Northern Star Council

Northern Star Council

Northern Star Council is a Boy Scout Council headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The council was formally the Viking Council and Indianhead Council until the two councils merged on July 1, 2005.[1] The council serves communities across central Minnesota and western Wisconsin, encompassing 21 counties.[2]

Contents

History

The Viking Council was founded on October 15, 1910 as the Minneapolis Council and later in 1952, the name was changed to Viking Council. At the time of the merger with Indianhead Council, the geography of the Viking Council spanned from Minneapolis all the way across Minnesota to the South Dakota border. The Viking Council's main Camp, Many Point Scout Camp located near Ponsford, Minnesota, is among the largest in the United States. Other camps from the Viking Council included Stearns Scout Camp in Fair Haven Township, Minnesota and Rum River Scout Camp in Anoka, Minnesota. A history of patches used by the Viking Council and Minneapolis Council is available at this Viking Council Patch Archive.

The Indianhead Council was founded on October 1, 1910 as the St. Paul Council and later in 1954, the name was changed to the Indianhead Council. The Indianhead Council was headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and included Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota, and much of western Wisconsin. Its name came from the shape of the Wisconsin-Minnesota border, which is said to resemble that of the head of an Indian. As well as the office building in Saint Paul, facilities included Tomahawk Scout Reservation near Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Phillipo Scout Reservation near Cannon Falls, Minnesota, Fred C. Andersen Scout Camp near Hudson, Wisconsin, and Kiwanis Scout Camp near Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota.

Organization

With the Exception of El Sol, Silver Maple, Polaris, and Zulu Districts, Northern Star Council is divided into districts based on local Geography. The current districts are:

Camps

Northern Star Council is currently home to nine camps.

Camp Name Camp Location Size (acres) Website
Base Camp St. Paul, MN 6 Website
Eagle Landing Osceola, WI 20 Website
Fred C. Andersen Scout Camp Houlton, WI 260 Website
Kiwanis Scout Camp Marine on St. Croix, MN 110 Website
Many Point Scout Camp Ponsford, MN 2,400 Website
Phillippo Scout Reservation Cannon Falls, MN 450 Website
Rum River Scout Camp Anoka, MN 160 Website
Stearns Scout Camp South Haven, MN 1,200 Website
Tomahawk Scout Reservation Birchwood, WI 3,000 Website

Tomahawk Scout Reservation

Tomahawk Scout Reservation
Location Birchwood, Wisconsin
Founded 1953
Website
http://www.camptomahawk.org

Tomahawk Scout Reservation, nicknamed "Tommy", is located near Rice Lake, Wisconsin. It sits on the shores of Long Lake on which the camp owns several miles of shoreline. The camp encompasses approximately 3,000 acres (12 km2), and is the largest scout camp operated by Northern Star Council.

Tomahawk is made up of four sub-camps: Chippewa, Sioux, White Pine, and Navajo.

History

Tomahawk began with Indianhead Council purchasing 1,932 acres (7.82 km2) of land on February 14, 1953 from businessman Aksel Nielsen.

Many Point Scout Camp

Many Point Scout Camp
Location Ponsford, Minnesota
Coordinates 47°05′52″N 95°28′37″W / 47.097806°N 95.476926°W / 47.097806; -95.476926
Founded 1946
Website
http://www.manypoint.org/

Many Point Scout Camp is a Boy Scout summer camp located along Many Point Lake on the White Earth Indian Reservation near the township of Ponsford in Becker County, Minnesota. The camp is currently the second largest scout camp operated by the Northern Star Council composed of approximately 2,400 acres (10 km2), and borders the 143,000-acre (580 km2) Tamarack National Wildlife Refuge. Many Point is further divided into six sub-camps which serve to troops, Venturing crews and families.

History

The first occupants of Many Point Lake and its surroundings were Native Americans of the Ojibwa tribe, who gave the lake its name for its many points. In the 19th century, the lake and woods which surrounded it were occupied by French fur traders and loggers, who harvested the abundant natural resources.

Many Point Scout Reservation was founded in 1946 by Wint Hartman, the first camping director for the reservation, and Boots Hanson, the first camp ranger. Wint's initial idea for the camp was that scouts would come with their troops and be guided by principals such as leave no trace. This was a new idea for the BSA, as up until this time scouts went to camp by themselves, and camps were much more para-military. Many Point Scout Camp was the first BSA camp to accommodate troops instead of just individual scouts.

During the winter of 1946-1947, Boots Hanson lived alone on land purchased from the Many Point Gun and Rod club, what is today the Buckskin sub-camp. He spent the winter readying the land for scouts. In the spring, when Wint Hartman drove up from the cities wondering if camp would be ready, he saw a red lantern hanging in Hanson's window, a sign that camp was ready. To this day, a red lantern is one of the mascots for Many Point. During the summer, lit red lanterns are hung outside of each sub-camp's lodge, as a symbol that the camp is there for the scouts. In the winter, red lanterns are placed in the windows of the rangers' homes.

As time went on and more land was obtained, new sub camps were opened and additions were made to the camp. Today it is made up of a main administration area, three program camps for troop camping, a high adventure base, a camp with no staff or program for troops who wish to run their own program, as well as a camp for families.

Geography

Many Point Scout Reservation is made up of roughly 2,400 acres (9.7 km2) of woodland and swamp along over six miles (10 km) of shoreline on Many Point Lake, Round Lake to the south and a few small lakes to the east. The camp is located on the White Earth Band of Ojibwa Reservation, bordering the 143,000-acre (580 km2) Tamarack Wildlife Refuge.

Main Area

The administration area is located a short drive into the camp, and is where troops check in at the start of their session. The area houses the administration building, which includes a lounge for Staff, also used by C.I.T.s on weekends. The Many Point History Center and fire tower are also located here. A couple minutes away by foot is the camp maintenance shop and C.I.T. base camp, also called C.I.T. Hill.

Camps

Many Point is made up of four sub-camps, which are Buckskin, Ten Chiefs, Voyager and Pioneer. Many Point also has a family camp, where Scouting families may stay for the week. Preference is given to those families that have a Scout attending Many Point that same week. Family Camp includes a full program led by camp staff, 21 cabins, and 8 tenting sites. Many Point is also home to Flintlock, a high adventure base serving scouts staying in Buckskin, Ten Chiefs and Voyageur.

Buckskin

Buckskin is the oldest sub-camp within Many Point, and is a short walk from the administration area. Troops that camp in Buckskin stay in one of 13 troop sites, each containing multiple patrol sites. There is also a site called All Star, where scouts, both boys and girls, may come independent from troops.

Buckskin is unique from the other camps for its dining hall, where scouts and staff are fed, and therefor not required to cook their own food. The sub-camp is home to one of Many Point's three climbing towers and one of Three 25-foot (7.6 m) water trampolines.

Ten Chiefs

Ten Chiefs is about two miles (3 km) south of Buckskin and the Administration areas, and is the second of the three sub-camps troops camp in. Much like Buckskin, troops stay in one of 13 troop sites, but unlike Buckskin must do their own cooking, except for dinner, which is delivered from the commissary. The seconds of the three climbing towers and water trampolines are located within Ten Chiefs.

Voyageur

Voyageur is the third sub-camp used for troop camping and is just over two miles (3 km) south of Ten Chiefs. Voyageur has 13 campsites, and like Ten Chiefs troops must cook their own meals. The third climbing tower, as well as the third water trampoline are both located within Voyageur.

Flintlock

Flintlock is unique from each of the other sub-camps as instead of being composed of troop sites and activity areas, it serves as Many Point's high adventure base. Located about a mile north of Voyageur and a mile south of Ten Chiefs, older scouts from each sub-camp may sign up for a day activity or overnight trip to one of the camps two Project C.O.P.E. courses, the tree houses or Huck Finn Rafts. Famous to Flintlock Bay is a giant floating iceberg, part of Many Point's recently added Challenge Outpost. Scouts coming to Flintlock may also participate in the International Target Sports Outpost, kayak day or overnight trip, large boat sailing and sailboarding. Flintlock and parts of Southern Ten Chiefs are located in the camp's fabled Yeti Swamp which claims to be the home of the camp's legendary yeti.

Also at Flintlock is the new Frontier program. Located across the bay from Buckskin and only accessible by boat, Flintlock staff and interested troops are helping to build a replica of an 1860's logging camp, the Thompson-Peake Lumber Company, that used to be on Many Point Lake.

Pioneer

Pioneer is located along the southwest shore of Many Point Lake, between Voyageur and Family Camp. Unfortunately, the sub-camp is no longer in use. However, troops and crews may come to this camp if they wish to make and run their own program, with minimal staff interaction.

Family Camp

Family Camp is built on the site of a former resort, on a peninsula that stretches to the center of Many Point Lake. While priority for the cabins and tent sites are given to families of scouts and scoutmasters camping at another sub-camp, any family can come and spend a week doing some fun camp activities, or relaxing for the entire week. Swimming lessons, arts and crafts and trips to Itasca State Park are also available. Many Point Family Camp is unique from other BSA family camps as it is one of the only in the nation to run program for families.

References

  1. ^ "Northern Star Council History". http://www.northernstarbsa.org/AboutUs/CouncilFacts/History.aspx. Retrieved 2008-09-21. 
  2. ^ "Northern Star Council Fact Sheet". http://www.northernstarbsa.org/Forms/NSC/CouncilFacts.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-21. 

See also

v · d · eBoy Scouts of America
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