Daniel Webster Council
Encyclopedia
Daniel Webster Council is a division of the Boy Scouts of America
that serves most of New Hampshire
.
, a volunteer-led council was organized in Manchester, New Hampshire
. Initially there were only two troops, both of them chartered by the YMCA
. As Scouting
grew in popularity, three more makeshift and unrecognized councils sprang up in Dover
, Claremont
, and Portsmouth
. The council grew steadily and added a Scout Executive to its staff in 1919.
On January 9, 1920, the Manchester Council was granted an official charter with the Boy Scouts of America. At that time, the council represented ten troops and 256 Scouts within Manchester, and 87 troops with a total of 1621 Scouts in New Hampshire. In 1925, the Manchester Council acquired Camp Manning in Gilmanton
for use as a summer camp. While the Manchester Council grew rapidly, the rest of New Hampshire's Scouting program saw limited growth.
On May 25, 1929, the Manchester Council was renamed the Daniel Webster Council and expanded to cover Scouting for the entire state. The new name was derived from New Hampshire statesman Daniel Webster
.
reservation located near Gilmanton Iron Works
, New Hampshire
, United States
. There are two summer camps located within it: Hidden Valley Scout Camp and Camp Bell.
Covering over 3500 acres (1,416.4 ha) of forest, lakes, and mountains, the Scout Reservation was first run by the Norumbega Council. In 1971, the Daniel Webster Council acquired what was then called the Hidden Valley Scout Reservation. In 2000, the camp acquired additional land, which it named Camp Bell, and the total reservation was renamed Griswold Hidden Valley Scout Reservation.
Hidden Valley is run as a traditional Scout camp with full dining facilities and a wide variety of program areas and activities. Camp Bell is run with a higher emphasis on strengthening the Patrol Method. Campers do their own cooking in their sites, and participate in day-long activities as patrols. Camp Bell has a different variety of activities from Hidden Valley, including their "living history areas," and a different set of merit badges are available.
The land currently used primarily by Camp Bell has been used as the homes of many other camps, most recently Camp Manning, which after being sold by the Daniel Webster Council to private owners, changed ownership several times and had previously existed as a camp run by various organization such as the YMCA
who called it Camp Leo. Camp Bell was named for an attorney member of the council's executive board who was instrumental in reacquiring the property for the council.
. It has a dining hall, a swimming lake and ample tent space. It is also home to the Lawrence L. Lee Scouting Museum.
.
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...
that serves most of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
.
History
In 1912, two years after the Boy Scouts of America were founded in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a volunteer-led council was organized in Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
. Initially there were only two troops, both of them chartered by the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
. As Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
grew in popularity, three more makeshift and unrecognized councils sprang up in Dover
Dover, New Hampshire
Dover is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, in the United States of America. The population was 29,987 at the 2010 census, the largest in the New Hampshire Seacoast region...
, Claremont
Claremont, New Hampshire
There were 5,685 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had...
, and Portsmouth
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
. The council grew steadily and added a Scout Executive to its staff in 1919.
On January 9, 1920, the Manchester Council was granted an official charter with the Boy Scouts of America. At that time, the council represented ten troops and 256 Scouts within Manchester, and 87 troops with a total of 1621 Scouts in New Hampshire. In 1925, the Manchester Council acquired Camp Manning in Gilmanton
Gilmanton, New Hampshire
Gilmanton is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,777 at the 2010 census. Gilmanton includes the villages of Gilmanton Corner and Gilmanton Ironworks...
for use as a summer camp. While the Manchester Council grew rapidly, the rest of New Hampshire's Scouting program saw limited growth.
On May 25, 1929, the Manchester Council was renamed the Daniel Webster Council and expanded to cover Scouting for the entire state. The new name was derived from New Hampshire statesman Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
.
Organization
The Daniel Webster Council is divided into nine districts:- Abnaki District
- Arrowhead District
- Great Northern District
- Historic District
- Massabesic District
- Mount Monadnock District
- Sunapee District
- Wannalancit District
- Nutfield District
Griswold Scout Reservation
Griswold Scout Reservation is a ScoutingScouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
reservation located near Gilmanton Iron Works
Gilmanton Ironworks, New Hampshire
Gilmanton Ironworks is an unincorporated village in the town of Gilmanton in Belknap County, New Hampshire, in the United States. It is located near the eastern boundary of the town, along a stretch of the Suncook River south of the outlet of Crystal Lake...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. There are two summer camps located within it: Hidden Valley Scout Camp and Camp Bell.
Covering over 3500 acres (1,416.4 ha) of forest, lakes, and mountains, the Scout Reservation was first run by the Norumbega Council. In 1971, the Daniel Webster Council acquired what was then called the Hidden Valley Scout Reservation. In 2000, the camp acquired additional land, which it named Camp Bell, and the total reservation was renamed Griswold Hidden Valley Scout Reservation.
Hidden Valley is run as a traditional Scout camp with full dining facilities and a wide variety of program areas and activities. Camp Bell is run with a higher emphasis on strengthening the Patrol Method. Campers do their own cooking in their sites, and participate in day-long activities as patrols. Camp Bell has a different variety of activities from Hidden Valley, including their "living history areas," and a different set of merit badges are available.
The land currently used primarily by Camp Bell has been used as the homes of many other camps, most recently Camp Manning, which after being sold by the Daniel Webster Council to private owners, changed ownership several times and had previously existed as a camp run by various organization such as the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
who called it Camp Leo. Camp Bell was named for an attorney member of the council's executive board who was instrumental in reacquiring the property for the council.
Camp Carpenter
Camp Carpenter is the Cub Scout Summer camp located in Manchester, New HampshireManchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
. It has a dining hall, a swimming lake and ample tent space. It is also home to the Lawrence L. Lee Scouting Museum.
Unity Program Center
The Unity Program Center is a five acre property with an indoor facility, an outdoor stage and camping and event areas located on Mica Mine Road in Unity, New HampshireUnity, New Hampshire
Unity is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,671 at the 2010 census. The town includes the villages of Unity, East Unity, Quaker City, and West Unity.- Geography :...
.