12th, Pipsico celebrated its 50th anniversary and included staff members from 1958 to 2008 as part of the celebration.
New for the Summer of 2011, The James River Adventure Base at Pipsico Scout Reservation. Participants will be able to sign up provisionally or as a unit to participate in one of the six new exciting high adventure programs that will be offered. More information can be found at PipsicoBSA.com
Blue Heron Lodge #349 is the local chapter of the Order of the Arrow
affiliated with Tidewater Council, BSA, in Virginia Beach,Virginia, USA. Blue Heron Lodge #349 supports Pipsco Scout Reservation, including Camps Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary, and Powhatan with thousands of annual volunteer hours of service and multiple fundraisers throughout the year. The purpose of Blue Heron Lodge #349 is to support camping throughout Tidewater Council.
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) that serves southeastern Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and north-eastern North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. This region is often referred to as South Hampton Roads
South Hampton Roads
South Hampton Roads is a region located in the extreme southeastern portion of Virginia in the United States, and is part of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA with a population about 1.7 million....
or the Tidewater or Tidewater Virginia area; hence the name of the council. Its 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...
counterpart is the Blue Heron Lodge; which was founded in 1946 when a team from Octoraro Lodge in Pennsylvania inducted the first members of Blue Heron Lodge.
Organization
Tidewater Council is divided into four districts:{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#efefef;" | District
! style="background:#efefef;" | Area served
|-
|North
|All areas of Virginia Beach north of I-264, and Norfolk excluding Southside Norfolk
|-
|Princess Anne
|All areas of Virginia Beach lying south of I-264 and Knotts Island, NC
|-
|Three Rivers
|All of Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Southside Norfolk
|-
|South
|Gates, Chowan, Perquimans, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Dare and Currituck (less Knotts Island) Counties, North Carolina
|-
History
Tidewater Council traces its origin to 1911, two years after the establishment of the Scouting movement in America by William D. BoyceWilliam D. Boyce
William Dickson "W. D." Boyce was an American newspaper man, entrepreneur, magazine publisher, and explorer. He was the founder of the Boy Scouts of America and the short-lived Lone Scouts of America . Born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, he acquired a love for the outdoors early in his life...
of Chicago, Illinois and only three years after the founding of the movement itself by Sir Robert Baden-Powell in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. However, it was several years later, on January 29, 1914, that the local council was issued a second-class charter without a professional scout executive.
On September 21, 1911, 28 of Norfolk's most prominent businessmen met to form the Norfolk Council, BSA. The first council president was Richard L. Dobie. Other officers elected included Harvey M. Dickerson, vice president; J.G. Holladay, secretary; and W.W. Marr, treasurer. Thomas Sparrow became the Norfolk Council's first scout executive on October 1, 1919.
In 1934, the Cub Scout program was formally adopted by the Norfolk Council. The challenge of the day was "new ambition for greater service to more boys throughout America."
In January 1935, the council was given its present name, The Tidewater Council, Inc., BSA. The North Carolina counties of Currituck, Camden, Gates, Perquimans, Pasquotank and Chowan were accepted as part of the council. Dare County, N.C., was added in January 1942.
The council has been realigned many times to reach its current strength of seven districts. Today the council serves more than 11,000 boys and girls through 355 packs, troops and posts and through a force of adult volunteer Scouters numbering 4,500.
In 1946, the council formed an 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...
lodge when ceremonialists from Octoraro Lodge #22 inducted the first members. In 1947, the totem of a blue heron
Blue heron
Blue heron can refer to:* Little Blue Heron, a small heron* Great Blue Heron, a large wading bird* Blue Heron Lake, Canada* Great Blue Heron Casino, Canada* Blue Heron Estate, Alberta* Blue Heron, Kentucky* Blue Heron Park Preserve, New York City...
was selected and the lodge was named Blue Heron Lodge #349.
Pipsico Scout Reservation
Pipsico Scout Reservation is located in Surry County, VirginiaSurry County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 7,058 people, 2,619 households, and 1,917 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile . There were 3,294 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
between Surry
Surry, Virginia
Surry is an incorporated town in Surry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 262 at the 2000 census...
and Spring Grove on the banks of the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
. It encompasses 916 acres (3.7 km²) of woodland, open fields and marshes. The terrain includes a natural ravine system and ranges in elevation from 20 to more than 100 feet (30.5 m) above sea level. Pipsico Scout Reservation's northern boundary extends for a mile and half along the banks of the historic James River; directly across from the historic settlement of Jamestown
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
. Pipsico is subdivided into 4 camps, Camp Lions, Camp Kiwanis, Camp Rotary and Camp Powhatan. Cliffs 60 to 75 feet (22.9 m) high overlook a picturesque mile long sandy beach and several cypress tree coves. The cliff walls are studded with marine shells and fossils providing tangible evidence of the James River's influence on life over the centuries. The beach has proven to be a beach comber's delight for discovering nautical treasures like shark teeth, prehistoric whale bones, driftwood and a peaceful observation site for beautiful shoreline sunrises and sunsets.
Tidewater Council purchased this land in 1958. It has been preserved and maintained as close to its natural state as possible. The "Red Trail" hiking trail that encircles the reservation provide a variety of visual and ecological wonders for hikers of all ages to marvel at. Along the trail you may chose to stop and see the "Pipsico Tree," a tulip poplar nearly 20 feet (6.1 m) in circumference that predates the arrival of the first English colonists or stroll along the sandy beach of the James River and observe the flight of the bald eagles that nest on the reservation.
Pipsico offers year-round Scouting in Camp Lions, Camp Kiwanis, Camp Rotary and Camp Powhatan, and summer camp in Camp Lions, which was renovated and reopened in 1988 with a new swimming pool, dining hall, and various support buildings. Summer camp activities include: 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...
, climbing and rappelling tower, shooting sports, aquatics, hiking trails, a 17th century archaeological dig site and handicrafts. October 10 to the 12th, Pipsico celebrated its 50th anniversary and included staff members from 1958 to 2008 as part of the celebration.
New for the Summer of 2011, The James River Adventure Base at Pipsico Scout Reservation. Participants will be able to sign up provisionally or as a unit to participate in one of the six new exciting high adventure programs that will be offered. More information can be found at PipsicoBSA.com
Blue Heron Lodge
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...
affiliated with Tidewater Council, BSA, in Virginia Beach,Virginia, USA. Blue Heron Lodge #349 supports Pipsco Scout Reservation, including Camps Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary, and Powhatan with thousands of annual volunteer hours of service and multiple fundraisers throughout the year. The purpose of Blue Heron Lodge #349 is to support camping throughout Tidewater Council.