Gerber Scout Reservation
Encyclopedia
Gerber Scout Reservation, is a Boy Scout
Summer Camp located at 1733 Owassippe Rd., Twin Lake, MI 49457, Blue Lake Township, Muskegon County, Michigan
. The camp first opened in 1951 and is currently owned by the Gerald R. Ford Council. The approximately 800 acres (3.2 km²) property containing Big Britton Lake, Little Britton Lake, and Mayo Lake was donated in part by the Gerber Products Company
in 1951. The Gerber Scout Reservation is divided into three camps; one for Boy Scouts, one for Cub Scout
s and a new camp for Venturing crews.
In recent years, Gerber Scout Reservation attendance (all camps) has swelled from 900 in 1997 to over 2,300 in 2009. Much of this increase can be attributed to the 1998 initiation of the Cub Scout and Webelos Adventureland, a section of the camp dedicated to Cub Scouts. Gerber currently has the capacity to accommodate 400 Boy Scouts, 200 Cub Scouts and 100 Venturers each week or session. Activities offered at the camp include the waterfront, Honor Ground, climbing tower/COPE, Scoutcraft, Handicraft, Environmental Resource Center, archery, and shooting sports. In 2008, a technology center was added to the camp, offering a new-age spin on the traditional summer camp experience. On December 24, 2008, Merrill Dining Hall collapsed and for the summer of 2009 a wedding tent was used. The new dining hall named the Centennial Dinning Lodge was completed in 2010 for the 2010 summer camp season.
s. Scouts can also be inducted into the Order of the Arrow
during a ceremony which is held on Wednesday nights.
held in the camp's amphitheater. Packs arrive on Sunday or Wednesday and leave on Wednesday or Saturday, respectively. For the last two weeks of summer Cub Camp hosts Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts. The Cub Camp consists of three days and two nights. Unlike the Webelos, Cubs only go to six program areas, one firebowl, and an evening program. They arrive on Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday and leave on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, respectively.
Nacha Tindey Lodge is a part of the Order of the Arrow
in the Boy Scouts of America
. It came from the merger of Jibshe Wanagan lodge and Nakida Naou lodge.
Nacha Tindey Lodge has a standing executive committee which includes a Lodge Chief, Vice Chief of Administration, Vice Chief of Service, Vice Chief of Program, Secretary and Treasurer. It also has four (one for each chapter) Chapter Chiefs and numerous committee chairmen. There are usually 10 scheduled meetings where the members plan upcoming events, report on current events and discuss ideas.
In the Spring of 2007 Nacha Tindey restructured itself with Gerald R. Ford Council and went from six chapters to four chapters.
Every other year Nacha Tindey sends a delegation to the NOAC (National Order of the Arrow Conference). This takes place on college campuses where thousands of Arrowmen go to have fellowship, attend trainings, and trade patches.
In 2001, Nacha Tindey introduced the Takachsin. It is a necklace that is worn to show the Arrowman's achievements and services as well as how long they have been a member.
Nacha Tindey is part of Section C-2B which encompasses most of western and northern Michigan and the upper peninsula.
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...
Summer Camp located at 1733 Owassippe Rd., Twin Lake, MI 49457, Blue Lake Township, Muskegon County, Michigan
Blue Lake Township, Muskegon County, Michigan
Blue Lake Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,990...
. The camp first opened in 1951 and is currently owned by the Gerald R. Ford Council. The approximately 800 acres (3.2 km²) property containing Big Britton Lake, Little Britton Lake, and Mayo Lake was donated in part by the Gerber Products Company
Gerber Products Company
Gerber Products Company is a purveyor of baby food and baby products. A former American-owned company, Gerber is now a subsidiary of Nestlé, and is currently located in Fremont, Michigan, USA.-History:...
in 1951. The Gerber Scout Reservation is divided into three camps; one for Boy Scouts, one for Cub Scout
Cub Scout
A Cub Scout is a member of the section of the worldwide Scouting movement for young persons, mainly boys normally aged about 7 to 11. In some countries they are known by their original name of Wolf Cubs and are often referred to simply as Cubs. The movement is often referred to simply as Cubbing...
s and a new camp for Venturing crews.
In recent years, Gerber Scout Reservation attendance (all camps) has swelled from 900 in 1997 to over 2,300 in 2009. Much of this increase can be attributed to the 1998 initiation of the Cub Scout and Webelos Adventureland, a section of the camp dedicated to Cub Scouts. Gerber currently has the capacity to accommodate 400 Boy Scouts, 200 Cub Scouts and 100 Venturers each week or session. Activities offered at the camp include the waterfront, Honor Ground, climbing tower/COPE, Scoutcraft, Handicraft, Environmental Resource Center, archery, and shooting sports. In 2008, a technology center was added to the camp, offering a new-age spin on the traditional summer camp experience. On December 24, 2008, Merrill Dining Hall collapsed and for the summer of 2009 a wedding tent was used. The new dining hall named the Centennial Dinning Lodge was completed in 2010 for the 2010 summer camp season.
Summer camp
The Boy Scout program at Gerber Scout Camp consists of one week per session of outdoor camping from Sunday to Saturday. During the course of the summer there is a total of nine weeks, eight weeks of camping and a staff-only week. Scouts come to have one of the most memorable weeks of their life in addition to earning merit badgeMerit badge
Merit badge may refer to:*Merit badge *Merit badge...
s. Scouts can also be inducted into 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...
during a ceremony which is held on Wednesday nights.
Webelos Scout/Cub Scout Adventureland
Webelos Scout/Cub Scout Adventureland, or Cub Camp for short, is an overnight camp for Cub Scouts. For the first 4½ weeks of the summer it hosts Webelos Scouts, who are there for four days and three nights. In this time they go to ten program areas, an evening program and two firebowls, which are song and skit-filled events similar to a variety showVariety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
held in the camp's amphitheater. Packs arrive on Sunday or Wednesday and leave on Wednesday or Saturday, respectively. For the last two weeks of summer Cub Camp hosts Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts. The Cub Camp consists of three days and two nights. Unlike the Webelos, Cubs only go to six program areas, one firebowl, and an evening program. They arrive on Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday and leave on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, respectively.
Venture Base
The new DeVos Family Venture Base has completed phase one of construction. The base consists of 3 cabins and a central pavilion. Phase two of construction is planned for the fall of 2010 and the spring or 2011. Phase two will add two more cabins and a central building. The base is intended to be the starting point for future high-adventure related activities within the Gerald R. Ford Council.Non-summer usage
While the camp experiences the most use during the summer camp season the reservation is in use nearly all year. This includes the usage of cabins, campsites and other facilities during the weekends and sometimes the week. During this time the camp ranger and family reside on camp. Many yearly activities occur during this time such as two Order of the Arrow conclaves (Fall and Spring) for the Nacha Tindey lodge, multiple training sessions for the summer camp staff, a religious retreat and a Venture Kickback weekend.Nacha Tindey Lodge
Nacha Tindey Lodge is based in the Gerald R. Ford Council of west Michigan. Nacha Tindey is Leni Lenape for "Three Fires". The Lodge is very active and is divided into 4 chapters, the borders of which are the same as the borders of the council's districts. Since 1997, its members typically put in over 10,000 hours of service annually to Gerber Scout Camp and the west Michigan community. The Lodge holds an annual winter banquet, two fellowships(A fellowship is for the lodge members only where as a conclave is for the members of a section where the Arrowmen help dismantle Gerber Scout Camp for the winter, or set up for the summer season.Nacha Tindey Lodge is a part of 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...
in the Boy Scouts of America
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...
. It came from the merger of Jibshe Wanagan lodge and Nakida Naou lodge.
Nacha Tindey Lodge has a standing executive committee which includes a Lodge Chief, Vice Chief of Administration, Vice Chief of Service, Vice Chief of Program, Secretary and Treasurer. It also has four (one for each chapter) Chapter Chiefs and numerous committee chairmen. There are usually 10 scheduled meetings where the members plan upcoming events, report on current events and discuss ideas.
In the Spring of 2007 Nacha Tindey restructured itself with Gerald R. Ford Council and went from six chapters to four chapters.
Every other year Nacha Tindey sends a delegation to the NOAC (National Order of the Arrow Conference). This takes place on college campuses where thousands of Arrowmen go to have fellowship, attend trainings, and trade patches.
In 2001, Nacha Tindey introduced the Takachsin. It is a necklace that is worn to show the Arrowman's achievements and services as well as how long they have been a member.
Nacha Tindey is part of Section C-2B which encompasses most of western and northern Michigan and the upper peninsula.