Gulf Stream Council
Encyclopedia
Gulf Stream Council is a council of the Boy Scouts of America in southeast Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

 with the headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Palm Beach Gardens is a city in Palm Beach County in the U.S. state of Florida. The city is in the center of a rapidly-developing area north of West Palm Beach in the northern part of the county and the South Florida metropolitan area. , the population was 48,452...

. Gulf Stream Council serves Scouts in Palm Beach
Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County is the largest county in the state of Florida in total area, and third in population. As of 2010, the county's estimated population was 1,320,134, making it the twenty-eighth most populous in the United States...

, Martin
Martin County, Florida
Martin County is a county in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 126,731. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county is 138,660. Its county seat is Stuart, Florida.- History :...

, St. Lucie
St. Lucie County, Florida
St. Lucie County is a county located in the state of Florida. The county seat is the city of Fort Pierce. In the year 2000, the population was 192,695. As of the year 2010, the United States Census Bureau sets the population at 277,789.- History :...

, Indian River
Indian River County, Florida
Indian River County is a county located in the Treasure Coast region in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 112,947. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 128,594...

, and Okeechobee
Okeechobee County, Florida
Okeechobee County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 35,910. According to 2005 U.S. Census estimates, its population had grown to 39,836. The county seat is Okeechobee, Florida. The county comprises the Okeechobee, Florida Micropolitan Statistical Area.-...

 counties, Glades and Hendry counties. Throughout its area, it serves over 24,000 youth.

Organization

A district is a small area within a council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Gulf Stream Council currently has seven Districts. All of the districts in the Gulf Stream Council have an associated 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...

 chapter as part of Aal-pa-tah Lodge.

Big Lake District

Big Lake District, formerly known as Okeechobee District, serves scouts in Glades, Hendry, and Okeechobee, as well as western Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County, Florida
Palm Beach County is the largest county in the state of Florida in total area, and third in population. As of 2010, the county's estimated population was 1,320,134, making it the twenty-eighth most populous in the United States...

. The Order of the Arrow chapter associated with Big Lake District is known as Panasofee.

Indian River District

Indian River District serves scouts throughout Indian River County. The Order of the Arrow chapter of Indian River District is called
Lowaneumawat.

Lighthouse District

Lighthouse District is a district that serves scouts in north Palm Beach County from 45th Street to the Martin County border. The Order of the Arrow chapter associated with Lighthouse District is Osceola.

The District Chairman is Ryon McCabe.

The District Commissioner is Richard Gallant.

The District Executive is Jim Bowman.

Osceola District

Osceola District serves scouts from southern Lake Worth
Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, which takes its name from the body of water along its eastern border, originally called "Lake Worth", and now generally known as the Lake Worth Lagoon. The lake itself was named for General William J. Worth, who led U.S. forces during the last...

 to Boca Raton
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...

 in Palm Beach County. The Order of the Arrow chapter associated with Osceola District is Abaniki.

Sailfish District

Sailfish District serves scouts throughout Martin County
Martin County, Florida
Martin County is a county in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 126,731. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county is 138,660. Its county seat is Stuart, Florida.- History :...

. The Order of the Arrow chapter associated with Sailfish District is Nekiwa.

Sailfish District maintains a website where local scout units and scouters can be found, as well as information regarding district events. This website is sailfishdistrict.org

The District Chairman is currently Bill Carlson, M.D.

The District Commissioner is currently David Lloyd Merrill, Esq.

The District Executive is former Stuart
Stuart, Florida
Stuart is the only incorporated city of Martin County, Florida, on Florida's Treasure Coast. The population was 14,633 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 15,964....

 Mayor, Dennis Armstrong

Trade Winds District

Trade Winds District serves scouts in central Palm Beach County between Forest Hill Boulevard and 45th Street. The Order of the Arrow chapter associated with Trade Winds District is Cheepatah.

Treasure Coast District

Treasure Coast District serves scouts throughout St. Lucie County. The Order of the Arrow chapter associated with Treasure Coast District is Oiyatah.

Inactive Districts

  • Seminole District
  • Manatee District was a district that served scouts in Lake Worth and Boynton Beach
    Boynton Beach, Florida
    Boynton Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 60,389 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the city had a population of 66,714 according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research...

     in Palm Beach County. However, Manatee District merged with Osceola and Trade Winds District in May 2009. Manatee District also had an Order of the Arrow chapter which was called Coowachobee.

Camps

The Gulf Stream Council has three camps, ranging in size from 1 square miles (2.6 km²) to just a few acres. There is also Scout Hill, which is a small area in Palm Beach County, however, it is not completely owned by the Gulf Stream Council.

Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation

Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation or usually Tanah Keeta, is the main campground of the Gulf Stream Council. Tanah Keeta is a word in Hitchiti
Hitchiti
The Hitchiti were a Muskogean-speaking tribe formerly residing chiefly in a town of the same name on the east bank of the Chattahoochee River, 4 miles below Chiaha, in west Georgia. They spoke the Hitchiti language, which was mutually intelligible with Mikasuki; both tribes were part of the loose...

, which translates in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 to, "the gathering place". The size of the camp is about 1 square miles (2.6 km²). In addition, Tanah Keeta is adjacent a Girl Scout camp, called Camp Welaka, and Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Jonathan Dickinson State Park is a Florida State Park and historic site located in Martin County, Florida, between Hobe Sound and Tequesta. The park includes a variety of natural communities, such as sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods, mangroves, and river swamps. The Loxahatchee River, which was...

. Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation is divided roughly in half into two camps, Camp Loxahatchee and Camp Clear Lake. A summer camp program has been held at Tanah Keeta in June and July since the summer of 1957. The property was known as Camp Murphy until it was sold to the Gulf Stream Council in 1952.

Tanah Keeta Grace


May this food nourish our bodies,
May life give us a smile,
May the adventure always be with us,
and may Tanah Keeta remain in our hearts all the while. Amen

Camp Loxahatchee

Camp Loxahatchee is on the western half of Tanah Keeta. It more utilized than Camp Clear Lake, as it includes the Dining Hall, the Pool, COPE
Project COPE
Project COPE is an acronym for Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience, a program in the Boy Scouts of America. It consists of different challenges for groups of scouts that involve teamwork and problem solving, or for individual scouts that test agility and individual skills...

, the Climbing Tower, the Trading Post
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....

, and more campsites than Camp Clear Lake. The name is derived from the Loxahatchee River
Loxahatchee River
The Loxahatchee River The Loxahatchee River The Loxahatchee River (Seminole for river of turtles is a 7.6 mile river near the southeast coast of Florida. It is a National Wild and Scenic River, one of only two in the state, and received its federal designation on May 17, 1985. The 1930s pioneer...

, which is adjacent to Camp Loxahatchee.

Camp Clear Lake

Clear Lake covers the eastern half of one square miles property of Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation. Camp Clear Lake is a mostly primitive type campground, as opposed to Camp Loxahatchee. The title of Camp "Clear Lake" is derived from a small lake in the southeastern corner of Tanah Keeta, which has the name "Clear Lake". In 1957 the first summer camp at Tanah Keeta was held in Camp Clear Lake.

The Mike Machek Trail

The Mike Machek Trail is a 5.2 mile self guided trail in the heart of Tanah Keeta. Within the one mile area of camp can be found almost every kind of topographical feature indicitive to South Florida. This trail travels through them all. Originally developed by its founder Clayton Jones in 1984, he spent 3 and a half years planning the trail. The trail opened for use in the Fall of 1988. Currently the trail is maintained by various units and most construction projects are conducted by the Order of the Arrow Trail Care Crew. The trail is a real gem of camp and must be experienced if you are ever there.

Oklawaha Scout Reservation

Oklawaha Scout Reservation is also known as Oklawaha, but rarely referred to as OK, is a 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) site in Sebastian
Sebastian, Florida
Sebastian is a city in Indian River County, in the Treasure Coast region of Florida, United States. The population was 16,181 at the 2000 census. In 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 18,671. As of 2010, the population recorded by the U.S...

, Indian River County, on the banks of the Oklawaha River. Donated by Anna Vern Smith in memory of her husband Claude in 1953, Oklawaha is a scrub oak flatland which includes a swimming area, canoe launch into the river, amphitheater, large meeting/dining hall pavilion, archery/BB range and chapel.

Camp Dark Hammock

Camp Dark Hammock is leased by the Gulf Stream Council to provide a Florida wilderness camping for Troops, Crews, or Explorer Posts only. It is located northeast of Okeechobee
Okeechobee, Florida
Okeechobee is a city in Okeechobee County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,376 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,784. It is the county seat of Okeechobee County. The Speckled Perch Festival is held annually in honor of the most...

 in Okeechobee County.

Scout Hill

Scout Hill is a small area of the John Prince Memorial Park
John Prince Memorial Park
John Prince Memorial Park is a park located in Lake Worth, Florida. The park covers 726.36 acres and is managed by the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department. Most of the park is on the western and northern shore of Lake Osborne...

 Campground in Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth, Florida
Lake Worth is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, which takes its name from the body of water along its eastern border, originally called "Lake Worth", and now generally known as the Lake Worth Lagoon. The lake itself was named for General William J. Worth, who led U.S. forces during the last...

. It was known as Camp Osborne until about 1952. In 1952 most of Camp Osborne was sold to Palm Beach County to create the campground of John Prince Memorial Park. The small area that remained was renamed "Scout Hill".

Aal-pa-tah Lodge

Aal-Pa-Tah Lodge #237 is 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...

 lodge associated with the Gulf Stream Council. The lodge building is located in Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation in Tequesta, Florida. Aal-pa-tah is one the eleven OA lodges in Section S-4, which covers most of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

 and southern Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

. Aal-pa-tah was formerly known as the "best lodge all around" because it won that title at Section S-4 Conference in April 2008 and April 2009, but not in April 2010. The word "Aal-pa-tah" is word from the Seminole language that translates to Alligator in English.

History

The lodge was founded 1942 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

; then from 1945 to 1947, on the list of lodge chiefs says "WWII". There were only two or three chapters when Aal-pa-tah was founded in 1942. Aal-pa-tah Lodge held the title as the best all around lodge in 2008 and 2009.

Section S-4 Events

Aal-pa-tah has hosted a number of Section S-4 Events. Aal-pa-tah Lodge has hosted Section Conference for Section S-4 in 1953, 1962, 1972, 1981, 1988, 1997, 2004, and again in 2011. The lodge also hosted Section Seminars in 2000 and 2008.

Chapters

As mentioned above each district has a OA Chapter. Lodges usually divide into chapters which will usually corresponding to districts within the council. The chapter is led by the elected youth chapter chief, a volunteer adult is appointed as the adviser and the district executive is the professional (staff) adviser. The following names are the names of Aal-pa-tah's Chapters:


Lowaneumawat was the "best-chapter-all-around for 2005, 2006, and 2007. It is the chapter to the arrowmen of Indian River District.

Osceola is the chapter of Lighthouse District.

Panasofee is the chapter of Okeechobee District.

Abaniki is the chapter of Osceola District.

Nekiwa is the chapter of Sailfish District.

Cheepatah is the chapter of Trade Winds District.

Defunct Chapters

Coo-wa-chobee was the OA Chapter of Manatee District until 2009. In 2009 it merged with Abaniki and Cheepatah Chapters, because the Manatee District split and merged with the Osceola and Trade Winds Districts. Coowachobee was awarded the best chapter all around award for 2008.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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