Summer Camp

HISTORY OF PIPESTONE

The Pipestone Camp Honor Program began at Camp Tuscazoar, Zoarville, Ohio in the summer of 1926. The program's intent was the

rewarding of scout campers who excelled in advancement and Scouting spirit during their week in camp with an experience, and a token

of that experience which would capture their imaginations. A Native American ceremony was a natural choice for a vehicle to convey this

message and token. The valley of the Tuscarawas was a prime area of Native American activity as attested by the history of the area.

The reader is reminded that the Pipestone Ceremony itself is not intended to be, nor is it conducted as an initiation or a hazing, and it is

not to be represented to scouts as such!

A significant effect of the Pipestone Program is the encouragement of the return of scout campers to

Summer Camp for three, four, five years and beyond. The Camp Good Turn requirements are intended to

foster in each scout and leader a sense of sharing in the ownership and care for our Camp through the

investment of a reasonable share of their time in a group or individual improvement project for the

betterment of the grounds and facilities of our Camp. The swimming requirements have as their purpose

the same objective which governs Scouting swim requirements. That is, the safety of the scout in the

water, by developing in each scout a confidence and true sense of their own ability. Thus, the rule

regarding the enforcement of the Pipestone swimming requirements has been an ever-constant, rigid

adherence to the letter of the requirement. To give a scout the "benefit of the doubt" and grant approval

of their inadequate performance of a swimming requirement might be the most fateful decision a leader in camp will ever make.

All requirements are kept relevant to National Standards in skill and merit badge requirements required in all five years.

Finally, the Camp Spirit requirement, required for all 5 years, challenges each scout to live with their fellow scouts in camp in a spirit of

good fellowship and good sportsmanship and to uphold in the Scout Oath & Law. It requires each Pipestone candidate to exemplify the

very qualities which they pledge to uphold in the Oath and Law, and it requires their leader to evaluate their fulfillment of this requirement

with equal importance to the skills, swim, and other requirements.