Samoset Council
Encyclopedia
Samoset Council is a Boy Scout council headquartered in Weston, Wisconsin
that serves north central Wisconsin. Founded in 1920, the council gets its name from an early Boy Scout camp in the Town of Harrison
named Camp Sam-O-Set. The Council is served by Tom Kita Chara Lodge of the Order of the Arrow
.
Not only are there many traditional Boy Scout Troops, Cub Scout Packs, and Venturing Crews throughout the council, but the council also facilitates a ScoutReach program in some communities. ScoutReach is an opportunity for boys who have not already joined a traditional Pack or Troop to experience the Scouting Program. These units hold meetings twice a month as after school programs. These boys get to experience scouting when they might not otherwise get the opportunity to be involved with scouting at all. Since this is an after school program, there is usually no parent involvement, typically because of the parents' work schedules.
In 2009, Samoset Council was featured in the January/February issue of Scouting Magazine
, which discussed the council's promotion of outdoor activity. The Scout Executive's Active Outdoor Challenge, an innovative Samoset program created by former Council Executive Bruce Audon Mikkelson, was described in detail. It involves getting Scouts outside and active for 12 monthly activities. When a pack, troop, or crew completes 12 consecutive monthly activities and a leader turns in a form, each youth receives a patch.
The council and its districts offer outdoor events and camping opportunities during each of the four seasons.
Prior to the founding of the Wausau Council on July 30, 1920, there had already been several Boy Scout Troops actively engaged in the Scouting program. The first troop to ever exist in the city of Wausau was Troop #1, chartered to the Universalist Church in 1910.
The first Council Executive for the Wausau Council was George C. Dreisbach, who moved to Wausau from Akron, OH in 1920. In 1921, Wausau was second in the state for number of Scouts, (25 Troops with 540 boys).
The council's first camp was located on Carroll Lake, on public land
leased from the state of Wisconsin
.
, consists of three summer camps: Akela's World, for Cub Scouts; Tesomas Scout Camp, a Boy Scout summer camp; and Hanna Venture Base for Venturers. The camping property that is now CLSR started as just Camp Tesomas, and began in 1935 with the donation of a 12 acre (0.04856232 km²) parcel of land from L.A. Leadbetter. More property was later donated by the Rotary Club and other individuals and organizations. The CLSR property now encompasses over 1100 acres (4 km²) acres of land, and most of the property around Crystal Lake.
The Crystal Lake Construction Crew is a group of volunteers dedicated to building and improving the council’s major properties.
, located north of Rhinelander, Wisconsin
. Founded in 1935, it currently serves over 3,000 campers per summer. With over 1100 acres (4 km²) of land and 70 staff members, the camp occupies most of the land around Crystal Lake, a spring-fed lake with many species of freshwater fish.
The camp operates for eight weeks during the summer. The Scouts who camp at Tesomas typically stay one week with their Scout Troop. Many of the Boy Scout Troops that attend Tesomas are from cities located in the Samoset Council area of Wisconsin
. However, troops from around the country also travel to Tesomas. Troops have traveled from as far as the West Coast. Activities at Tesomas include the Merit Badge
program areas of Ecology and Conservation, Personal Wellness, Handicraft, Shooting Sports, Scoutcraft, the Waterfront, Cope & Climbing, and Eagle Quest.
The main building is the Schultz-Kieffer Fellowship Lodge (also referred to as the Dining Hall, and formerly called the Rotary Lodge), where meals are served. The other main building is the Program Center, which houses the Camp Director's office, Program Director's office, Business Manager's office, Archives Room, Health Office, and leader mailboxes. The camp is the home of the Tom Kita Chara Lodge of the Order of the Arrow
.
The Erv Romansky Family Camp, an area near Tesomas with 14 campsites, is for those who choose not to stay with their unit at summer camp. It can accommodate tents, pop-ups, and full size trailers or motor homes. Each site has a fire pit and water, and most have electricity.
The Tesomas logo is Smiley the Tent, a tent with a large smile, wearing a gold crown. Smiley is usually pictured with the camp's slogan, "Where Camping is King!" Smiley has the distinction of being the only Scouting symbol designed by Walt Disney
. Tesomas was awarded Smiley after they let Disney take pictures of the surrounding forest as a base for Bambi
's forest home.
Tesomas has earned awards from the Scouting National Accreditation Committee for being one of the top Boy Scout Camps in the nation.
Tesomas is also the home of the annual Crystal Lake Classic mountain bike
race, which is part of the Wisconsin Off Road Series
(W.O.R.S.). Scouting volunteers help operate the event, usually held in May. The trails of the course are ideally suited for mountain biking, made up of rock, sand and clay.
Akela's World, which occupies a large portion of the Crystal Lake Scout Reservation property, is located at the south end of Crystal Lake. The camp program provides advancement opportunities for Cubs and Webelos.
The main building is the Mark Program Center, where the kitchen and dining hall are located. Points of interest are the Lost Ship, and Huck Finn's Waterfront.
According to the summer 2010 program, the Message in the bottle at Huck Finn's is Bat Girl. Also SHIP stands for Super Hero Immergency Preparedness.
. The hub for Venturing in Samoset Council, it features an indoor climbing wall and an outdoor 60’ climbing tower, with walls for rappelling and climbing.
Week-long Hanna Venture Base Treks are taken by both Scouts and Venturers. Trek destinations include the Apostle Islands
and the Porcupine Mountains
.
The Hanna Winter Resort is a week-end-long winter camping experience at the Hanna Base.
wall was constructed in 2009.
, near Lugerville, Wisconsin
. The property includes several campsites, a covered shelter, and a tiered camp fire area. For spring through fall use, there are six canoes.
.
, and was closed in 1974.
, and is affiliated with the Samoset Council of the Boy Scouts of America
.
. That same summer Samoset Council's Executive Board approved the Order of the Arrow as an official part of the Council's Boy Scout camping program. As tradition indicates, a deer leaped through the first Lodge Ceremony. The name of the Lodge, Tom Kita Chara, means "leaping buck" in the language of the Chippewa Indians, who lived in north-central Wisconsin
. The Lodge number is 96, meaning that it was the 96th Lodge of the Order of the Arrow
to be formed.
In 1946, General Dwight D. Eisenhower
was on vacation in Wisconsin. During his stay, members of the Lodge visited and made him an honorary member. In turn, he later sent the Lodge a letter and a sword, which are now located in the Archives Room at Tesomas Scout Camp, and is available for public viewing. The sword was part of his family for many generations and are indicated by the original spelling of his family name — Eisenhauer.
In 1947, the first Winter Banquet was held, which is now an annual event. Also that same year, our version of the Lenni Lenape legend was written, to be used in the Calling-Out Ceremony. Later in 1947 the National Order of the Arrow Bulletin published it, and gave TKC full credit for its original development. The National Committee adopted it as its official version, and it is still used by TKC as well as many other lodges in the Order. The original script is located in the Archives Room at Tesomas Scout Camp.
The first TKC pocket flap patch was introduced in 1954. The design was similar to the current version, except it had a green background. The TKC "first flap" is now highly collectible, as are many other vintage TKC patches.
Since 1992, the Lodge Executive Committee of Tom Kita Chara Lodge has designed and issued a commemorative Scoutmaster belt buckle
, which is given to the in-camp Scoutmaster of each troop that comes to Camp Tesomas. The belt buckle is strictly limited-edition, and only available to the in-camp Scoutmaster, and one is given to the Tesomas Camp Director. At the end of each summer, these buckles are destroyed in an extremely large fire to preserve the tradition of only giving them to the Scoutmasters.
In 2006, TKC Lodge celebrated its 70th anniversary as a Lodge. The previous year, when Tesomas Scout Camp celebrated its 70th camp anniversary in 2005, the lodge had the opportunity to welcome Robert Tank, its first lodge chief, back to the camp for a weekend of remembrance and celebration. All former chiefs of Tom Kita Chara Lodge present at the anniversary banquet signed a Vigil sash, now also on display in the Tesomas Archives Room.
2011 will mark the 75th anniversary of Tom Kita Chara.
Every chapter has a Chapter Chief, who presides over the monthly chapter meetings. The position of Chapter Chief, along with other chapter offices, are filled yearly. The six lodge chapters include:
Chapters frequently plan their own service projects, and events such as campouts.
The LEC group meets once per month, and only youth members may vote on lodge matters.
Weston, Wisconsin
Weston is a village in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Wausau, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,868 at the 2010 census.- History :...
that serves north central Wisconsin. Founded in 1920, the council gets its name from an early Boy Scout camp in the Town of Harrison
Harrison, Marathon County, Wisconsin
Harrison is a town in Marathon County, Wisconsin, in the United States. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 418...
named Camp Sam-O-Set. The Council is served by Tom Kita Chara Lodge 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...
.
Organization
Samoset Council has a professional staff of approximately 12 people. There are 6,000 youth members in the council's 13-county geographic area. The Council number is 627.Districts
The council is divided into six districts:- Ahdawagam District serves Scouts in Adams, Arkdale, Babcock, Friendship, Grand Marsh, Nekoosa, Pittsville, Port Edwards, Rudolph, Vesper, and Wisconsin Rapids.
- Crystal Lake District serves Scouts in Antigo, Crandon, Eagle River, Elcho, Harshaw, Land O’Lakes, Laona, McNaughton, Newbold, Phelps, St. Germain, Rhinelander, and Three Lakes.
- Mushkodany District serves Scouts in Almond, Amherst, Amherst Junction, Bancroft, Birnamwood, Custer, Gresham, Junction City, Milladore, Mosinee, Plover, Rosholt, Stevens Point, and Wittenberg.
- Northwoods District serves Scouts in Boulder Junction, Butternut, Gleason, Medford, Merrill, Minocqua, Phillips, Prentice, Rib Lake, Stetsonville, Tomahawk, and Woodruff.
- Ojibwa District serves Scouts in Abbotsford, Athens, Auburndale, Blenker, Colby, Edgar, Hewitt, Marathon, Marshfield, Spencer, Stratford, Unity, and Withee.
- Rib Mountain District serves Scouts in Hatley, Hewitt/Texas, Kronenwetter, Maine, Rib Mountain, Ringle, Rothschild, Schofield, Stettin, and Wausau.
- The Headwaters District has been defunct since 2003. It used to consist of the area that is now the Northwoods and Crystal Lake Districts. It was the largest, northern-most, and most rural district in the council.
Board of Directors
Samoset Council's board of directors comprises the six district chairpersons, the council president, council commissioner, council treasurer, assistant treasurer, and one youth member (usually the Tom Kita Chara Lodge Chief).Endowment
Financial support from past sources had not kept pace with the growth of the Council, so an Endowment Trust Fund was created. This is a permanent fund, in which the principal is kept in perpetuity, and the interest helps ensure the financial needs of the council in the future. As of February 2010, the Endowment Fund had a total of $7.2 million, with a goal of $10 million.Program
Samoset Council has a long history of camping in Wisconsin's northwoods. The council's resident camps have long played a key role in providing youth members with an outdoor experience that is conducive to learning scout skills.Not only are there many traditional Boy Scout Troops, Cub Scout Packs, and Venturing Crews throughout the council, but the council also facilitates a ScoutReach program in some communities. ScoutReach is an opportunity for boys who have not already joined a traditional Pack or Troop to experience the Scouting Program. These units hold meetings twice a month as after school programs. These boys get to experience scouting when they might not otherwise get the opportunity to be involved with scouting at all. Since this is an after school program, there is usually no parent involvement, typically because of the parents' work schedules.
In 2009, Samoset Council was featured in the January/February issue of Scouting Magazine
Scouting magazine
Scouting magazine is a five-times-a-year publication of the Boy Scouts of America . The target audience is adult leaders of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers. It carries news on Scouting events, articles on aspects of Scouting such as service, outdoor skills and activities, and features about...
, which discussed the council's promotion of outdoor activity. The Scout Executive's Active Outdoor Challenge, an innovative Samoset program created by former Council Executive Bruce Audon Mikkelson, was described in detail. It involves getting Scouts outside and active for 12 monthly activities. When a pack, troop, or crew completes 12 consecutive monthly activities and a leader turns in a form, each youth receives a patch.
The council and its districts offer outdoor events and camping opportunities during each of the four seasons.
Council History
What is now Samoset Council first began as the Wausau Council in 1920. In 1927 the Wausau Council merged with the Merrill Council, to create the Lincoln - Marathon Council. It was not until 1930 that it was officially retitled Samoset Council, named after Camp Sam-O-Set, an early camp near the town of Harrison.Prior to the founding of the Wausau Council on July 30, 1920, there had already been several Boy Scout Troops actively engaged in the Scouting program. The first troop to ever exist in the city of Wausau was Troop #1, chartered to the Universalist Church in 1910.
The first Council Executive for the Wausau Council was George C. Dreisbach, who moved to Wausau from Akron, OH in 1920. In 1921, Wausau was second in the state for number of Scouts, (25 Troops with 540 boys).
The council's first camp was located on Carroll Lake, on public land
Public land
In all modern states, some land is held by central or local governments. This is called public land. The system of tenure of public land, and the terminology used, varies between countries...
leased from the state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
Crystal Lake Scout Reservation
Crystal Lake Scout Reservation (CLSR), near Rhinelander, WisconsinRhinelander, Wisconsin
Rhinelander is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. Its population was 7,735 at the 2000 census.-Claim to fame:...
, consists of three summer camps: Akela's World, for Cub Scouts; Tesomas Scout Camp, a Boy Scout summer camp; and Hanna Venture Base for Venturers. The camping property that is now CLSR started as just Camp Tesomas, and began in 1935 with the donation of a 12 acre (0.04856232 km²) parcel of land from L.A. Leadbetter. More property was later donated by the Rotary Club and other individuals and organizations. The CLSR property now encompasses over 1100 acres (4 km²) acres of land, and most of the property around Crystal Lake.
The Crystal Lake Construction Crew is a group of volunteers dedicated to building and improving the council’s major properties.
Tesomas Scout Camp
Tesomas Scout Camp is a Boy Scout Summer CampSummer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
, located north of Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Rhinelander is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. Its population was 7,735 at the 2000 census.-Claim to fame:...
. Founded in 1935, it currently serves over 3,000 campers per summer. With over 1100 acres (4 km²) of land and 70 staff members, the camp occupies most of the land around Crystal Lake, a spring-fed lake with many species of freshwater fish.
The camp operates for eight weeks during the summer. The Scouts who camp at Tesomas typically stay one week with their Scout Troop. Many of the Boy Scout Troops that attend Tesomas are from cities located in the Samoset Council area of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. However, troops from around the country also travel to Tesomas. Troops have traveled from as far as the West Coast. Activities at Tesomas include the Merit Badge
Merit badge
Merit badge may refer to:*Merit badge *Merit badge...
program areas of Ecology and Conservation, Personal Wellness, Handicraft, Shooting Sports, Scoutcraft, the Waterfront, Cope & Climbing, and Eagle Quest.
The main building is the Schultz-Kieffer Fellowship Lodge (also referred to as the Dining Hall, and formerly called the Rotary Lodge), where meals are served. The other main building is the Program Center, which houses the Camp Director's office, Program Director's office, Business Manager's office, Archives Room, Health Office, and leader mailboxes. The camp is the home of the Tom Kita Chara Lodge 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...
.
The Erv Romansky Family Camp, an area near Tesomas with 14 campsites, is for those who choose not to stay with their unit at summer camp. It can accommodate tents, pop-ups, and full size trailers or motor homes. Each site has a fire pit and water, and most have electricity.
The Tesomas logo is Smiley the Tent, a tent with a large smile, wearing a gold crown. Smiley is usually pictured with the camp's slogan, "Where Camping is King!" Smiley has the distinction of being the only Scouting symbol designed by Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
. Tesomas was awarded Smiley after they let Disney take pictures of the surrounding forest as a base for Bambi
Bambi
Bambi is a 1942 American animated film directed by David Hand , produced by Walt Disney and based on the book Bambi, A Life in the Woods by Austrian author Felix Salten...
's forest home.
Tesomas has earned awards from the Scouting National Accreditation Committee for being one of the top Boy Scout Camps in the nation.
Tesomas is also the home of the annual Crystal Lake Classic mountain bike
Mountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
race, which is part of the Wisconsin Off Road Series
Wisconsin Off Road Series
The Wisconsin Off Road Series is an off-road bicycle racing series in Wisconsin, United States. The series is billed as "America's largest state mountain bike racing series." -History:...
(W.O.R.S.). Scouting volunteers help operate the event, usually held in May. The trails of the course are ideally suited for mountain biking, made up of rock, sand and clay.
Akela's World Cub Scout Camp
Created in 1993, Akela's World is a Cub Scout summer resident camp. Serving both Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts during the summer, it was the #1 Cub Scout resident camp in the nation for 2001, 2002 and 2003. In 2004 it was #1 in the Central Region and #2 in the country.Akela's World, which occupies a large portion of the Crystal Lake Scout Reservation property, is located at the south end of Crystal Lake. The camp program provides advancement opportunities for Cubs and Webelos.
The main building is the Mark Program Center, where the kitchen and dining hall are located. Points of interest are the Lost Ship, and Huck Finn's Waterfront.
According to the summer 2010 program, the Message in the bottle at Huck Finn's is Bat Girl. Also SHIP stands for Super Hero Immergency Preparedness.
Hanna Venture Base
Hanna Venture Base, located near Akela's World, is the smallest part of the Crystal Lake Scout Reservation. It was named after, and financially supported by Al Hanna, whose achievements include climbing to the top of Mount EverestMount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
. The hub for Venturing in Samoset Council, it features an indoor climbing wall and an outdoor 60’ climbing tower, with walls for rappelling and climbing.
Week-long Hanna Venture Base Treks are taken by both Scouts and Venturers. Trek destinations include the Apostle Islands
Apostle Islands
The Apostle Islands are a group of 22 islands in Lake Superior, off the Bayfield Peninsula in northern Wisconsin. The majority of the islands are located in Ashland County—only Sand, York, Eagle, and Raspberry Islands are located in Bayfield County...
and the Porcupine Mountains
Porcupine Mountains
The Porcupine Mountains, or Porkies, are a group of small mountains spanning across the northwestern Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Ontonagon and Gogebic counties, near the shore of Lake Superior. The area is part of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park...
.
The Hanna Winter Resort is a week-end-long winter camping experience at the Hanna Base.
Camp Phillips
Camp Phillips is located in Weston, Wisconsin, adjacent to the Samoset Council Service Center. The 60 acre (0.2428116 km²) camp is available for short-term camping, and is open to non-Scouting organizations. The main building is McCormick Lodge. A boulderingBouldering
Bouldering is a style of rock climbing undertaken without a rope and normally limited to very short climbs over a crash pad so that a fall will not result in serious injury. It is typically practiced on large natural boulders or artificial boulders in gyms and outdoor urban areas...
wall was constructed in 2009.
Flambeau Canoe Base
The 150 acre (0.607029 km²) Flambeau Canoe Base is located on the south fork of the Flambeau RiverFlambeau River
The Flambeau River is a tributary of the Chippewa River in northern Wisconsin, USA. It drains an area of and descends from an elevation of approximately to above sea level. The Flambeau is an important recreational destination in the region. It is notable among canoeists in the Midwestern USA...
, near Lugerville, Wisconsin
Lugerville, Wisconsin
Lugerville is an unincorporated community located in the town of Flambeau, Price County, Wisconsin, United States. Lugerville is located on County Highway F northwest of Phillips....
. The property includes several campsites, a covered shelter, and a tiered camp fire area. For spring through fall use, there are six canoes.
Former camps
There is long and proud tradition of camping in Samoset Council, dating back to the very beginning of the council. In 1921, Camp Lakota (on Carroll Lake) was the Council's first camp, but historical records are sketchy. With the later rise of Camp Sam-O-Set, quality camping has always been a key component of the council's program.Camp Sam-O-Set
Located on Clara Lake near the town of Harrison, the council got its name from this camp (changing its name to Samoset Council in 1930). Camp Sam-O-Set was closed the year before the Tesomas property was opened in 1935. The camp, and subsequently the council, were named in honor of Chief SamosetSamoset
Samoset was the first Native American to make contact with the Pilgrims. On March 16, 1621, the settlers were more than surprised when Samoset strolled straight through the middle of the encampment at Plymouth Colony and greeted them in English, which he had begun to learn from an earlier group of...
.
Camp Chickagami
Camp Chickagami was a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) camp located near Stevens PointStevens Point, Wisconsin
Stevens Point is the county seat of Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. Located in the central part of the state, it is the largest city in the county, with a population of 24,551 at the 2000 census...
, and was closed in 1974.
Tom Kita Chara Lodge
Tom Kita Chara is a Lodge of 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...
, and is affiliated with the Samoset Council of 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...
.
Lodge history
After being chartered in December 1936, the first formal Lodge meeting was held early in 1937 in Wausau, WisconsinWausau, Wisconsin
Wausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city. The city is adjacent to the town of Wausau.According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people...
. That same summer Samoset Council's Executive Board approved the Order of the Arrow as an official part of the Council's Boy Scout camping program. As tradition indicates, a deer leaped through the first Lodge Ceremony. The name of the Lodge, Tom Kita Chara, means "leaping buck" in the language of the Chippewa Indians, who lived in north-central Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. The Lodge number is 96, meaning that it was the 96th Lodge 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...
to be formed.
In 1946, General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
was on vacation in Wisconsin. During his stay, members of the Lodge visited and made him an honorary member. In turn, he later sent the Lodge a letter and a sword, which are now located in the Archives Room at Tesomas Scout Camp, and is available for public viewing. The sword was part of his family for many generations and are indicated by the original spelling of his family name — Eisenhauer.
In 1947, the first Winter Banquet was held, which is now an annual event. Also that same year, our version of the Lenni Lenape legend was written, to be used in the Calling-Out Ceremony. Later in 1947 the National Order of the Arrow Bulletin published it, and gave TKC full credit for its original development. The National Committee adopted it as its official version, and it is still used by TKC as well as many other lodges in the Order. The original script is located in the Archives Room at Tesomas Scout Camp.
The first TKC pocket flap patch was introduced in 1954. The design was similar to the current version, except it had a green background. The TKC "first flap" is now highly collectible, as are many other vintage TKC patches.
Since 1992, the Lodge Executive Committee of Tom Kita Chara Lodge has designed and issued a commemorative Scoutmaster belt buckle
Belt buckle
A belt buckle is a buckle, a clasp for fastening two ends, as of straps or a belt, in which a device attached to one of the ends is fitted or coupled to the other. The word enters Middle English via Old French and the Latin buccula or "cheek-strap," as for a helmet...
, which is given to the in-camp Scoutmaster of each troop that comes to Camp Tesomas. The belt buckle is strictly limited-edition, and only available to the in-camp Scoutmaster, and one is given to the Tesomas Camp Director. At the end of each summer, these buckles are destroyed in an extremely large fire to preserve the tradition of only giving them to the Scoutmasters.
In 2006, TKC Lodge celebrated its 70th anniversary as a Lodge. The previous year, when Tesomas Scout Camp celebrated its 70th camp anniversary in 2005, the lodge had the opportunity to welcome Robert Tank, its first lodge chief, back to the camp for a weekend of remembrance and celebration. All former chiefs of Tom Kita Chara Lodge present at the anniversary banquet signed a Vigil sash, now also on display in the Tesomas Archives Room.
2011 will mark the 75th anniversary of Tom Kita Chara.
Chapters
- Northwoods Chapter
- Crystal Lake Chapter
- Rib Mountain Chapter
- Ojibwa Chapter
- Ahdawagam Chapter
- Mushkodany Chapter
Chapters frequently plan their own service projects, and events such as campouts.
Lodge Events
The Lodge's main annual events include:- Winter Banquet, held in January
- Spring Work Trek, held in May
- Fall Conference, held in August
- Fall Work Trek, held in September
- Section Conclave, held in September
Lodge Executive Committee
The Lodge Executive Committee (abbreviated LEC) is the leadership of Tom Kita Chara. This includes the "Key Three" positions: Lodge Chief, Lodge Advisor, and Staff Advisor. The LEC also includes all lodge officers, including the 6 chapter Chapter Chiefs.The LEC group meets once per month, and only youth members may vote on lodge matters.