Cradle of Liberty Council
Encyclopedia
The Cradle of Liberty Council (#525) is a Boy Scouts of America
council created in 1996 with the merger of the former Philadelphia Council (covering the city and county of Philadelphia
) and the former Valley Forge Council (covering Delaware
and Montgomery
counties).
The present council is the result of the 1996 merger of Philadelphia and Valley Forge councils. Philadelphia Council was founded in 1911. In 1913, the Council opened one of the earliest Scout camps in the United States, Treasure Island Scout Reservation
, near Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania
. Two years later, Dr. E. Urner Goodman
and Carrol Edson founded the Order of the Arrow
there, inducting the first members on July 16, 1915.
The Valley Forge Council began operation in the 1910s as Delaware and Montgomery County Council, although the council office was never within the council boundaries (in Center City Philadelphia until the 1960s when it was moved to Valley Forge in Chester County.) The council was renamed "Valley Forge Council" in the early 1950s. The council was named for the George Washington's historic winter encampment of 1777-78 at Valley Forge
. The council opened Camp Delmont (later called "Delmont Scout Reservation" as of the early 1960s) in 1916 in Green Lane, Pennsylvania
.
In 1955, some 4,600 acres became available in Marshall's Creek. Site of a hunting facility, it was found admirably suited for Scouting purposes and purchased jointly by the "Federation" of Philadelphia and Valley Forge Councils to create Resica Falls Scout Reservation. Joint development and use occurred until 1965, when Valley Forge Council bought out Philadelphia Council's interest and the federation was dissolved. When the two councils merged in 1996 to create Cradle of Liberty Council, scouts from Philadelphia, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties once again camp together. Valley Forge council was also host to the oldest annual Scouting event in the nation, the Valley Forge Pilgrimage and Encampment
, which is still sponsored by Cradle of Liberty Council.
During the 1980s and 1990s, much of Philadelphia's population moved to the suburbs. Although most Philadelphia area businesses were headquartered in the city, most of their senior managers lived in Delaware and Montgomery Counties. This caused Philadelphia and Valley Forge Councils to raise funds from the same funding base. Accordingly, the two councils' executive boards began the merger process in 1993, which was finalized in 1996.
When councils merge, so do their Order of the Arrow lodges. Philadelphia's OA lodge, Unami One, was founded in 1915 on Treasure Island, and recognized as the first lodge nationally. Valley Forge Council's OA lodge, Delmont Lodge 43, the much larger of the two lodges, was founded in 1929 at Camp Delmont. When the councils merged, Delmont decided to merge with Unami Lodge and retain Unami's name.
.
The Bruce Marks Scout Resource Center in Philadelphia was built in 1929. The Beaux Arts style building was designed by architect Charles Klauder
. At the time city fathers invited the Scouts to move their offices to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
. The building was built and paid for by the Scouts, and turned over to the city with the understanding that the Scouts would be allowed to remain in it rent-free "in perpetuity." The building is located at 22nd and Winter Streets. The first copy of the R. Tait McKenzie
sculpture The Ideal Scout stands outside the building.
The Roger S. Firestone Scout Resource Center, the former Valley Forge office, serves as the suburban access point. It is located in Wayne, on the northern fringes of the Main Line
area. Most of the council's activities and training sessions occur in the suburban office. Due to its size and flooring area, and it has been slated for expansion since the merger. The city office, which houses the Scout Executive and District Executives for the districts within the city limits, has less space for training, and has been maintained mainly for easier access to city residents.
. The Historic Landmark building laden with Scouting symbols was built and paid for by the Scouts on city land at the city's request in 1929 and the cost of maintenance and renovation has been borne by the Boy Scout council ever since.
This resulted in the Cradle of Liberty Council, Inc., Boy Scouts of America, v. City of Philadelphia also known as Cradle of Liberty Council v. City of Philadelphia, [2:08-cv-02429RB] which was a U.S. Court case involving the Cradle of Liberty Council versus the City of Philadelphia. The case was filed on May 23, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
. Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter
presided over the case. The Boy Scouts were represented by Drinker Biddle
. The case ended with the court ruling in favor of the Boy Scouts of America that the City of Philadelphia illegally attempted to abrogate the Council's federally protected civil rights. Under federal Civil Rights Law, the Cradle of Liberty Council Council is also entitled to collect its legal costs (estimated at one million dollars) from the city's unlawful action. As a result, the city and the Cradle of Liberty Council are engaged in negotiations to transfer the building from the city to the council in exchange for the council not collecting those legal costs from the city
(from the merger of Delmont Scout Reservation and Hart Scout Reservation) near Green Lane, and the Resica Falls Scout Reservation
, which is composed of Camp Firestone and Camp Big Springs, north of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
on the edge of the Poconos
. While Camp Big Springs is still an active summer camp, the declining attendance and enrollment of the Camp Firestone summer program has caused Firestone to close. Resica Falls is situated near the controversial Tocks Island Dam
project of the 1960s, now the present-day Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area
.
The twin camps of Hart and Delmont had been operated by the Philadelphia and Valley Forge councils respectively before the merger. Their consolidation under the name Musser Scout Reservation was a tribute to Pete Musser
and the Musser family, long-time Scouting supporters.
Until recently the council also operated Treasure Island Scout Reservation, sometimes called TI. The camp was damaged by Delaware River flooding in 2005 and again in 2006, forcing its closure for the 2005 and 2006 summer camp seasons. In September 2008, the Council Executive Board ratified the recommendation of the Camping Committee and the executive committee to close Treasure Island effective October 1, 2008.
in Cheltenham
on York Road, below Washington Lane. Breyer donated the former Wanamaker land to the Boy Scouts of America for use as a wildlife preserve. The camp was accessible to city-scouts by taking the train to the Jenkintown station
. Camp Henry W. Breyer (40.0853°N 75.1311°W) was sold by the Philadelphia Council in 1990 and is now the site of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry
.
At one point, the Philadelphia Council was also given a tract of land near the Roxborough Reservoir at Port Royal Avenue and Eva Street (40.0556°N 75.2438°W). and was called the Dale Sea Scout Base. This land was eventually sold and is now part of the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education. Also, the Philadelphia council also owned Camp Biddle on the Darby Creek (Pennsylvania)
in Marple Township
. (39.9967°N 75.3550°W). The camp was named after Anthony J. Drexel Biddle
.
Lodge, Unami Lodge One, was where the OA began at Treasure Island Scout Reservationin 1915, and in 2005 celebrated its 90th anniversary.
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...
council created in 1996 with the merger of the former Philadelphia Council (covering the city and county of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
) and the former Valley Forge Council (covering Delaware
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
and Montgomery
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
counties).
History
Treasure Island (Scout reservation)
Treasure Island is a Boy Scout property located between Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania and Frenchtown, New Jersey, United States. The property is situated on two islands in the middle of the Delaware River and owned by the Cradle of Liberty Council...
, near Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Point Pleasant is an unincorporated community in Tinicum and Plumstead Townships of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies on both sides of Tohickon Creek by the creek's confluence with the Delaware River; the creek is the dividing line between the townships...
. Two years later, Dr. E. Urner Goodman
E. Urner Goodman
Edward Urner Goodman was an influential leader in the Boy Scouts of America movement for much of the twentieth century. Goodman was the national program director from 1931 until 1951, during the organization's formative years of significant growth when the Cub Scouting and Exploring programs were...
and Carrol Edson founded the 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...
there, inducting the first members on July 16, 1915.
The Valley Forge Council began operation in the 1910s as Delaware and Montgomery County Council, although the council office was never within the council boundaries (in Center City Philadelphia until the 1960s when it was moved to Valley Forge in Chester County.) The council was renamed "Valley Forge Council" in the early 1950s. The council was named for the George Washington's historic winter encampment of 1777-78 at Valley Forge
Valley Forge
Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War.-History:...
. The council opened Camp Delmont (later called "Delmont Scout Reservation" as of the early 1960s) in 1916 in Green Lane, Pennsylvania
Green Lane, Pennsylvania
Green Lane is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 508 at the 2010 census.It is part of the Upper Perkiomen School District and Boyertown Area School District.-Geography:...
.
In 1955, some 4,600 acres became available in Marshall's Creek. Site of a hunting facility, it was found admirably suited for Scouting purposes and purchased jointly by the "Federation" of Philadelphia and Valley Forge Councils to create Resica Falls Scout Reservation. Joint development and use occurred until 1965, when Valley Forge Council bought out Philadelphia Council's interest and the federation was dissolved. When the two councils merged in 1996 to create Cradle of Liberty Council, scouts from Philadelphia, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties once again camp together. Valley Forge council was also host to the oldest annual Scouting event in the nation, the Valley Forge Pilgrimage and Encampment
Valley Forge Pilgrimage
The Valley Forge Pilgrimage and Encampment is the oldest annual Scouting event in the World. It was first held on February 22, 1913 , and has been held every year since. The event is hosted by the Cradle of Liberty Council and commemorates the soldiers of the Continental Army who braved the winter...
, which is still sponsored by Cradle of Liberty Council.
During the 1980s and 1990s, much of Philadelphia's population moved to the suburbs. Although most Philadelphia area businesses were headquartered in the city, most of their senior managers lived in Delaware and Montgomery Counties. This caused Philadelphia and Valley Forge Councils to raise funds from the same funding base. Accordingly, the two councils' executive boards began the merger process in 1993, which was finalized in 1996.
When councils merge, so do their Order of the Arrow lodges. Philadelphia's OA lodge, Unami One, was founded in 1915 on Treasure Island, and recognized as the first lodge nationally. Valley Forge Council's OA lodge, Delmont Lodge 43, the much larger of the two lodges, was founded in 1929 at Camp Delmont. When the councils merged, Delmont decided to merge with Unami Lodge and retain Unami's name.
Organization
- Baden-PowellRobert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-PowellRobert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
District — Serving AmblerAmbler, PennsylvaniaAmbler is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in the United States, approximately 16 miles north of Philadelphia.- Village of Wissahickon:...
, Blue BellBlue Bell, PennsylvaniaBlue Bell is a census-designated place in Whitpain Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 6,067....
, ConshohockenConshohocken, PennsylvaniaConshohocken is a borough on the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in suburban Philadelphia. Historically a large mill town and industrial and manufacturing center, after the decline of industry in recent years Conshohocken has developed into a center of riverfront commercial and...
, Lafayette HillLafayette Hill, PennsylvaniaLafayette Hill is a small unincorporated community in Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.Lafayette Hill is located just west of Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill neighborhood, and south of Plymouth Meeting...
, Lower GwyneddLower Gwynedd Township, PennsylvaniaLower Gwynedd Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 11,405 at the 2010 census. The township comprises four villages: Gwynedd, Gwynedd Valley, Penllyn, and Spring House....
, OrelandOreland, PennsylvaniaOreland is a United States census-designated place in Springfield and Upper Dublin townships, just outside of the Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy areas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, Plymouth MeetingPlymouth Meeting, PennsylvaniaPlymouth Meeting is a census-designated place in the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the northern terminus of the "Blue Route" and the southern terminus of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension . The population was 6,177 at the 2010 census...
, Upper DublinUpper Dublin Township, PennsylvaniaUpper Dublin Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,569 at the 2010 census.Upper Dublin is made up of several community areas, many of which are unincorporated areas in Montgomery County with no legal status, and are used primarily by the US...
and WhitemarshWhitemarsh Township, PennsylvaniaWhitemarsh Township is a Home Rule Municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. However, it maintains its former classification of "Township" in its official name. The population was 17,349 at the 2010 census.-History:... - Conestoga District — Interboro, Ridley, Southeast Delco, Springfield, Upper Darby and William Penn School Districts in Delaware County, PA
- Continental District — Serving Pottstown, Pottsgrove, Boyertown & Upper Perkiomen School Districts (North-West Montgomery County)
- Constellation District — Haverford, Lower Merion, Marple Newtown & Radnor Townships
- Roosevelt District — Serving Northeast PhiladelphiaNortheast PhiladelphiaNortheast Philadelphia, nicknamed Northeast Philly, the Northeast and the Great Northeast, is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 Census, the Northeast has a sizable percentage of the city's 1.547 million people — a population of between 300,000 and 450,000,...
- Serving Northeast Philadelphia From the Delaware River (East) to the Northeastern Philadelphia City Line (North and West) to Roosevelt Blvd (South). Roosevelt District was formed due to the merger of Delaware and Frontier District in June 2011. - General Nash District — Souderton and North Penn School Districts in Montgomery County, PennsylvaniaMontgomery County, PennsylvaniaMontgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
- Lafayette District — Serving the Communities & School Districts of Upper Merion, Norristown, Methacton, Perkiomen Valley, and Royersford/Spring City
- Minquas District — Serving the youth of Chichester, Chester-Upland, Garnet Valley, Penn-Delco, Rose Tree-Media, and Wallingford-Swarthmore School Districts.
- Northern District — Serving Northwest PhiladelphiaNorthwest PhiladelphiaNorthwest Philadelphia is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The official boundary is Stenton Avenue to the north, the Schuylkill river to the south, Spring Ln to the west, and Wister Street to the east. The area is divided by Wissahickon Creek into two subsections...
- Triune District — Serving South PhiladelphiaSouth PhiladelphiaSouth Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...
, West PhiladelphiaWest PhiladelphiaWest Philadelphia, nicknamed West Philly, is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though there is no official definition of its boundaries, it is generally considered to reach from the western shore of the Schuylkill River, to City Line Avenue to the northwest, Cobbs Creek to the southwest, and...
, North PhiladelphiaNorth Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaNorth Philadelphia, nicknamed North Philly, is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is immediately north of Center City...
and Center CityCenter City, PhiladelphiaCenter City, or Downtown Philadelphia includes the central business district and central neighborhoods of the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. As of 2005, its population of over 88,000 made it the third most populous downtown in the United States, after New York City's and Chicago's...
Philadelphia - Washington District — Serving CheltenhamCheltenham Township, PennsylvaniaCheltenham Township is a home rule municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. Although it retains the word "Township" in its official name, it has been governed by a home rule charter since 1977 and is therefore not subject to the Pennsylvania Township Code. The population was...
, JenkintownJenkintown, PennsylvaniaJenkintown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles north of downtown Philadelphia. "Jenkintown" is also used to describe a number of neighborhoods surrounding the borough, which also are known by names such as Rydal, Jenkintown Manor and Noble...
, AbingtonAbington Township, Montgomery County, PennsylvaniaAbington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 55,310 in as of the 2010 census.Abington Township is one of Montgomery County's oldest communities dating back to before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704. It is home to some of the county's...
, Upper MorelandUpper Moreland Township, PennsylvaniaUpper Moreland Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 24,015 at the 2010 census. Upper Moreland Township is primarily a residential community with distinctive neighborhoods that are complemented by several thriving business, industrial, and...
, Lower MorelandLower Moreland Township, PennsylvaniaLower Moreland Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 12,982 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Hatboro-HorshamHatboro-Horsham School DistrictThe Hatboro-Horsham School District is located in Montgomery County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It encompasses an area of approximately with a population of 30,774...
, and Bryn AthynBryn Athyn, PennsylvaniaBryn Athyn is a home rule municipality, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was formerly a borough, and its official name remains "Borough of Bryn Athyn". The population was 1,375 at the 2010 census...
School Districts.
Council offices
As a result of the merger of the Valley Forge and Philadelphia councils, the Cradle of Liberty Council maintains two offices - the Bruce S. Marks Scout Resource Center in Philadelphia, and the Roger S. Firestone Scout Resource Center, in Wayne, PennsylvaniaWayne, Pennsylvania
Wayne is an unincorporated community located on the Main Line, centered in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. While the center of Wayne is in Radnor Township, Wayne extends into both Tredyffrin Township in Chester County and Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County...
.
The Bruce Marks Scout Resource Center in Philadelphia was built in 1929. The Beaux Arts style building was designed by architect Charles Klauder
Charles Klauder
Charles Zeller Klauder was an American architect best known for his work on university buildings and campus designs, especially his Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh, the first educational skyscraper.-Biography:...
. At the time city fathers invited the Scouts to move their offices to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a scenic boulevard that runs through the cultural heart of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Named for favorite son Benjamin Franklin, the mile-long Parkway cuts diagonally across the grid plan pattern of Center City's Northwest quadrant...
. The building was built and paid for by the Scouts, and turned over to the city with the understanding that the Scouts would be allowed to remain in it rent-free "in perpetuity." The building is located at 22nd and Winter Streets. The first copy of the R. Tait McKenzie
R. Tait McKenzie
Robert Tait McKenzie was an internationally renowned Canadian-born sculptor, doctor, soldier, physical educator, athlete and Scouter...
sculpture The Ideal Scout stands outside the building.
The Roger S. Firestone Scout Resource Center, the former Valley Forge office, serves as the suburban access point. It is located in Wayne, on the northern fringes of the Main Line
Pennsylvania Main Line
The Main Line is an unofficial historical and socio-cultural region of suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, comprising a collection of affluent towns built along the old Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad which ran northwest from downtown Philadelphia parallel to Lancaster Avenue , a road...
area. Most of the council's activities and training sessions occur in the suburban office. Due to its size and flooring area, and it has been slated for expansion since the merger. The city office, which houses the Scout Executive and District Executives for the districts within the city limits, has less space for training, and has been maintained mainly for easier access to city residents.
Headquarters controversy
The City of Philadelphia tried to evict the Council from their city-owned service center building on the Benjamin Franklin ParkwayBenjamin Franklin Parkway
Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a scenic boulevard that runs through the cultural heart of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Named for favorite son Benjamin Franklin, the mile-long Parkway cuts diagonally across the grid plan pattern of Center City's Northwest quadrant...
. The Historic Landmark building laden with Scouting symbols was built and paid for by the Scouts on city land at the city's request in 1929 and the cost of maintenance and renovation has been borne by the Boy Scout council ever since.
This resulted in the Cradle of Liberty Council, Inc., Boy Scouts of America, v. City of Philadelphia also known as Cradle of Liberty Council v. City of Philadelphia, [2:08-cv-02429RB] which was a U.S. Court case involving the Cradle of Liberty Council versus the City of Philadelphia. The case was filed on May 23, 2008 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is one of the original 13 federal judiciary districts created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
. Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter
Ronald L. Buckwalter
Ronald Lawrence Buckwalter is a United States federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania....
presided over the case. The Boy Scouts were represented by Drinker Biddle
Drinker Biddle & Reath
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP is a national law firm founded in Philadelphia in 1849 by John Christian Bullitt. The firm has 650 lawyers located in 11 offices in the United States: Philadelphia; Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Florham Park; Princeton; New York City; Albany; Los Angeles; San Francisco;...
. The case ended with the court ruling in favor of the Boy Scouts of America that the City of Philadelphia illegally attempted to abrogate the Council's federally protected civil rights. Under federal Civil Rights Law, the Cradle of Liberty Council Council is also entitled to collect its legal costs (estimated at one million dollars) from the city's unlawful action. As a result, the city and the Cradle of Liberty Council are engaged in negotiations to transfer the building from the city to the council in exchange for the council not collecting those legal costs from the city
Camps
Cradle of Liberty Council operates two camps in Pennsylvania: the Musser Scout ReservationMusser Scout Reservation
Musser Scout Reservation is a Boy Scout camp located along the Unami Creek on over of Marlborough Township, Pennsylvania. The Reservation is made up of three distinct camps: Camp Delmont, Camp Hart, and Camp Garrison. The reservation is part of the largest contiguous forest in Southeastern...
(from the merger of Delmont Scout Reservation and Hart Scout Reservation) near Green Lane, and the Resica Falls Scout Reservation
Resica Falls Scout Reservation
Resica Falls Scout Reservation is a camp in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania operated by the Cradle of Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The reservation is part of a conservation easement with the Natural Lands Trust....
, which is composed of Camp Firestone and Camp Big Springs, north of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg is the most populous municipality in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the Poconos region of the state. Originally known as "Dansbury", East Stroudsburg was renamed for geographic reasons when the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad opened a...
on the edge of the Poconos
The Poconos
The Pocono Mountains is a region located in northeastern Pennsylvania, United States. The Poconos, located chiefly in Monroe and Pike counties , are an upland of the larger Allegheny Plateau...
. While Camp Big Springs is still an active summer camp, the declining attendance and enrollment of the Camp Firestone summer program has caused Firestone to close. Resica Falls is situated near the controversial Tocks Island Dam
Tocks Island
Tocks Island, located upstream from Delaware Water Gap in the Delaware River was the controversial site of a dam, proposed in the 1950s, which would have created a 37-mile long lake between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, with depths of up to 140 feet...
project of the 1960s, now the present-day Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, administered by the National Park Service, preserves almost of land along the Delaware River's New Jersey and Pennsylvania shores, stretching from the Delaware Water Gap northward almost to the New York state line...
.
The twin camps of Hart and Delmont had been operated by the Philadelphia and Valley Forge councils respectively before the merger. Their consolidation under the name Musser Scout Reservation was a tribute to Pete Musser
Pete Musser
Warren V. "Pete" Musser, born in 1928, is the past Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., which he founded in 1953.He earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering at Lehigh University....
and the Musser family, long-time Scouting supporters.
Until recently the council also operated Treasure Island Scout Reservation, sometimes called TI. The camp was damaged by Delaware River flooding in 2005 and again in 2006, forcing its closure for the 2005 and 2006 summer camp seasons. In September 2008, the Council Executive Board ratified the recommendation of the Camping Committee and the executive committee to close Treasure Island effective October 1, 2008.
Other facilities
The council no longer owns any properties in or near Philadelphia. In 1929, Henry W. Breyer, Jr., purchased the abandoned Lindenhurst property once owned by John WanamakerJohn Wanamaker
John Wanamaker was a United States merchant, religious leader, civic and political figure, considered by some to be the father of modern advertising and a "pioneer in marketing." Wanamaker was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Biography:He was born on July 11, 1838.He opened his first store in...
in Cheltenham
Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania
Cheltenham Township is a home rule municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. Although it retains the word "Township" in its official name, it has been governed by a home rule charter since 1977 and is therefore not subject to the Pennsylvania Township Code. The population was...
on York Road, below Washington Lane. Breyer donated the former Wanamaker land to the Boy Scouts of America for use as a wildlife preserve. The camp was accessible to city-scouts by taking the train to the Jenkintown station
Jenkintown-Wyncote (SEPTA station)
Jenkintown–Wyncote is a SEPTA Regional Rail station along the SEPTA Main Line. It is located at the intersection of Greenwood Avenue and West Avenue in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.-Station:...
. Camp Henry W. Breyer (40.0853°N 75.1311°W) was sold by the Philadelphia Council in 1990 and is now the site of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry
Pennsylvania College of Optometry
Salus University was established by the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, one of the oldest colleges of optometry in North America, on July 1, 2008. PCO has established degree programs in other disciplines over the past twenty-five years...
.
At one point, the Philadelphia Council was also given a tract of land near the Roxborough Reservoir at Port Royal Avenue and Eva Street (40.0556°N 75.2438°W). and was called the Dale Sea Scout Base. This land was eventually sold and is now part of the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education. Also, the Philadelphia council also owned Camp Biddle on the Darby Creek (Pennsylvania)
Darby Creek (Pennsylvania)
thumb|Darby Creek where it crosses [[Pennsylvania Route 320|Route 320]] in [[Marple Township, Pennsylvania|Marple Township]]Darby Creek is a creek in Delaware County, Pennsylvania...
in Marple Township
Marple Township, Pennsylvania
Marple Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 23,737 at the 2000 census. ZIP codes include mainly 19008, but also partially 19064 and 19063.-Geography:...
. (39.9967°N 75.3550°W). The camp was named after Anthony J. Drexel Biddle
Anthony J. Drexel Biddle
Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle I , also known as Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Sr., was the man upon whom the book My Philadelphia Father and the play and film The Happiest Millionaire were based...
.
Unami Lodge
The Cradle of Liberty's 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...
Lodge, Unami Lodge One, was where the OA began at Treasure Island Scout Reservationin 1915, and in 2005 celebrated its 90th anniversary.