Yawgoog Scout Reservation

Infobox WorldScouting
type = Campsite
name = Yawgoog Scout Reservation


image-size=
caption =
headquarters =
location = 61 Camp Yawgoog Rd.
Rockville, Rhode Island 02873
lat_degrees = 41
lat_minutes = 31
lat_seconds = 7.79
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 71
long_minutes = 46
long_seconds = 30.01
long_direction = W
country = United States
f-date = 1916
founder = Donald North
chiefscouttitle = Reservation Director
chiefscout = Thomas Sisson
owner = Rhode Island Boy Scouts
website =

Yawgoog Scout Reservation (Camp Yawgoog) is a convert|1800|acre|km2|0|sing=on reservation for Scouting located in Rockville, Rhode Island and operated by the Narragansett Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Founded in 1916, Yawgoog is the fourth oldest continuously run Scout camp in the United States. [cite web
url = http://scoutcamp.org/oldestcamps.asp
title = America's Oldest Boy Scout Camps
accessdate =
accessdaymonth = 01
accessmonthday =
accessyear = 2008
author = David L. Eby
last = Eby
first = David L.
authorlink =
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language = English
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quote = ] It runs an eight-week summer camping program every summer where Boy Scouts stay for a week with their troops. The Reservation is divided into three camps: Camps Three Point, Medicine Bow, and Sandy Beach. Generally each camp offers the same programs and experiences.

History

In 1916 Scout Executive Donald North, after inspecting some twenty lakes in Rhode Island, recommended the deserted Joseph Palmer farm property on Yawgoog Pond as a permanent reservation for Scouting. The convert|150|acre|km2|1|sing=on piece was leased to Rhode Island Boy Scouts (RIBS) in 1916 and purchased in 1917. Yawgoog and Wincheck, according to local tradition, were the names of two Narragansett Indian Chiefs. The water rights to the pond, all of their equipment, fourteen mill houses, a store, and approximately convert|200|acre|km2|0|sing=on of unimproved land were obtained in 1953 when the Boy Scouts purchased a controlling interest in the Yawgo Line and Twine Company. [cite web
url = http://www.rihphc.state.ri.us/pdfs_zips/news_pdfs/nr_rockville06-07-25.pdf
title = HOPKINTON’S UPPER ROCKVILLE MILL LISTED ON NATIONAL REGISTER
accessdate =
accessdaymonth = 12
accessmonthday =
accessyear = 2007
author = Sarah
last = Sarah
first = Zurier
authorlink =
coauthors =
date =
year = 2006
month = 06
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quote = ] The reservation continues to be separately owned by RIBS even after its acquisition by BSA. Chief Yawgoog serves as the mascot for the camp. He is usually portrayed in a cartoon, shirtless, wearing leather Indian trousers and mocassins, smoking a calumet, holding a canoe over himself and appears as if he is about to set off canoeing.

Yawgoog is also responsible for creating the first Totin' Chip program. John Page, nicknamed "Johnny Appleseed," created the program in 1950. Six years later, in 1956, the Apprentice in Training (AIT) program was started in an effort to better train incoming staffmen. The AIT corps, the first of its kind, was later renamed the Counselor in Training (CIT) corps and set the standard for subsequent programs across the country. [cite web
url = http://www.campyawgoog.org/index.php/Yawgoog's_History_Milestones
title = Yawgoog's History Milestones
accessdate =
accessdaymonth = 5
accessmonthday = 24
accessyear = 2008
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year = 2008
month = 05
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quote = ]

The reservation is divided into three distinct camps. Each camp operates independently and has a dining hall, waterfront, and trading post. Originally, however, Yawgoog campers set up tents as part of one centralized camp on what is now Tim O'Neil Field. In 1924, Yawgoog was divided between Upper Camp and Lower Camp, and three camps eventually emerged.Yawgoog is normally active during the summer for eight weeks of operation. During the off season tent camping is allowed at various campgrounds and cabin camping is allowed in any of the four cabins available. These spaces are available for troops who wish perform outdoor events when summer camp is not in session.

Landscape

Yawgoog is located in the southwestern corner of Rhode Island—the closest town Hopkinton, RI, which sits at 41.44N -71.79W. The terrain of the reservation is fairly flat, with only one hill (Hill 407) located in the southwestern corner of the reservation. Most of the reservation is forested and consists of deciduous and evergreen trees. On May 4-6, 1930, the camp suffered a forest fire. Much of the forest was destroyed and subsequently replaced with white pines due to their ability to grow quickly. Remnants of the fire are unnoticeable today. There are several islands on Yawgoog Pond, the largest named King Phillips.Fact|date=May 2008 Flushable toilets are currently being installed, first at Medicine Bow, then Three Point, and finally at Sandy Beach. Moreover, for 2008, the Yawgoog Alumini Association hopes to raise enough funds to replace each camps' amphitheater as well as replacing the aging the single shot riffles [http://alumni.campyawgoog.org/forumL/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4]

The following are some notable places at Yawgoog: The George Bucklin Memorial (a replica of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police barracks; administration), The Donald North Court, The Yawgoog Heritage Center (contains artifacts from throughout Yawgoog's history), Tim O'Neill Field (has large flagpole that serves in a dress parade every Sunday at the conclusion of each week of camp), the three camp waterfronts (each having three swimming zones: 0 to convert|3|ft|cm|0|sing=on, convert|3|ft|cm|0|sing=on to convert|7|ft|cm|0|sing=on, convert|7|ft|cm|0|sing=on to convert|12|ft|cm|0|sing=on), and the A. Livingston Kelley Environmental Education Center.

Organization and traditions

Each camp is usually run by a camp director, assistant camp director, and two program commissioners (three for Camp Sandy Beach), all of which answer to the Reservation Director (currently Thomas Sisson. As there are three distinct camps, each has its own songs, cheers, history, and traditions.

Camp Three Point

Camp Three Point, named for the three points of the Scout Oath, was the first of the three camps to be founded. It has been deemed "The oldest and most tradition-filled camp" on the reservation.Fact|date=May 2008 Today Camp Three Point encompasses the Challenge Course, the Bucklin Building, the Arthur Livingston Kelly Environmental Education Center, The Three Point Waterfront, the first New Frontier Center on reservation, and the 407 Outfitters, the Reservation's largest trading post. It also is home to the Memorial Bell Tower, which tolls at 12 P.M. daily in honor of those Scouts who died serving their country. Camp Three Point's camp color is hunter green. Its mascot is Danny the Deer, who resides in Sharpe Lodge, built in 1924.

Campsites at Camp Three Point are named after famous people in Yawgoog history or old scouting nicknames: Donald C. Dewing (Scoutmaster of Troop 82 for over 50 years), Forty-Niner, Frontier, Musketeer, Oak Ridge, Pioneer, Santa Fe Sleepy Hollow, Tuocs (Scout spelled backwards), Wells Fargo, Street, Scott and Zucculo.

Camp Medicine Bow

After the founding of Camp Three Point, the popularity of the reservation grew to the point where a second camp was needed. Built around Rathom Lodge in the 1920s, Medicine Bow encompasses the center section of Yawgoog's developed land. It houses the Counselor-in-Training Corps, the Baden Powell provisional camp, Webelos Woods provisional Camp (moved from Feistein Youth Camp in Pascoag, Rhode Island in 2007) the Crafts Center (H. Cushman Anthony Stockade), the Medicine Bow Waterfront (The Albert Gunther Waterfront), the Ashaway Aquatics Center, and the (Armington Memorial)Health Lodge. Medicine Bow also generally houses the staff from Reservation Services, who bring food to the camps and take care of the camp's business happenings. It is also home to the reservation's motorboat, "The Charlie Brown", which patrols the pond for capsized boats. Medicine Bow's color is red, and its mascot is Elmo the Elk, who presides over Rathom Lodge during meals. Camp Medicine Bow's nickname is, "The Heart of Yawgoog", or "the cream between the two oreo cookies."The campsites of Camp Medicine Bow are named after Native Americans with two exceptions: Baden-Powell Provisional Camp and Campsite Dan Boone. The other camps include Cautantowit, Manchose, Manitoo, The Great One, Campsite of the Counselor In Training Corps, Netop, Neimpaug, Sequin (former sight of Baden Powell Provisional Camp, current home of Webelos Woods) Waskecke, Weemat, Wetuomuck, Wunegin, and Wuttah.

Camp Sandy Beach

Located somewhat to the north of Medicine Bow lies Camp Sandy Beach. It was built in the late-1920s around Jesse H. Metcalf Lodge. Today, Sandy Beach calls itself the "youngest and most spirited camp" as well as "the Powerhouse of Yawgoog." Sandy Beach maintains the Lane-Bliven Rifle Range, the Archery Range, the Trap Range, Camp craft, Beach Frontier, the Sandy Beach Waterfront, and the Scoutmaster Essentials Program. Sandy Beach's color is blue, and their mascot is Jim the Moose. The camp also houses the Reservation Baker, who works in the Bake Shoppe attached to the kitchen.

Camp Sandy Beach campsites are named after famous Americans in history and include the following: Abe Lincoln, Audubon, Backwoods, Davy Crockett, Donald H. Cady, George Washington, Jim Bridger, Jim Bowie, James West, John Glenn, Kit Carson, Lewis & Clark, Neil Armstrong, Norman Rockwell, Richard Byrd, Silver Buffalo, and Teddy Roosevelt.

Awards

There are many awards offered at Yawgoog Scout Reservation available to all groups, Scouts, Scouters, Troops and Patrols. A reservation-wide award is the Fishing Derby, where each week the winner takes home a fishing pole. Within each camp, the Troop of the Week and Camp Champion awards are given out.

Yawgoog Segments are perhaps the most common awards. Segments are small, curved, rectangular patches which go around the Yawgoog patch on a circular piece of material such as felt or leather. A felt circle found at the trading post can hold up to four rows of segments. The original ten segments started in 1951 were strips of cloth. They are the three CYs, the 1 through Veteran years, the Knights of Yawgoog and the now defunct Wincheck braves. There are now several segments awarded at the reservation.

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ee also

* Scouting in Rhode Island
* Camp Cachalot

References

External links

* [http://www.narragansettbsa.org/ Narragansett Council website]
* [http://www.campyawgoog.org/ Unofficial Camp Yawgoog website] (unofficial)
* [http://alumni.campyawgoog.org/ Alumni website] (unofficial)
* [http://www.mdc.net/~dbrier/yawgoog/trails/ The Story of the Yawgoog Trails] (unofficial)