Scouting in Massachusetts
 | This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (April 2016) |
| Scouting in Massachusetts | |||
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Scouting in Massachusetts includes both Girl Scout and Boy Scouts of America (BSA) organizations. Both were founded in the 1910s in Massachusetts. With a vigorous history, both organizations actively serve thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.
History
By 1910, a scout like group, Boston City Guard, was founded by Frank O. Carpenter of the English High School. In June 1910, the American Boy Scouts started organizing the Department of New England which was operational in August or September under chief department scout General William H. Oakes and based in Boston.[1] On February 1, 2019, Boy Scouts of America started allowing all-girl troops to be formed. A number of all-girl troops have been formed in Massachusetts. [2]
Boy Scouts of America in Massachusetts today
Cape Cod and the Islands Council
| Cape Cod and the Islands Council | |||
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| Owner | Boy Scouts of America | ||
| Headquarters | Yarmouthport, Massachusetts | ||
| Country | United States | ||
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| Website www.scoutscapecod.org | |||
The Cape Cod and the Islands Council serves Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket with the headquarters in Yarmouthport, Massachusetts. The Council owns two camps: Greenough Scout Reservation as well as Camp Richard. The Order of the Arrow lodge is Abake Mi-Sa-Na-Ki Lodge #393.
Mayflower Council
| Mayflower Council | |||
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| Owner | Boy Scouts of America | ||
| Headquarters | Marlborough, Massachusetts | ||
| Country | United States | ||
| Founded | 2017 | ||
| President | Michael Rotar | ||
| Council Commissioner | Mark Niedzielski | ||
| Scout Executive | Bryan Feather | ||
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| Website mayflowerbsa.org | |||
On March 28, 2017, Knox Trail Council and Old Colony Council voted to merge and create a new, combined council. The merger was executed on May 10, 2017; with the new council using the name 'Council 251' pending the selection of a new name. On August 30, 2017 members voted to become the Mayflower Council.[3] Mayflower Council is headquartered at the former Knox Trail Council office in Marlborough, Massachusetts and maintains the Canton, Massachusetts office of Old Colony Council as a satellite location.
The Order of the Arrow is represented by the new Tantamous Lodge #223; with the Owl as its totem.
Heart of New England Council
The Heart of New England Council was created in 2018 with the merger of the Mohegan Council and the Nashua Valley Council. Mohegan Council and Nashua Valley Councils voted to merge on May 31 and May 30 2018, respectively.[4] The Heart of New England Council consists of four districts; Massasoit, Mill Town, Quinsigamond, and Wachusett; and serves 62 communities in Central Massachusetts.
On October 20, 2018, the Order of the Arrow lodges from the former Councils merged, creating the Catamount Lodge #230.
| Heart of New England Council | |||
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| Owner | Boy Scouts of America | ||
| Headquarters | Lancaster, Massachusetts | ||
| Country | United States | ||
| Founded | 2018 | ||
| President | Rochelle Ray | ||
| Council Commissioner | Robert Shamgochian | ||
| Scout Executive | Todd Lamison | ||
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| Website http://heartofnewenglandbsa.org/about/ | |||
The Council operates Treasure Valley Scout Reservation, founded in 1926 in Rutland, Massachusetts. Treasure Valley Scout Reservation serves as a summer camp for both Scouts BSA and Cub Scouts. Treasure Valley Scout Reservation consists of over 1600 acres of land expanding over the towns of Rutland, Spencer, Paxton, and Oakham, Massachusetts. The Council also operates Camp Wanocksett and Camp Split Rock.
Mohegan Council, founded in 1911, served Central Massachusetts in the southern portion of Worcester County, Massachusetts. Mohegan Council was one of the only Councils in New England to last over 100 years without a merger. The Order of the Arrow Lodge for Mohegan Council was Pachachaug Lodge #525, founded in 1957. The word "Pachachaug" is the Nipmuc[5] word meaning "turning point" because joining the Order of the Arrow can be a turning point for a scout's life. Pachachaug Lodge proudly served its home camp of Treasure Valley Scout Reservation, and annually gave over 3,000 hours of service there. As of 2017, Pachachaug Lodge had 350 dues paid members. In its history, Pachachaug Lodge had 3 members serve as the Northeast Region Chief of the Order of the Arrow. The totem of Pachachaug Lodge #525 was the Thunderbird.
Nashua Valley Council served north-central Massachusetts and was formed in 1965 from the merger of the Wachusett Council and the Fitchburg Area Council. The Order of the Arrow Lodge was Grand Monadnock Lodge.
Narragansett Council
| Narragansett Council | |||
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| Owner | Boy Scouts of America | ||
| Headquarters | East Providence, Rhode Island | ||
| Country | United States | ||
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| Website www.narragansettbsa.org | |||
Narragansett Council is based in East Providence, Rhode Island and serves part of Massachusetts, as well as all of Rhode Island and part of Connecticut. The council gained a significant foothold in Massachusetts through merger with the former Moby Dick Council in 2001, and increased its area through merger with the former Annawon Council in 2016. Council camps in Massachusetts include Cachalot Scout Reservation (Plymouth), Camp Norse (Kingston), and Camp Buxton (Rehoboth). The council also operates Yawgoog Scout Reservation in Rhode Island. The Order of the Arrow Lodge is Tulpe Lodge #102.
Spirit of Adventure Council
| Spirit of Adventure Council | |||
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| Owner | Boy Scouts of America | ||
| Headquarters | Milton, MA | ||
| Country | United States | ||
| Founded | 2015 | ||
| President | Jack Klinck, Jr. | ||
| Council Commissioner | Jack Terrill | ||
| Scout Executive | Chuck Eaton | ||
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| Website [1] | |||
The Spirit of Adventure Council was formed from a merger of the Yankee Clipper Council and Boston Minuteman Council on July 1, 2015. As part of this merger, New Hampshire towns of the former Yankee Clipper Council were transferred to Daniel Webster Council headquartered in Manchester, NH.
Western Massachusetts Council
The Western Massachusetts Council was created on June 28, 2008 with the merger of Great Trails Council and Pioneer Valley Council. Geographically, it is the largest BSA council in Massachusetts serving Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties and the town of Stamford, Vermont. The council operates Scout office-service centers in Westfield and Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and year-round camping facilities at Horace A. Moses Scout Reservation in Russell. It formerly operated Chesterfield Scout Reservation in Chesterfield, Massachusetts.
The Western Massachusetts Council is divided into three districts:
- Appalachian Trail District
- Metacomet District
- General Knox District
Order of the Arrow – The Pocumtuc Lodge of the Western Massachusetts Council was formed by the merger of Memsochet Lodge 507 (Great Trails Council) and Allogagan Lodge 83 (Pioneer Valley Council)[6] on September 28, 2008. Pocumtuc Lodge serves the BSA summer camp at Horace A. Moses Scout Reservation, with OA days occurring on Wednesdays during summer weeks. During OA days, Brotherhood conversations are done and there is lodge fellowship.
George W. Magee Memorial Trust Fund
The George W. Magee Memorial Trust Fund is a Massachusetts-based trust whose proceeds are used to support the purchase and improvement of the camps operated by BSA Councils in Massachusetts.[7]
History
George W. P. Magee was a theatrical agent and manager who most notably managed Boston's Grand Opera House from the 1890s through 1916. Being very involved in the community, he saw Scouting as a program making significant positive impact on the lives of young men. He turned this belief into a permanent commitment to Scouting, by establishing a trust upon his death. [8]
George Magee died in 1939, with France Cornell and Frederick W. Cook becoming the original Trustees of the fund. It took nearly 5 years, until 1944, for the fund to reach the minimum level for income to be distributed ($500,000). In 1944, the fund distributed $11,000. Upon the death of Mr. Cornell in 1961, the Old Colony Trust Company became the sole corporate trustee of the fund.
Today
As of 2004, the fund had a market value of approximately $7.3 million, with an annual distribution of $210,000. Over its lifetime, the fund has contributed over $6.2 million to hundreds of projects, impacting over a million youth, at various Boy Scout camps. Funds are held by the Private Bank at Bank of America, the current successor of the Old Colony Trust Company, and they are advised by a committee composed of local Scouting professionals and volunteers. Many Massachusetts camps conduct a "Magee Night" competition or other similar event to celebrate Mr. Magee's contribution, and it is quite easy to find buildings named after Mr. Magee or with plaques bearing his name.
Councils requesting money typically make proposals to the advisory committee, stating the purpose of the project, the amount being requested, and any moneys being provided through other sources. Only Councils located in Massachusetts are eligible, although as the will reads the camps that benefit may be located elsewhere in New England.
Girl Scout Councils in Massachusetts
There are three Girl Scout councils serving Massachusetts, one of which is headquartered in Rhode Island.
Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts
Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts serves 15,000 girls in 186 communities. It was formed by a merger in early 2008 of three councils: Girl Scouts of Montachusett Council, Girl Scouts of Pioneer Valley, Girl Scouts of Western Massachusetts.
Headquarters: Holyoke, Massachusetts and Worcester, Massachusetts
website: www
Camps
- Bonnie Brae, East Otis, Massachusetts
- Green Eyrie, Harvard, Massachusetts
- Laurel Wood, Spencer, Massachusetts
- Lewis Perkins, South Hadley, Massachusetts
Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts
Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts serves more than 45,000 girls and 17,000 adults in 177 Massachusetts communities and South Hampton, New Hampshire. It was formed February 1, 2008 by a merger of three councils: Girls Scouts, Patriots' Trail; Girl Scout Council of Southeastern Massachusetts; Girl Scouts of Spar and Spindle Council.
Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts
website: www
Service Centers
Camps
- Camp Maude Eaton, Andover, Massachusetts
- Camp Favorite, Brewster, Massachusetts Available activities include sailing and accommodations are usually platform tents.
- Camp Rice Moody, Reading, Massachusetts
- Camp Wabasso, Bradford, New Hampshire
- Camp Menotomy, Meredith, New Hampshire
- Camp Runels, Pelham, New Hampshire
- Camp Wind-in-the-Pines, Plymouth, Massachusetts
- Camp Cedar Hill, Waltham, Massachusetts
- Friendship House, Gloucester, Massachusetts
- Wampanoag Girl Scout Center (Chilmark), Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
- Cedar Hill Program Center, Waltham, Massachusetts
Former Girl Scout Camps
- Camp Edith Reed, Norton, Massachusetts
- Greenbrier Girl Scout Center, Acushnet, Massachusetts
- Camp Virginia, Bolton, Massachusetts
- Camp Winnetaska, Ashland, Massachusetts
- Marion White, Richmond, Massachusetts
- Neyati, Leicester, Massachusetts
- Kinnebrook, Worthington, Massachusetts
- Camp Malcolm, Needham, Massachusetts
Girl Scouts of Rhode Island
This council supports Massachusetts girls in Bellingham, Blackstone, Attleboro, Fall River, North Attleboro, Plainville, Somerset, Swansea, Westport, Wrentham, Millville, Rehoboth and Seekonk.
Former Girl Scout Camps
- Camp Muriel Flagg is a locale in Williamstown, Massachusetts named for Muriel Flagg, a Girl Scout leader and teacher. Originally a Girl Scout camp, it opened in June 1964 and probably ceased operations in the late 1970s or early 1980s. It is located at an elevation of 1,004 feet (306.0 m) and is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of Williamstown in Berkshire County Latitude 42°44′28″N 073°11′08″W / 42.74111°N 73.18556°W
Scouting museums
- Girl Scout Museum, Waltham, Massachusetts
- Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Massachusetts
- Girl Scout Museum, Leeds Service Center, Leeds, Massachusetts
- Casoni Scout Museum, Camp Sqaunto , Plymouth, Massachusetts
See also
References
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2009) |
- ^ Page 413-416. The Boy Scout Movement. New Boston: A Chronicle of Progress in Developing a Greater and Finer City, Volume 1. Boston 1915, Incorporated, 1910. Accessed on January 17, 2014.
- ^ Staff. "Six new Boy Scout Troops for Girls Launch in Region". Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
- ^ Covino, Carlene. "Council 251 Becomes Mayflower Council". Mayflower Council | BSA. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
- ^ "COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP APPROVAL". Archived from the original on 2018-07-11.
- ^ Brooks, Lisa (2018). Our beloved kin : a new history of King Philip's War. p. 175. ISBN 978-0300196733. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- ^ "The Path To Pocumtuc". Virtual Patch Collection. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03.
- ^ 60 Years of Scouting Support: The George W. Magee Memorial Trust Fund. 2004.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ Last Will and Testament of George W. P. Magee. June 25, 1938.
External links
- "Isaac Davis Historic Trail Camporee".
- "Scouts NewEngland - covers everything Scouting related for all six New England states".
- "Shingebis Lodge 490". Archived from the original on 2005-02-06. Retrieved 2006-03-04.
- "Old Colony Council".
- "Narragansett Council Cachalot District".
- "Narragansett Council Massasoit District".
- "Camp Noquochoke information".
- "South Coast Today Letters from Camp".
- "Memories of a Westport, Massachusetts Scoutmaster". Archived from the original on 2006-09-02. Retrieved 2006-07-16.
- "Massachusetts Girl Scouts Records, 1915-1967". Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.