Camp Mitigwa
Encyclopedia
The Mid Iowa Council is a council of the Boy Scouts of America that serves all Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, adult volunteers and Venturers in Central Iowa. This includes the area of the state capital, Des Moines
.http://www.midiowacouncilbsa.org
Theoretically there are two other districts in the council, one each for Venturing and Learning for Life.
, Iowa
, United States, north of the state capital in, Des Moines
. The camp has over 450 acres (1.8 km²) of rolling valleys and ridges. Lake Fisher is a man made lake which provides opportunities for canoeing, rowing, and fishing. The camp has six year-round wood heated cabins available for weekend rental through the council service center, as well as a heated shower facility. A thirty foot, five-sided Rappelling
Tower is located in the camp. As well as a C.O.P.E. (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience), which includes a 400’ zipline, 30’ flying squirrel, and a triangle event that includes a Gap Step, Balance Beam and Skywalk
events. Both the tower and the C.O.P.E. course can be reserved by a troop or crew. Bear Creak Lodge is the newest facility at Camp Mitigwa used as the Cub Scout Dining Hall.
Each summer Camp Mitigwa offers five one-week residence camping experiences for Boy Scouts. At the present time Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts camp at the same time. However this has been a topic of much controversy in late years, because for many years Cub Scouts camped later in the summer season.
Camp Mitigwa has one full-time, year-round camp ranger. He is provided a residence on camp. In the past the council has also employed a year round Assistant Ranger and a summer seasonal assistant ranger.
ORFs (Old Retired Fellows) are skilled in trades such as plumbing, woodworking, or electrical work and provide much maintenance. Their work can be seen all over camp and usually branded with a logo denoting their work. The Mitigwa Lodge provides more than ten workdays each year to help maintain the property.
The rest of Camp Mitigwa's 450 acres (1.8 km²) are still wild.
Located on Frankel Ridge: Wakan, Chanotedah, Hopi, and Zuni.
Located on Blank Ridge: Ottawa, Chippewa, Pawnee, Fox, Osage, Piegon, and Sioux.
Located on Casady Ridge: Kick-a-poo, Mohawk, Onieda, Osage, Kiowa, Crow, Seneca, Iroquois, and Navajo.
There are currently three forts on the property. The first Fort Pella is located on Frankel Ridge. The second Fort Clatsop is located on Casady Ridge. The third is Old Fort Madison located on the far end of Frankel Ridge. A fort known as Fort JC used to exist near the present day Raymond Blank Dining Hall.
All buildings at Camp Mitigwa are painted "Brewer Brown" which is more commonly known as Zanzibar Brown.
Recently Camp has gone through many improvements, renovations to the Frankel pool have allowed for cub scouts to swim.
Camp also boasts several expensive stone monuments. One located at each of the two west entrances, one large statue inside the main gate, a small monument with directions near the main parking lot and a large monument notating which ridge is Blank and which is Frankel.
Scouting's national honor society is represented in the Mid-Iowa Council by the Mitigwa Lodge. The lodge is administratively divided into chapters corresponding to the council's districts. The Mitigwa Lodge is part of Section C-5B, in the Central Region
.
In 1970 the Southern Iowa Council merged with Tall Corn Area Council to form the Mid-Iowa Council. The Bo Qui Lodge then merged with the Mitigwa lodge. The former Bo Qui Lodge is the present day Golden Eagle Chapter and part of the present Bo Qui Chapter as well.
In 1973 the camp hosted its 50th anniversary with great scouting fanfare and an enormous bon fire celebration held by the Order of the Arrow. Hundreds of scouts participated in the late night ceremony that culminated with the lighting of a 15 feet (4.6 m) pyramid of logs it was an awe inspiring moment.
for the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) both in 1998 and 2004. Serving as the host lodge for both conferences, instead of sending a contingent the Mitigwa Lodge provided hundreds of Arrowmen as part of the service lodge corps.
Order of the Arrow
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
.http://www.midiowacouncilbsa.org
Organization
The council is administratively divided into districts:- Golden Eagle District South and East of Des Moines
- Bo Qui District South of Des Moines
- Hawkeye District South and East of Des Moines
- Raccoon River Valley District West of Des Moines
- TaMaHa District East of Des Moines
- Broken Arrow District North of Des Moines
Theoretically there are two other districts in the council, one each for Venturing and Learning for Life.
Council Properties
The Mid Iowa Council also manages several properties including Camp Mitigwa, Grinnell Scoutland, Strother's Lodge and prior to 2008, Camp Wapello.Camp Mitigwa
Camp Mitigwa is located northeast of WoodwardWoodward, Iowa
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,200 people, 490 households, and 309 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,319.1 people per square mile . There were 528 housing units at an average density of 580.4 per square mile...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, United States, north of the state capital in, Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. The camp has over 450 acres (1.8 km²) of rolling valleys and ridges. Lake Fisher is a man made lake which provides opportunities for canoeing, rowing, and fishing. The camp has six year-round wood heated cabins available for weekend rental through the council service center, as well as a heated shower facility. A thirty foot, five-sided Rappelling
Abseiling
Abseiling , rappelling in American English, is the controlled descent down a rock face using a rope; climbers use this technique when a cliff or slope is too steep and/or dangerous to descend without protection.- Slang terms :...
Tower is located in the camp. As well as a C.O.P.E. (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience), which includes a 400’ zipline, 30’ flying squirrel, and a triangle event that includes a Gap Step, Balance Beam and Skywalk
Skyway
In an urban setting, a skyway, catwalk, sky bridge, or skywalk is a type of pedway consisting of an enclosed or covered bridge between two buildings. This protects pedestrians from the weather. These skyways are usually owned by businesses, and are therefore not public spaces...
events. Both the tower and the C.O.P.E. course can be reserved by a troop or crew. Bear Creak Lodge is the newest facility at Camp Mitigwa used as the Cub Scout Dining Hall.
Each summer Camp Mitigwa offers five one-week residence camping experiences for Boy Scouts. At the present time Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts camp at the same time. However this has been a topic of much controversy in late years, because for many years Cub Scouts camped later in the summer season.
Camp staff and maintenance
Summer camp staff is hired only for the summer season and usually consists of 30-50 high school and college students. Positions range from instructing children, managing a trading post, serving as a health officer, and life guarding at either one of the two pools or the lake.Camp Mitigwa has one full-time, year-round camp ranger. He is provided a residence on camp. In the past the council has also employed a year round Assistant Ranger and a summer seasonal assistant ranger.
ORFs (Old Retired Fellows) are skilled in trades such as plumbing, woodworking, or electrical work and provide much maintenance. Their work can be seen all over camp and usually branded with a logo denoting their work. The Mitigwa Lodge provides more than ten workdays each year to help maintain the property.
Geography
Camp Mitigwa has three main ridges, each developed for camping. They are:- Blank Ridge- Raymond A. Blank Ridge is currently used for Boy Scout Camping and is the central ridge of the camp. The majority of camp activities take place in and around the facilities on this ridge.
- Frankel Ridge- When the camp opened in 1923 Frankel Ridge was opened for Boy Scout camping. Since 2007 Frankel Ridge has been utilized only for Cub Scout Camping.
- Casady Ridge- Currently used for Boy Scout Camping. This Ridge was originally known as Buffalo Ridge, and still appears on maps this way. The ridge also contains four adirondacks which can be used by Scouts in camp.
Trails
- The Lake Front Trail- This trail offers an excellent views of the woodland of Mitigwa between Blank and Frankel Ridges. It goes between the Raymond Blank Memorial Dining Hall and the Frankel Ridge parking lot. The trail also passes by Lake Fisher. This trail was constructed by the Mitigwa Lodge.
- The Dan Beard Trail- The Mitigwa Lodge is currently constructing a trail that will eventually surround the entire camp. Named after Dan Beard, the trail offers an excellent view of the Mitigwa backwoods and the Des Moines River valley. The trail is expected to be completed by the 2010 camping season. The trail offers access to both outpost campsites on the south end of the property. Hidden treasures such as the Hidden Lake and Sulfur springs are visible from the trail. The trail follows portions of older trails that once went through the camp, old signs can still be found throughout the backwoods of the camp property marking these old trails.
The rest of Camp Mitigwa's 450 acres (1.8 km²) are still wild.
Campsites
Camp Mitigwa utilizes 20 campsites and has at least 4 that are no longer used.Located on Frankel Ridge: Wakan, Chanotedah, Hopi, and Zuni.
Located on Blank Ridge: Ottawa, Chippewa, Pawnee, Fox, Osage, Piegon, and Sioux.
Located on Casady Ridge: Kick-a-poo, Mohawk, Onieda, Osage, Kiowa, Crow, Seneca, Iroquois, and Navajo.
Facilities
The camp features two dining facilities, two staff housing areas, two staff lounges, and two trading posts.There are currently three forts on the property. The first Fort Pella is located on Frankel Ridge. The second Fort Clatsop is located on Casady Ridge. The third is Old Fort Madison located on the far end of Frankel Ridge. A fort known as Fort JC used to exist near the present day Raymond Blank Dining Hall.
All buildings at Camp Mitigwa are painted "Brewer Brown" which is more commonly known as Zanzibar Brown.
Recently Camp has gone through many improvements, renovations to the Frankel pool have allowed for cub scouts to swim.
Camp also boasts several expensive stone monuments. One located at each of the two west entrances, one large statue inside the main gate, a small monument with directions near the main parking lot and a large monument notating which ridge is Blank and which is Frankel.
Grinnell Scoutland
Grinnell Scoutland is 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of hardwood timber southwest of Grinnell, Iowa. The camp is ideal for Scouts who want to test their skills in a rustic outdoor environment. Scoutland offers primitive camping in seven campsite, camporee field, and an open air cement block shelter house with a fireplace and electricity for weekend camping. Other amenities include water, parade field with flag pole and large parking area.Strother Lodge at Foster Acres
Foster Acres is located on the north edge of Ottumwa, has a shelter, Strother Lodge, primitive campsites and trails. Strother Lodge is a heated building with kitchen facilities and water. The lodge includes six tables and chairs for 50 when used as a meeting room, or enough room to sleep 20 on the floor as an overnight facility. Strother Lodge is available year round.Camp Wapello
As of 2008 Camp Wapello is no longer being managed by the Mid Iowa Council. Camp Wapello is located on the water’s edge of Scout Bay on Lake Wapello in southeastern Iowa. It was a part of former Southern Iowa Council and is now managed by a private foundation, the Camp Wapello Preservation Group. Camp Wapello was utilized by Scouts and Scouters in Southern Iowa for many years, because of this the foundation is dedicated to preserving Camp Wapello and keeping the camp part of the Scouting program in Southern Iowa.Mitigwa Lodge
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...
Scouting's national honor society is represented in the Mid-Iowa Council by the Mitigwa Lodge. The lodge is administratively divided into chapters corresponding to the council's districts. The Mitigwa Lodge is part of Section C-5B, in the Central Region
Central Region (Boy Scouts of America)
For administrative purposes, the Boy Scouts of America is divided into four regions — Central, Southern, Western, and Northeast. Each region is then subdivided into areas...
.
History
Camp Mitigwa was founded in 1923. The council's first honor society was the Old Guard, founded in 1931. The Old Guard was responsible for camp promotion and improvement, membership retention and service. Mitigwa Lodge was founded in 1951 with 72 members of the Old Guard being inducted by members of the Illini Lodge.In 1970 the Southern Iowa Council merged with Tall Corn Area Council to form the Mid-Iowa Council. The Bo Qui Lodge then merged with the Mitigwa lodge. The former Bo Qui Lodge is the present day Golden Eagle Chapter and part of the present Bo Qui Chapter as well.
In 1973 the camp hosted its 50th anniversary with great scouting fanfare and an enormous bon fire celebration held by the Order of the Arrow. Hundreds of scouts participated in the late night ceremony that culminated with the lighting of a 15 feet (4.6 m) pyramid of logs it was an awe inspiring moment.
National Order of the Arrow Conference
The Mitigwa Lodge welcomed Arrowmen from around the country to Iowa State UniversityIowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
for the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) both in 1998 and 2004. Serving as the host lodge for both conferences, instead of sending a contingent the Mitigwa Lodge provided hundreds of Arrowmen as part of the service lodge corps.
External links
Order of the Arrow