Circle Ten Council

Circle Ten Council
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters 8605 Harry Hines Boulevard
Dallas, Texas 75325
Location Texas, Oklahoma
Country United States
Founded 1910
Membership 57,000 youth
15,000 adults
President Joe Crafton
Council Commissioner Joe Stallard
Scout Executive Samuel Thompson
Website
http://www.CircleTen.org/

Circle Ten Council is the main Boy Scouts of America (BSA) chartered council in central north Texas and a portion of Oklahoma. It encompasses all or parts of: Camp, Collin, Dallas, Delta, Ellis, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Henderson, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Lamar, Morris, Navarro, Rains, Red River, Rockwall, Titus, and Van Zandt counties in Texas as well as Bryan, Choctaw, McCurtain, and Pushmataha counties in Oklahoma. Founded in 1913 and based in Dallas, approximately 50,000 youth and 15,000 adults participate in Scouting through the council each year. The council has four camps - Camp Wisdom, Camp James Ray, Clements Scout Ranch / Camp Trevor Rees-Jones and Camp Constantin / Jack D. Furst Aquatics Base. The Order of the Arrow is represented by Mikanakawa Lodge.

Organization

The council is administratively organized into districts:[1]

  • Blackland Prairie - Dallas ISD - north of Northwest Highway and west of US 75
  • Cimarron - South Dallas - Dallas ISD east of Trinity River, south of Fair Park
  • Duck Creek - Garland ISD (Garland and Rowlett)
  • Eagle Trail - Allen ISD and Lovejoy ISD
  • Eastern Skies - Mesquite ISD
  • East Trinity Trails - Wylie ISD, Community ISD, Rockwall ISD, and Royse City ISD (SE Collin County, Rockwall County, W Hunt County)[2]
  • Five Trails - Coppell ISD and Irving ISD
  • Golden Arrow - Southern half of Plano ISD, south of Parker Rd
  • Iron Horse - Frisco ISD, Celina ISD, and Prosper ISD
  • Lone Star - McKinney ISD
  • Mountain Lake - Grand Prairie ISD
  • Mustang - Dallas ISD west of Trinity River, south of I-30
  • Northern Lights - Northern half of Plano ISD, north of Parker Rd
  • Northern Trail - Richardson ISD
  • North Star - Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD and Lewisville ISD, south of SH 121
  • Southern Star - Ellis County
  • Tejas Caddo - Dallas ISD west of US 75 and north of I-30
  • Texas Skies - Kaufman and Van Zandt Counties
  • Texoma Valley - Grayson County and Bryan County, OK
  • Tonkawa - Hunt and Rains Counties
  • Trinity Woods - Henderson and Navarro Counties
  • Two Rivers – Fannin and Lamar counties in Texas; Choctaw, McCurtain, and Pushmataha counties in Oklahoma
  • West Park - Highland Park ISD, Old West View District, south of HPISD and west of US 75, downtown, Fair Park
  • White Oak – Camp, Franklin, Morris, Red River, and Titus counties
  • Wisdom Trail - Duncanville ISD, DeSoto ISD, Cedar Hill ISD, and Lancaster ISD

History

The Scouting movement came to Dallas in 1910, the same year the BSA was created in the United States, and by 1913 several troops were already in existence. In 1923 the council came into possession of its first camp. Donated by John S. Wisdom, also known as "Daddy Wisdom", to support the council he gave his farm as a permanent campsite.[3] Since Wisdom's generous act, Circle Ten has acquired three more major camps: Constantin, James Ray, and Cherokee. J.L. Tarr, the Scout Executive of Circle Ten became Chief Scout Executive in 1979. In 1996 Circle 10 moved into its new home, The John D. Murchison Service Center, named after the National BSA President and Dallas area businessman/philanthropist who died in 1979 during the first year of his term.[4]

Camps

Circle Ten Council operates six year round camping grounds and three summer camps.

Camp Constantin

Camp Constantin
Location 3003 Park Road 36
Graford, TX 76449
Coordinates 32°52′00″N 98°26′00″W / 32.866667°N 98.433333°W / 32.866667; -98.433333
Founded 1946
Ranger Shae Smith
Constantin Aquatics area

Camp Constantin is the flagship campground for Circle Ten. Located on 385 acres (1.6 km2) on the shores of Possum Kingdom Lake near Graford, Texas and containing 15 campsites, Constantin acts as both a regular camp open to Boy Scouts from all areas and as Circle 10's largest and longest-running summer camp hosting roughly 2,800 Scouts during the 6 weeks it's open during the summer. Constantin was acquired by the Boy Scouts in 1946 when Eugene Constantin donated it, after the death of his son in World War II, to the group that he decided best served the needs, morals, and values of young men. The camp recently celebrated its 60th birthday and regularly plays host to International Scouts, most notably Scouting Ireland.[5]

Jack D. Furst Aquatics Base

Within Camp Constantin is a sea Aquatics Base that was established by a generous donation from Circle Ten board member and former Constantin epitome staff member Jack D. Furst. The Aquatics area is the best maintained and most used Aquatics area within Circle Ten Council and one of the best in Texas. The Aquatics Base features a fleet of sailboats (consisting mainly of Sunfish and Hobie Cats), dozens of newly donated canoes, 5 ski boats, a two-year-old state-of-the-art swim dock, and a boat dock. Another popular feature are the "Blob" set out every summer. Because of Fursts' generosity and the area upkeep by epitome staff members it is able to offer the Swimming, Rowing & Canoeing, Motorboating, Lifesaving, Kayaking, Sailing & Advanced Sailing, and Waterskiing merit badges as well as Lifeguard training. Its Water Odyssey program is unique to the camp and is designed solely for Eagle Scouts.[5]

James Ray Scout Reservation

James Ray Scout Reservation
Location 2026 Mill Creek Road
Pottsboro, TX 75076
Founded 1929 (as Camp Armstrong)[6]
2000 (current name)
Ranger David Carson
Assistant Ranger Frisco Reid

James Ray Scout Reservation, formerly known as Camp Grayson (1930–1999), is located on the Texas side of Lake Texoma, near Pottsboro, occupying 540 acres (2.2 km2). Like Constantin, James Ray is a year-round camp and a summer camp. During the summer months, James Ray utilizes its 12 campsites and is in operation for 4 weeks for Webelos resident camp. During the 2005 summer, James Ray suffered a setback when a refrigerator fire damaged its electrical system. Some dedicated Circle Ten volunteers repaired the electrical system, which was back in operation within 48 hours. James Ray is home to the Sanford Aquatics Area which contains a 180,000 gallon, one-of-a-kind swimming pool. In and surrounding the pool is a beach-front entrance, two aqua jet systems, and a 141-foot (43 m) water slide.[7]

Camp Wisdom

Camp Wisdom
Location 6400 W. Red Bird Lane
Dallas, TX 75236
Founded 1923
Ranger Dan Minnick

Camp Wisdom is Circle Ten Council's original camp. Donated in 1923 by farmer John S. Wisdom, still known by his nickname "Daddy Wisdom", Camp Wisdom started at about 300 acres (1.2 km2). At one point, the camp grew to almost 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) through land donations.

Some of the original camp was purchased by Texas for the construction of Interstate 20. Since then, Wisdom has returned to much of its original size.

Wisdom is known for Cub World, Circle Ten's primary Cub leader training site and Cub Scout camp ground. Wisdom also hosts leadership training for adults and youth owing, in part, to the easy access from the Dallas metropolitan area.[4] The camp lends its name to Camp Wisdom Road, a major east–west road near the camp.

Camp Wisdom has an unfortunate reputation of being noisy at all times due to proximity to two highways: Interstate 20 and Texas Spur 408. Also, lighted highway billboards shine into some campsites.

Clements Scout Ranch

Clements Scout Ranch
Location 11217 FM 2970
Athens, TX 75751
Ranger Kevin Slater
Assistant Ranger Ed Hayhurst

Clements Scout Ranch houses two Boy Scout camps, Camp Cherokee and Camp Meisenbach. Named after former Texas Governor Bill Clements, a lifelong supporter of the BSA, the ranch comprises 3,300 acres (13 km2) of towering pines and four well-stocked fishing ponds.[8]

Trevor Rees-Jones Scout Camp

Trevor Rees-Jones Scout Camp (formerly Camp Cherokee), located near Athens, Texas, has sixteen campsites for weekend and week-long summer camp visitors. Cherokee, or TRJ, is the second longest-running summer camp in Circle Ten Council at four weeks. TRJ hosts one of two COPE courses in the council and also features a 48 ft (15 m) climbing tower. The summer program also offers more than 50 merit badges, programs, and activities for Scouts and Scouters alike. TRJ's biggest draw is the horsemanship program, the only place within the Circle Ten Council to obtain the Horsemanship merit badge. In June 2008, Camp Cherokee opened the Jim Tarr Dining Hall, a 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m2) air-conditioned facility that also features a state-of-the-art kitchen and a Scoutmaster's lounge.

Another unique offering is the annual Winter Camp held there every winter from December 27 to 31. Like a summer camp, campers have the chance to earn merit badges, but unlike Summer Camp, campers must provide their own food. Mikanakawa Lodge staffs Winter Camp every year, presenting various Indian-themed events such as Pow wow's to campers and visitors in addition to performing the normal duties of camp staffers.

Camp Meisenbach

Camp Meisenbach is the smaller of the two camps located on Clements Scout Ranch and is used exclusively for year-round camping. Meisenbach features eight campsites with two pavilions. Located on Murchison Lake, Meisenbach offers great fishing and canoeing programs. Camp Meisenbach currently has 13 miles (21 km) of hiking trails and three additional Philmont style campsites. Clements Scout Ranch is also very proud to host the "Governor's Trail", which has recently been renovated with a service grant from the National Order of the Arrow lodge.

Each winter, Camp Meisenbach serves as the location for Venturing Winter Camp from December 26–31. The program is geared for coed Venturers, from 14 to 21 years in age. During the camp, Venturers can participate in activities ranging from Project COPE, SCUBA, black-powder shooting, highland games, and horseback riding.[9]

Programs and activities

Circle Ten Council has strong International Scouting ties, particularly with Scouting Ireland with whom they have set up a Scouting exchange program every summer. In the summer of 2005 a composite troop from Ireland toured the three Circle Ten summer camps and stayed with foster families for a time in Dallas. In 2006 Scouts from Circle Ten visited Larch Hill and went hiking and camping with Irish Scouts in the Southern part of Ireland. An Irish contingent is planned for 2007 with a return trip by Circle Ten already planned for 2008.

Order of the Arrow

Mikanakawa Lodge
Founded 1937
Founder L. L.Hotchkiss
Membership over 3,000
Lodge Chief Dominic Cishke
Lodge Advisor David Allelo
Staff Adviser Scott Arrington
Website
http://www.miki.org Mikanakawa Lodge

Mikanakawa Lodge is the local extension of the Order of the Arrow within Circle Ten. It was founded in 1937 by L. L.Hotchkiss after Scouts from Circle Ten Council came back from the 1937 National Scout Jamboree. On April 26 Hotchkiss, himself a distinguished Arrowman, mailed a letter to the National OA Secretary about starting a Lodge. On June 22, final approval for the lodge was given and within seven days of the letter, the first Ordeal was held at Camp Wisdom. The lodge gained its name when the Mikanakawa Tribe, a group of Scouts acting outside of the Order of the Arrow but with similar activities, was merged by Circle Ten into the official Order of the Arrow lodge and allowed to keep the name Mikanakawa. The Lodge lacked the traditional "patch flap" until 1950 when it was designed by Bill Jordan in preparation for a trip to a National meeting. In 1994 the Mikanakawa Lodge acquired the Okiciyapi Lodge. Okiciyapi was allowed to keep its totem making Mikinakawa one of the few OA Lodges in the country to have two totems: the owl and the thunderbird.[10]

The lodge holds many events, including five annual ordeals, a Native American Pow-Wow, a Fall Fellowship, Annual Dinner, a leadership development conference and is charged each year with organizing and staffing the council's winter camp at Camp Trevor Rees-Jones (formerly known as Camp Cherokee). The lodge also sends delegates to the annual Southern Region Section 2-3 North Conclave and regularly sends at least 100 delegates to National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC)

Chapters

The lodge is administratevly divided into chapters matching each district:[11]

  • Blackland Prairie- Makade Aki
  • North Star- Welapensit
  • Northern Trail- Arapaho
  • Iron Horse- Adanvdo Ditlihi
  • Eagle Trails- Haokah
  • Golden Arrow- Wakaree
  • Northern Lights- Hotowa'e
  • Texoma Valley- Okiciyapi
  • Five Trails- Satank
  • Mountain Lake- Wabashi
  • Southern Star- Alankw Shaoneyunk
  • Wisdom Trail- Lippoe
  • Texas Skies- Soquili
  • Tonkawa- Sachapiwak
  • Trinity Woods- Cayuga
  • Cimarron- Cimarron
  • Mustang- Wild Horse
  • Tejas Caddo- Pischk
  • West Park- Shawnee
  • Duck Creek- Atoskata
  • Eastern Skies- Uktena
  • East Trinity Trails- N'wingi
  • Lone Star- Wicahpi

See also

References

  1. ↑ "List of Districts within Circle Ten Council". Circle10.org. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  2. ↑ "East Trinity Trails". easttrinitytrails.circleten.org. Archived from the original on March 13, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Official Circle 10 website". Circle10.org. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Brief history of the BSA 1972–1979 Archived March 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. 1 2 Circle 10 page on Constantin Archived May 15, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ "2013 RAY Program Guide" (PDF). Circle 10 Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  7. ↑ Circle 10 page on James Ray Archived August 19, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ Circle 10 page on Cherokee & Meisenbach Archived February 28, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ "Winter Camp | Circle Ten Council". Circle10.org. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  10. ↑ I go to prepare a trail for you by Peter McNabb Archived August 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ "Chapters". Miki.org. March 2, 2014. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
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