Tidewater Council

infobox WorldScouting


name = Tidewater Council
location = Virginia Beach, VA
country = United States
f-date = 1911
chiefscouttitle = Scout Executive
chiefscout = Bill Deany
website = [http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/index.html official website]

Tidewater Council is the local council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) that serves southeastern Virginia and north-eastern North Carolina. This region is often referred to as South Hampton Roads or the "Tidewater" or "Tidewater Virginia" area; hence the name of the council. Its Order of the Arrow counterpart is the Blue Heron Lodge; which was founded in 1946 when a team from Octoraro Lodge in Pennsylvania inducted the first members of Blue Heron Lodge.cite web| url=http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/blueheron|title=Blue Heron Lodge #349 |publisher=Blue Heron Lodge|accessdate=2007-01-08]

Districts

Tidewater Council is divided into seven districts:

In June 2002, the PAVAB (Princess Anne County/Virginia Beach) District had become too large and it was split into three new districts: Cape Henry, Chowanoc, and Kempsville.

Council history

Tidewater Council traces its origin to 1911, two years after the establishment of the Scouting movement in America by William D. Boyce of Chicago, Illinois and only three years after the founding of the movement itself by Sir Robert Baden-Powell in England. However, it was several years later, on January 29, 1914, that the local council was issued a second-class charter without a professional scout executive.

On September 21, 1911, 28 of Norfolk's most prominent businessmen met to form the Norfolk Council, BSA. The first council president was Richard L. Dobie. Other officers elected included Harvey M. Dickerson, vice president; J.G. Holladay, secretary; and W.W. Marr, treasurer. Thomas Sparrow became the Norfolk Council's first scout executive on October 1, 1919.

In 1934, the Cub Scout program was formally adopted by the Norfolk Council. The challenge of the day was "new ambition for greater service to more boys throughout America."

In January 1935, the council was given its present name, The Tidewater Council, Inc., BSA. The North Carolina counties of Currituck, Camden, Gates, Perquimans, Pasquotank and Chowan were accepted as part of the council. Dare County, N.C., was added in January 1942.

The council has been realigned many times to reach its current strength of seven districts. Today the council serves more than 11,000 boys and girls through 355 packs, troops and posts and through a force of adult volunteer Scouters numbering 4,500.cite web| url=http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/council.html|title=A brief history of Tidewater Council|publisher=Tidewater Council|accessdate=2007-01-08]

In 1946, the council formed an Order of the Arrow lodge when ceremonialists from Octoraro Lodge #22 inducted the first members. In 1947, the totem of a blue heron was selected and the lodge was named Blue Heron Lodge #349.cite web| url=http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/blueheron/history_chronicle_001.html|title=The Founding of Blue Heron Lodge|publisher=Blue Heron Lodge|accessdate=2007-01-08]

Council camp

Pipsico Scout Reservation is located in Surry County, Virginia between Surry and Spring Grove on the banks of the James River. It encompasses convert|916|acre|km2 of woodland, open fields and marshes. The terrain includes a natural ravine system and ranges in elevation from 20 to more than convert|100|ft|m above sea level. Pipsico Scout Reservation's northern boundary extends for a mile and half along the banks of the historic James River; directly across from the historic settlement of Jamestown. Pipsico is subdivided into 4 camps, Camp Lions, Camp Kiwanis, Camp Rotary and Camp Powhatan. Cliffs 60 to convert|75|ft|m high overlook a picturesque mile long sandy beach and several cypress tree coves. The cliff walls are studded with marine shells and fossils providing tangible evidence of the James River's influence on life over the centuries. The beach has proven to be a beach comber's delight for discovering nautical treasures like shark teeth, prehistoric whale bones, driftwood and a peaceful observation site for beautiful shoreline sunrises and sunsets. Tidewater Council purchased this land in 1958. It has been preserved and maintained as close to its natural state as possible. The "Red Trail" hiking trail that encircles the reservation provide a variety of visual and ecological wonders for hikers of all ages to marvel at. Along the trail you may chose to stop and see the "Pipsico Tree," a tulip poplar nearly convert|20|ft|m in circumference that predates the arrival of the first English colonists or stroll along the sandy beach of the James River and observe the flight of the bald eagles that nest on the reservation.cite web| url=http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/pipsico.html |title=Pipsico Scout Reservation|publisher=Tidewater Council|accessdate=2007-01-08]

Pipsico offers year-round Scouting in Camp Lions, Camp Kiwanis, Camp Rotary and Camp Powhatan, and summer camp in Camp Lions, which was renovated and reopened in 1988 with a new swimming pool, dining hall, and various support buildings. Summer camp activities include: Scoutcraft, climbing and rapelling tower, shooting sports, aquatics, hiking trails, a 17th century archaeological dig site and handicrafts.

Blue Heron Lodge

infobox WorldScouting


name = Blue Heron Lodge 349
location = Virginia Beach, Virginia
country = United States
f-date = 1946
chiefscouttitle = Lodge Chief
chiefscout = Preston Marquis
website = [http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/blueheron official website]

Blue Heron Lodge #349 is the local chapter of the Order of the Arrow affiliated with Tidewater Council, BSA, in Virginia Beach,Virginia, USA. Blue Heron Lodge #349 supports Pipsco Scout Reservation, including Camps Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary, and Powhatan with thousands of annual volunteer hours of service and multiple fundraisers throughout the year. The purpose of Blue Heron Lodge #349 is to support camping throughout Tidewater Council.

ee also

*Scouting in Virginia

References

External links

* [http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/index.html Tidewater Council official site]
* [http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/albemarle.html Albemarle District official site]
* [http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/capehenry.html Cape Henry District official site]
* [http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/chowanoc.html Chowanoc District official site]
* [http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/eriver.html Elizabeth River District official site]
* [http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/kempsville.html Kempsville District official site]
* [http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/merrimac.html Merrimac District official site]
* [http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/powhatan.html Powhatan District official site]
* [http://www.tidewaterbsa.com/blueheron/index.html Blue Heron Lodge official site]