Scouting in Puerto Rico
Encyclopedia
Scouting in Puerto Rico
has a long history, from the 1920s to the present day, serving both boys and girls. Troops, Venturing Crews and Sea Scouting units are part of the Boy Scouts of America, for both boys and girls, or the Girl Scouts of the USA
, for girls. Several campsites are owned and maintained by these organizations.
. Camp Guajataka, or "Santuario de Amistad" (Sanctuary of Friendship), is where the Scouts learn how to care for nature and preserve it.
1938 marked the inauguration of Guajataka Scout Reservation, Puerto Rico's main camp center. It is located in the municipality of San Sebastian and on the shores of Guajataca Lake, from which the Camp takes its name. Since then the Camp has evolved, and has seen many changes both in structure and program.
Scouts and Scouters that visit are lodged in one of the 11 campsites areas of the Camp. These campsites feature a series of wood shelters that house its campers. Some campsites have very simple names (such as Campsite A, B, C, D and M), while others are named in honor of distinguished figures (Paquito Joglar and Manolin) or are named based on location, flora or physical characteristics (SP or Swimming Pool Campsite area, Palomar, Cobana Negra). The council is in the process of assigning Indian names to the A, B, C, D and M areas.
The camp's operations are divided into two seasons, Summer and Christmas. The main program is presented during the summer, in which ten weeks are divided for Cub scouts, Boy Scouts
and Venturers. During the Christmas season a single week summarizes the summer's offerings, and it is open for Cub and Boy Scouts alike. The camp also operates off-season for special troop activities or external groups that wish to experience the outdoor spirit of the reservation.
Guajataka is the official home of the council's Order of the Arrow
lodge. Most of Yokahu Lodge's activities are celebrated in the camp, and for years the order has given service to the facilities. The OA has its own campsite, called "The Cabin". This campsite is currently closed, due to structural damages, but it's scheduled to re-open after some modifications. In the past, the Paquito Joglar campsite area was considered the official gathering place for the lodge, but it became a campers area due to the need of space for the many Scouts that attended camp in summer.
The patrols are led by a Director, which serves as an administrative official, and a Patrol Leader, in charge of the patrol's specific program. In the past, each patrol had its own campsite in which they pitched their own tents and worked on pioneering gates that awed campers and visitors alike. As of 2006, new Council policies abolished this practice and all staff members were located in a single cabin called "Casa Staff" (Staff House).
The Counselor In Training (CIT) program works in a special way, compared to other camps. Any Scout or Venturer that becomes a Staff member, regardless of age, is considered a CIT during his or her first year in camp. During this first year, the CIT learns the basics of the patrol and gets to know the "traditions" on which it is based. After successfully completing the CIT year, the Scout or Venturer is considered a full Staff Member. Staff members are known for their passion and loyalty toward their patrol, and it is very rare in current times to see a Scout that actually transfers from one patrol to another.
Due to its long history, the patrol system has served to develop a series of traditions inside each patrol. A tradition shared by all patrols is a simple recognition, symbolized by a neckerchief. The neckerchief symbolizes a Staff member that has truly served the patrol and the camp, demonstrates and shares his knowledge, and, most of the times, has been a member of the patrol for two or more years. Each patrol has its own prerequisites for this recognition, and each has its own induction ceremony. The neckerchiefs have different colors, each color representing a specific patrol: red (Program Aide), green (Nature Team), light blue (Aquatics), purple (Sports), yellow (Administrative Staff), and navy blue (Voyageurs).
at a National Scout Jamboree
. In the beginning the lodge literally translated the OA ceremonies and used American Indian attire, but decided later to slightly modify the ceremony to reflect the "taino" heritage on the island.
The lodge is divided into eight chapters that are organized based on the geographical regions on the island. The chapters, like the council's districts, are named based on words or names in the "taino" language. The chapters are:
There are four main activities in the lodge's calendar. The Retorno is celebrated on a weekend of the first months of the year, its purpose is to reunite the arrowmen and also serves as a chance to meet that years new Lodge Executive Committee. Halfway through the year, the lodge celebrates its high adventure
activity, in order to challenge each arrowmen's outdoor skills. In October the lodge celebrates it's Guateke, a fellowship activity in which youths nominate themselves for positions in the Lodge Executive Committee. And finally in December, the Convencion serves as the conclusion of the lodge's year, serves as a "Court of Honor" in which different recognitions are handed out based on service during the year and the youth elections for the Executive Committee are held during the weekend.
Inductions are celebrated usually four times a year, during two weekends in May and two in August. The induction weekends are called Ordi-Bros since both ceremonies take place at the same time (Ordeal and Brotherhood). The Vigil Honor is celebrated as an independent activity on the last weekend of November (right after Thanksgiving).
The lodge has its own recognitions for distinguished service to the OA. The Cemi de Bronce and the Premio del Alegre Servicio (The Cheerful Service Award) or three W's for short, are earned by youth and adults respectively. Like the Vigil Honor, these awards cannot be earned by a set of requirements, but instead are decided by a recognitions Committee composed of fellow arrowmen (all youth). These awards have their own quota and are traditionally only given out during the Convencion.
Currently the Lodge has only one recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, Dr. Frank H. Wadsworth (1965), and is an active participant in Section and National activities. The 2008 NE-2A section Conclave is scheduled to take place at the Guajataka Scout Reservation in Puerto Rico, and will mark the first time that the Yokahu Lodge will host such activity.
by Elisa Colberg
.
The Council owns three campsites. These are Campamento Elisa Colberg, near Rio Grande
; Campamento María Emilia, near Añasco
and Campamento Provi Biaggi, near Ponce
. Campamento Elisa Colberg was established in 1948.
The Puerto Rican Spanish phrase for a Girl Scout is Niña Escucha, but the phrase Girl Scout is widely understood and used. The Council's newsletter is called Niña Escucha.
Girl Scouts in this council can earn the badge called Los Faros de Puerto Rico (meaning the lighthouses of Puerto Rico).
Moisés Fragela
donated one of his pictures, Quedo en Nada, to the Caribe Council. The picture was to be sold by auction in 2006 to raise money to be used, in part, to improve the council's campsites.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
has a long history, from the 1920s to the present day, serving both boys and girls. Troops, Venturing Crews and Sea Scouting units are part of the Boy Scouts of America, for both boys and girls, or the Girl Scouts of the USA
Girl Scouts of the USA
The Girl Scouts of the United States of America is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. It describes itself as "the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls". It was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912 and was organized after Low...
, for girls. Several campsites are owned and maintained by these organizations.
Puerto Rico Council
Guajataka Scout Reservation is the Puerto Rico Council's camp reservation, it is on the northwest part of the island, at San Sebastián by Guajataca LakeGuajataca Lake
Lago Guajataca is a reservoir located between the municipalities of San Sebastián, Quebradillas, and Isabela in Puerto Rico. This man-made lake was created in 1929....
. Camp Guajataka, or "Santuario de Amistad" (Sanctuary of Friendship), is where the Scouts learn how to care for nature and preserve it.
1938 marked the inauguration of Guajataka Scout Reservation, Puerto Rico's main camp center. It is located in the municipality of San Sebastian and on the shores of Guajataca Lake, from which the Camp takes its name. Since then the Camp has evolved, and has seen many changes both in structure and program.
Scouts and Scouters that visit are lodged in one of the 11 campsites areas of the Camp. These campsites feature a series of wood shelters that house its campers. Some campsites have very simple names (such as Campsite A, B, C, D and M), while others are named in honor of distinguished figures (Paquito Joglar and Manolin) or are named based on location, flora or physical characteristics (SP or Swimming Pool Campsite area, Palomar, Cobana Negra). The council is in the process of assigning Indian names to the A, B, C, D and M areas.
The camp's operations are divided into two seasons, Summer and Christmas. The main program is presented during the summer, in which ten weeks are divided for Cub scouts, Boy Scouts
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...
and Venturers. During the Christmas season a single week summarizes the summer's offerings, and it is open for Cub and Boy Scouts alike. The camp also operates off-season for special troop activities or external groups that wish to experience the outdoor spirit of the reservation.
Guajataka is the official home of the council's 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. Most of Yokahu Lodge's activities are celebrated in the camp, and for years the order has given service to the facilities. The OA has its own campsite, called "The Cabin". This campsite is currently closed, due to structural damages, but it's scheduled to re-open after some modifications. In the past, the Paquito Joglar campsite area was considered the official gathering place for the lodge, but it became a campers area due to the need of space for the many Scouts that attended camp in summer.
Staff
The staff of the camp are structured based on Scouting's patrol system. These patrols are based on different specialization areas in the camp's program. The current patrols are known as Program Aide (Scoutcraft/Scout skills), Nature Team (Ecology/Conservation), Aquatics Team, Sports Team, Staff Administrativo and Voyagers (High Adventure, Treks and Project C.O.P.E.). Other former patrols are Administration Team, Order of the Arrow Patrol, Guías de Expedición and Ranger Team.The patrols are led by a Director, which serves as an administrative official, and a Patrol Leader, in charge of the patrol's specific program. In the past, each patrol had its own campsite in which they pitched their own tents and worked on pioneering gates that awed campers and visitors alike. As of 2006, new Council policies abolished this practice and all staff members were located in a single cabin called "Casa Staff" (Staff House).
The Counselor In Training (CIT) program works in a special way, compared to other camps. Any Scout or Venturer that becomes a Staff member, regardless of age, is considered a CIT during his or her first year in camp. During this first year, the CIT learns the basics of the patrol and gets to know the "traditions" on which it is based. After successfully completing the CIT year, the Scout or Venturer is considered a full Staff Member. Staff members are known for their passion and loyalty toward their patrol, and it is very rare in current times to see a Scout that actually transfers from one patrol to another.
Due to its long history, the patrol system has served to develop a series of traditions inside each patrol. A tradition shared by all patrols is a simple recognition, symbolized by a neckerchief. The neckerchief symbolizes a Staff member that has truly served the patrol and the camp, demonstrates and shares his knowledge, and, most of the times, has been a member of the patrol for two or more years. Each patrol has its own prerequisites for this recognition, and each has its own induction ceremony. The neckerchiefs have different colors, each color representing a specific patrol: red (Program Aide), green (Nature Team), light blue (Aquatics), purple (Sports), yellow (Administrative Staff), and navy blue (Voyageurs).
Yokahu Lodge
Puerto Rico Council's Yokahu Lodge was founded in 1954 by Luis Matias Ferrer, Dr. Frank H. Wadsworth and other fellow Scouters that were inspired after seeing the service potential 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...
at a National Scout Jamboree
National Scout jamboree (Boy Scouts of America)
The national Scout jamboree is a gathering, or jamboree of thousands of members of the Boy Scouts of America, usually held every four years and organized by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Referred to as "the Jamboree", "Jambo", or NSJ, Scouts from all over the nation and world...
. In the beginning the lodge literally translated the OA ceremonies and used American Indian attire, but decided later to slightly modify the ceremony to reflect the "taino" heritage on the island.
The lodge is divided into eight chapters that are organized based on the geographical regions on the island. The chapters, like the council's districts, are named based on words or names in the "taino" language. The chapters are:
- Arasibo
- Cayniabon
- Yagueka
- Majagua
- Guaitiao
- Guarionex
- Guani
- Guaraka
There are four main activities in the lodge's calendar. The Retorno is celebrated on a weekend of the first months of the year, its purpose is to reunite the arrowmen and also serves as a chance to meet that years new Lodge Executive Committee. Halfway through the year, the lodge celebrates its high adventure
High adventure
High adventure is a type of outdoor experience. It typically is meant to include activities like backpacking, hiking, kayaking or canoeing. It may also include mountaineering, rock climbing, mountain biking, orienteering, hang gliding, paragliding and hot air ballooning.-High adventure in...
activity, in order to challenge each arrowmen's outdoor skills. In October the lodge celebrates it's Guateke, a fellowship activity in which youths nominate themselves for positions in the Lodge Executive Committee. And finally in December, the Convencion serves as the conclusion of the lodge's year, serves as a "Court of Honor" in which different recognitions are handed out based on service during the year and the youth elections for the Executive Committee are held during the weekend.
Inductions are celebrated usually four times a year, during two weekends in May and two in August. The induction weekends are called Ordi-Bros since both ceremonies take place at the same time (Ordeal and Brotherhood). The Vigil Honor is celebrated as an independent activity on the last weekend of November (right after Thanksgiving).
The lodge has its own recognitions for distinguished service to the OA. The Cemi de Bronce and the Premio del Alegre Servicio (The Cheerful Service Award) or three W's for short, are earned by youth and adults respectively. Like the Vigil Honor, these awards cannot be earned by a set of requirements, but instead are decided by a recognitions Committee composed of fellow arrowmen (all youth). These awards have their own quota and are traditionally only given out during the Convencion.
Currently the Lodge has only one recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, Dr. Frank H. Wadsworth (1965), and is an active participant in Section and National activities. The 2008 NE-2A section Conclave is scheduled to take place at the Guajataka Scout Reservation in Puerto Rico, and will mark the first time that the Yokahu Lodge will host such activity.
Caribe Girl Scout Council
Girl Scouting in Puerto Rico is administered by the Caribe Girl Scout Council of the Girl Scouts of the USA. It is headquartered in San Juan. The first troop was formed in 1926 in Cabo RojoCabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
Cabo Rojo is a municipality situated on the southwest coast of Puerto Rico and forms part of the San Germán–Cabo Rojo metropolitan area as well as the larger Mayagüez–San Germán–Cabo Rojo Combined Statistical Area....
by Elisa Colberg
Elisa Colberg
Elisa Colberg was the founder of the Puerto Rican Girl Scouts, the first troop of which formed in 1926 in Cabo Rojo, aptly named Hijas de Betances. She continued as head of the Girl Scout organisation in Puerto Rico for 27 years...
.
The Council owns three campsites. These are Campamento Elisa Colberg, near Rio Grande
Río Grande, Puerto Rico
Río Grande is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Northern Coastal Valley, North of Las Piedras, Naguabo and Ceiba; east of Loíza and Canóvanas and west of Luquillo. Río Grande is spread over eight wards and Río Grande Pueblo...
; Campamento María Emilia, near Añasco
Añasco, Puerto Rico
Añasco , named after one of its settlers, Don Luis de Añasco, is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the west coast of the island bordering the Mona Passage to the west, north of Mayagüez, and Las Marias; south of Rincón, Aguada, and Moca and west of San Sebastián and Las Marias...
and Campamento Provi Biaggi, near Ponce
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
. Campamento Elisa Colberg was established in 1948.
The Puerto Rican Spanish phrase for a Girl Scout is Niña Escucha, but the phrase Girl Scout is widely understood and used. The Council's newsletter is called Niña Escucha.
Girl Scouts in this council can earn the badge called Los Faros de Puerto Rico (meaning the lighthouses of Puerto Rico).
Moisés Fragela
Moisés Fragela
Moisés Fragela Zayas is a Puerto Rican artist. He started to paint at the age of 20. He attended Florida International University in Miami and at the Escuela de Artes Plasticas in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 2003, he was honored with the Best Critic and Best of Show for his paintings in the Master...
donated one of his pictures, Quedo en Nada, to the Caribe Council. The picture was to be sold by auction in 2006 to raise money to be used, in part, to improve the council's campsites.
External links
- Puerto Rico Council, BSA
- Elisa Colberg (Portal en Español)
- Girl Scouts Caribe Council (Portal en Español)
- Scout Boricua, Boy Scout news from Puerto Rico