54-514: Scouting in Indiana has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live. Indianapolis is home to Troop 9, founded by "Chief" Francis Oliver Belzer in 1910, one of the first Scout troops in America. Belzer founded Firecrafter at Camp Chank-Tun-Un-Gi (now called Camp Belzer) in the summer of 1920. Belzer also served as
108-663: A hundred and eighty) participating at the Grand Ritual. Council, Flame, and Ember officers are also elected at the Grand Ritual. Adult Alumni Association officers are elected on Friday night at the Alumni meeting, with youth officers elected on Sunday morning. Being that Firecrafter is a Scouting organization, it follows standard organization of a BSA Council. Troops operate their own Firecrafter programs supplemented by Firecrafters both in their own troop and experienced camp staff members during long-term summer camp. Members are organized at
162-668: A lack of funding forced the council to cease having summer camps there. Camp Pohoka was the previous summer camp location, but was shut down when OBSR was opened. Pathway to Adventure Council is based in Chicago, Illinois and covers much of its metro area, including the north-west corner of Indiana. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Crossroads of America Council (BSA Council #160) serves Scouts and Scouters in Central Indiana. It
216-471: A part that joined Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan ), and Girl Scouts of Tribal Trails Council (except for a part that joined Girl Scouts of Central Indiana). Website: Official website Headquarters is Glen Carbon, Illinois website: Official website Headquarters is Cincinnati, Ohio website: Official website See Scouting in Ohio for more information Francis Oliver Belzer Firecrafter
270-684: A pocket flap patch on the right pocket, indicating where the member was from within the council. He also wore a 3-inch pocket patch on the right pocket, indicating his Firecrafter rank. After the merger, the Order of the Arrow was given exclusive use of the pocket flap, while Firecrafter kept its use of the temporary patch position on the pocket itself. Firecrafter today exists in Central Indiana, Southern Illinois, and Texas. The Central Indiana Firecrafter Organization exists in Crossroads of America Council (Indianapolis). A Southern Illinois Firecrafter organization around
324-480: A steakhouse in Jeffersonville . On November 6, 1996, Andy Campbell, a ranger serving as Tunnel Mill's caretaker, was shot to death by Roger Caldwell, "a diagnosed, paranoid schizophrenic" who trespassed onto the property while drunk. This was the first such incident in the history of Scouting. Campbell was able to drag himself 50 feet (15 m) to call 911. After police arrived on the scene to get information about
378-505: Is Hoosier Trails' Order of the Arrow Lodge. It was founded in 1973 as the merger of Wazi Yata (#290) and So-Aka-Gha-Gwa (#212) lodges. Both So-Aka-Gha-Gwa and Wazi Yata can trace back their heritage to other organizations separate from the Order of the Arrow. The predecessor to So-Aka-Gha-Gwa, the Order of The Golden Arrow, was founded at Cataract Falls in the late 1930s and became So-Aka-Gha-Gwa Lodge in 1941. The predecessor to Wazi Yata,
432-567: Is a Scouts BSA camp just outside Charlestown, Indiana , owned by the Lincoln Heritage Council . In 1917 local Troop 3 decided to use the property as a summer camp, as it would for three summers. The George Rogers Clark Council shortly after 1927 bought Tunnel Mill from the Murphy family, who had bought the property the previous year but lost interest after a mill fire. In 1933 the three-sided wooden Pioneer Village cabins were built. In 1942
486-598: Is a Scouts BSA camp located near Ashley, Indiana , United States . The reservation has three key areas: Camp Chief Little Turtle (CCLT), Camp Foellinger, and Camp Wilderness. The Buffalo Trace Council is based in Evansville, Indiana that serves southwestern Indiana and southeastern Illinois. Its affiliated Order of the Arrow lodge is Kiondaga Lodge. The Buffalo Trace Council has operated four camps throughout its existence, three of which are still in existence. Camp Arthur , located near Vincennes , opened in 1945 and
540-502: Is a new council includes more than 18,240 Girl Scouts in northern Indiana ( Adams , Allen , Cass , DeKalb , Elkhart , Fulton , Huntington , Kosciusko , LaGrange , LaPorte , Marshall , Miami , Noble , Pulaski , St. Joseph , Starke , Steuben , Wabash , Wells , and Whitley ) and two counties, Berien and Cass , in southwest Michigan. Formed by the merger of Indiana Lakeland Girl Scout Council, Girl Scouts of Limberlost Council, Girl Scouts of Singing Sands Council (except for
594-698: Is a service organization within the Boy Scouts of America . Formed in 1920, the Firecrafter Organization mainly operates within the Crossroads of America Council , Indiana , but has been known to exist in other areas including Illinois and Texas . Before the United States entered World War I , Francis O. Belzer was named the first Scout Executive of the Indianapolis Council in 1915 (known as
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#1732891682686648-461: Is an unincorporated community in northwestern Owen Township , Jackson County , Indiana , United States . It lies along State Road 58 northwest of the town of Brownstown , the county seat of Jackson County. Because the community had two different names, the Board on Geographic Names officially decided in favor of "Norman" in 1943. Although Norman is unincorporated, it has a post office , with
702-443: Is established so that advancement through the system is a process of building upon knowledge that a scout learned in their last camp rank and increasing their skill in scoutcraft. It is also designed to teach the scout personal responsibility and serve as a tool to encourage advancement and attendance at summer camp. The process for becoming a Firecrafter as a youth often serves as one of Scouting's many memorable events. After earning
756-566: Is not required. If the candidate is not successful in meeting the first twelve requirements by the time the unit leaves camp on Saturday morning, the candidacy is terminated and the candidate is not invited to the Firecrafter Ritual. Should the candidate complete his requirements card, and it is properly endorsed by the Firecrafters in his unit and the Consul, the candidate will be invited to
810-479: Is then free to complete their requirement card as they see fit. All candidates meet once a day for a full field uniform inspection and brief candidate's meeting with the Consul. Three major events are part of the candidate's card. Most often, these are the events which will hold a Scout back from completing their card: The most important requirement of the Firecrafter candidacy at camp is Requirement #1. All ranks in
864-576: The Flora, Illinois area operating separately of the Crossroads Fire organization which conducted a ritual as recent as 1997, who plays an important role in the history of Firecrafter today. Throughout 1997 and into 1998, there were discussions between various Council Committee members, advisers, and members of the Crossroads Firecrafter organization (on an informal basis only) to formally recognize
918-568: The Hoosier National Forest . Maumee first opened in 1972 for White River Council as a replacement for its previous camp, Camp Wapehani in Bloomington , Indiana which had been divided by a recent re-alignment of State Road 37. The 640 acres (260 ha) property is near in Norman , Indiana. Lake Tarzian is named after Sarkes Tarzian who led the capital campaign to build the camp. Until 2023,
972-520: The Scoutmaster 's Cabin and Evergreen cabins were completed. In 1950 the McDonald Bridge was completed across Fourteen Mile Creek . The camp saw its greatest use in the 1950s and 1960s, with 564 Scouts, the highest attendance ever, in 1960. In 1969 the swimming pool was built, to replace the creek, now-unsafe for swimming. By the 1980s the lessening attendance made the future of the camp uncertain. When
1026-551: The Alumni Association. However, all members of the Alumni Association are required to pay yearly or life dues; youth members do not pay any form of yearly dues whatsoever. Members generally continue to participate in Firecrafter for their entire lifetime. There are former youth officers that have become adults that serve as officers in the Alumni Association or as advisers to the Council Committee. Justin 'Sox' Scott who
1080-510: The Camper and Woodsman ranks in 1919 at Camp Chank-Tun-Un-Gi , located near Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis. The program was a success throughout the 1919 camping season, so Pruitt, Norton, and Belzer set out to create a third camp rank for the following summer. The "third and highest" rank was introduced, unnamed, in 1920. The first group of four young Woodsmen completed the requirements. It
1134-428: The Camper and Woodsman ranks, a young man is often encouraged to candidate for Firecrafter in their third year at summer camp. They are prepared for their candidacy by other youth and adult Firecrafters in their home troop, who instruct the candidate on what is expected of them throughout their candidacy and after they become a Firecrafter. At summer camp, a young man declares their candidacy for Firecrafter by notifying
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#17328916826861188-570: The Council Committee decide to host the Mid-Summer Ritual at one of the operating summer camps, portions of the Ritual are held in a part of camp widely secluded from campers that weekend. The Mid-Summer Ritual is generally the "dress run" for the larger Grand Ritual in August. Usually, less than seventy-five candidates participate in the Mid-Summer Ritual, with the bulk of candidates (sometimes well over
1242-652: The Crossroads boundaries and considered violations of the policy punishable by a council Minisino Disciplinary Committee, a controversial body composed of the Council Chief, the Council Minisino Chairman, and the Council Minisino Adviser. The 1999 Minisino Code revision made a few other changes to the Minisino program without approval by the Council Committee, specifically to administrative succession and
1296-581: The Firecrafter Constitution and By-Laws, including the Firecrafter Code and the Minisino Code. The 2000 revision of all four documents clarified inconsistencies in the administration of the program, made all language gender neutral, and provided for Firecrafter's growth into the next century. Firecrafter is divided into two Cub Scout ranks, three Boy Scout ranks, and one honor. Each rank
1350-529: The Firecrafter Coordinator, or Consul of the Fire, of their intentions. The Consul adds the candidate to the list of candidates for the week and issues the candidate their requirement card, handbook, and fire-by-friction log. On Sunday night of camp, the candidate takes part in an induction ceremony, which explains to the candidate the expectations that they will be held to during the next week. The candidate
1404-496: The Firecrafter Organization, however, most events that take place are for those who hold the Firecrafter rank. Adult volunteers and professionals above the age of 21 who were not members as youth may become Firecrafters upon nomination by a Firecrafter and become members of the Firecrafter Alumni Association. Those members who were inducted as youth keep their rank upon their 21st birthday and likewise become part of
1458-515: The Firecrafter system share this requirement, and it is most important at this step in the program: In this requirement, the Scoutmaster is given the ultimate and final decision as to whether the young man will be permitted to undertake the Ritual. The Scoutmaster usually makes this decision in consultation with the rest of the Firecrafters in the unit after the Friday evening activities in camp, but this
1512-478: The George Rogers Clark Council, which owned the property, merged with Old Kentucky Home Council , one of the conditions was that Tunnel Mill would not be closed. Since 1993 the camp has been used primarily by Cub Scouts and for winter camping. The property includes a cabin village, a swimming pool, and a dining hall built in 2000. The new dining hall replaced the one from the 1980s that once served as
1566-599: The Harrison Trails Council (Headquarters in Lafayette, IN ). The council offices were eventually consolidated to a single office in Kokomo, Indiana. The council maintains two camps: Camp Cary, (near Lafayette, IN) used as a Cub Scout day camp and Camp Buffalo, (near Buffalo, IN - north and east of Indiana Beach ) used as a Scouts BSA summer camp. The camp properties of Green Hills and Crossland were sold. Camp Green Hills
1620-479: The Illinois ritual were controlled by a small group of Indiana Firecrafters. This group ensured that only Indiana Firecrafters who were willing to comply with the unspoken "no participation" rule were permitted to make the trip to Flora for the Ritual. In 1999, there were several conditions added to the Minisino Code which explicitly prohibited the wear of Southern Illinois insignia at Crossroads functions or even within
1674-592: The Indianapolis and Central Indiana Council from 1934 to 1942). With Scouting's early emphasis on athletics instead of Scoutcraft skills, many different ancillary programs were piloted throughout the United States to reinforce Scouting skills and its core values. One such program in place was the three-tiered rank system at Daniel Carter Beard 's Culver Woodcraft Camp. Seeing a need for a new program in Indiana, in conjunction with Stanley L. Norton, assistant executive, and Rex Pruitt, Scoutmaster of Troop 46, Belzer created
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1728-579: The Order of the Wazi Yata, was founded at Camp Louis Ernst in 1934 and became Wazi Yata Lodge in 1945. Nischa Chuppecat and So-Aka-Gha-Gwa have collectively hosted the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) at Indiana University eleven times as of the summer of 2018, the most of any lodge in the nation. La Salle Council serves Scouts in Indiana and Michigan . The George Rogers Clark Council
1782-485: The Order's program. It was the only honor camping program in the Central Indiana Council until 1972, when Central Indiana Council was merged with Delaware County Council, Whitewater Area Council, and Kikthawenund Council to form the new Crossroads of America Council. Concerned Firecrafters and Arrowmen met to settle their differences, and both programs were allowed to continue. Before 1972, all Firecrafters wore
1836-545: The Southern Illinois Firecrafter organization and join the two Fires into one. This was not accomplished due to several major differences between the two associations: While Indiana members were invited to the Southern Illinois Rituals between 1993 and 1997, their direct involvement in the induction process there was strictly limited to an observation role only, and the invitations and knowledge of
1890-653: The addition of Howard and Carroll Counties from Girl Scouts of Tribal Trails Council. Girl Scouts of Central Indiana serves over 36,000 girls in 45 counties in Central Indiana. Council headquarters is Indianapolis, Indiana but service centers remain in cities that were the headquarters of former councils Web Site: Official website See Scouting in Illinois for more information. The former Scouts of The Calumet Council and Drifting Dunes Girl Scout Council became part of this council. See Scouting in Kentucky for more information. Serves many counties in southern Indiana This
1944-473: The camp which encompassed almost three-fourths of the shoreline. A few things make Sagamore Council unique: The Sagamore Council currently operates two camps: There are 5 Girl Scout councils that serve Indiana. On August 26, 2006, Girl Scouts of the USA's (GSUSA) national board of directors voted to endorse a plan to realign 312 councils into 109 high-capacity, community-based councils. The new structure will make
1998-532: The council also possessed Camp Louis Ernst in Dupont . Louis Ernst was founded in 1928 and operated by Hoosier Hills Council until its merger with White River Council to form Hoosier Trails Council in 1973. After this, Louis operated as a summer camp until 1983 when it was reduced to primitive camping. The camp was officially transferred to a group known as the Friends of Camp Louis Ernst in 2023. Nischa Chuppecat Lodge (#212)
2052-612: The creation of the Council Committee in the early 1960s, it has become tradition to hold two rituals every summer; The Mid-Summer Ritual which usually lands in July, and the Grand Ritual which is held in mid to late August. Although the Council owns four camps (Krietenstein, Belzer, Kikthawenund, and Ransburg), Krietenstein and Belzer are no longer usable for the Firecrafter Ritual because of a lack of space for both candidates and staff. Before Crossroads of America Council sold Red Wing and Bear Creek, and
2106-572: The district level into Embers. Different embers close in location consist of a flame. There are three Flames which comprise the Fire, or Council. Officers of Firecrafter at the Ember, Flame, and Council level comprise the Firecrafter Council Committee, the policy-making body of Firecrafter. Any youth member of the Boy Scouts of America that has earned a camp rank of Firecrafter is a member of
2160-754: The drunk from Campbell, they found Caldwell wandering on Indiana Highway 62. Caldwell was sentenced to 70 years in prison, with parole possible after 31 years. Prairielands Council , previously the short-lived Illiana Council , has its headquarters in Champaign, Illinois , and also serves Scouts in Indiana . The Sagamore Council was founded in 1973 by a merger of the Three Rivers Council (Headquarters in Logansport, IN ), Mesingomesia Council (Headquarters in Marion, IN ) and
2214-581: The first Scout Executive for the Indianapolis Council, later known as the Central Indiana Council. The first National Order of the Arrow Conference was held at Indiana University in 1948. In 1950, 1956, 1961, 1965, 1969, 1990, 2002, 2009 and 2018, the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) was held at Indiana University in Bloomington, the most frequent venue for the event. In 1994, NOAC
Scouting in Indiana - Misplaced Pages Continue
2268-466: The first to take Firecrafter's Unknown Test. A fourth honorary camp rank, Minisino, was introduced in 1921 to recognize those who went above and beyond in service to Scouting and Firecrafter itself. At one point in time, many Midwestern councils had a Firecrafter program in operation. After the adoption of the Order of the Arrow on a national level, many of these programs were closed completely or merged into
2322-669: The late 1920s, it merged into the Hoosier Hills Area Council (#150), founded in 1928. In 1928 the Lost River Area Council was founded. In 1931 it was absorbed into the White River Area Council (#145), founded in 1927. In 1973, White River and Hoosier Hills merged to form the Hoosier Trails Council (#145). Resident summer camp is held at Maumee Scout Reservation , located on Lake Tarzian in
2376-517: The most effective use of resources to better serve the local community and create more opportunities in Girl Scouting for even more girls. Girl Scouts of Central Indiana was the first Girl Scout council in the nation to complete the merger process. Formed by the merger of Girl Scouts of Hoosier Capital Council, Covered Bridge Girl Scout Council, Girl Scouts of Treaty Line Council, Girl Scouts of Sycamore Council, and Girl Scouts of Wapephani Council, and
2430-521: The next Ritual for examination and induction and face the Unknown Test. The Ritual is, simply put, a period of testing, a period of reflection, and a period of induction. In keeping with the standards of Scouts BSA, the Ritual is safeguarded and not secret, and there is nothing contained therein that would challenge a young person's ideas or place them in danger or harm. Hazing is not permitted or tolerated during any part of Firecrafter's program. Since
2484-606: The nomination and approval of adults for Minisino. The changes were written by the Council Chief, the Minisino Chairman, and the Minisino Adviser, without comment from any other members of the organization. This led to a temporary crisis within Firecrafter and an overhaul of its governing documents. These amendments, coupled with changing attitudes towards females in Scouting, particularly female Scouters, led to major review of
2538-466: The unusability of Krietenstein and Belzer, there were general rules that developed. Before 2022, Belzer was the site for the Grand every 5 years on significant Anniversaries. Before they were sold, Red Wing and Bear Creek served as primary locations for the Mid-Summer Ritual because they did not interfere with summer camp activities at the camp, though Belzer was the site for the Mid-Summer Ritual in 2010. Should
2592-500: Was a former youth Council Chief served as the Firecrafter Council Advisor until 2021. Being that Firecrafter is a camp rank organization, many different traditions have been started and continued from generation to generation, and these traditions have contributed to the identity of Firecrafter, making it a unique part of the Scouting experience in Central Indiana. Norman, Indiana Norman (also Norman Station )
2646-497: Was custom to recognize the new Camper and Woodsman rank recipients at the last campfire of the camping week, and when it came time to recognize the four Scouts, they were not mentioned. As the ceremony concluded with Norton's Scoutmaster's benediction, the four Scouts were instructed to remain behind. As the rest of the campers went back to their tents to retire for the evening, those four Scouts, along with Belzer, Norton, Pruitt, and P.D. Hoelscher (the camp's physical director) became
2700-650: Was formed by Scouts of Clark , Floyd , Harrison , Crawford , Scott , and Washington counties in 1927, and merged with Old Kentucky Home Council in 1993 to form the Lincoln Heritage Council , which serves Scouts in Kentucky and Indiana . The Council absorbed the Shawnee Trails Council of western Kentucky (and part of southern Illinois and northwestern Tennessee) in April 2012 to serve scouts in Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, and Tennessee. Tunnel Mill Scout Reservation
2754-801: Was held at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. There are nine Boy Scouts of America (BSA) local councils in Indiana . All of Indiana lies within Central Region, except for Clark, Scott, Floyd, Harrison, Crawford, and Washington counties, as part of Southern Region. Based in Fort Wayne, Indiana and covering 11 counties in Northeast Indiana ;— Adams, Wells, Jay, Huntington, Allen, DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Whitley, Kosciusko. Features Anthony Wayne Scout Reservation with Camp Chief Little Turtle The Anthony Wayne Scout Reservation
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#17328916826862808-408: Was initially formed when Central Indiana Council, Delaware County Council, Kikthawenund Council, and Whitewater Valley Council merged in 1972. The Hoosier Trails Council, BSA serves in 18 counties in south-central Indiana, and to more than 6,000 youth each year. The Hoosier Trails Council is the result of several council mergers. In 1921, the Bartholomew County Council (#150) was founded. During
2862-448: Was removed from the list of BSA-approved camping facilities for a time in the mid-1990s. Camp Carnes, located between Jasper and Dubois , has since changed ownership to the City of Jasper and is run as a park. Old Ben Scout Reservation (OBSR), located in Pike County, Indiana opened in 1985 on the site of an abandoned strip mine operated by the Old Ben Coal Company and was the council's current primary summer camp location, until
2916-415: Was south and west of Lafayette, IN. Mesingomesia Council's Crossland Scout Reservation near Columbia City, Indiana was sold to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources in 1992 and is now called the Deniston Resource Area (named after a fallen DNR Conservation Officer). The camp was located on Robinson Lake, one of the last natural lakes in Indiana with almost no development. This was due in large part to
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