Blue Water Council
Encyclopedia
Blue Water Council #277 http://www.bwcbsa.org is a Boy Scouts of America
Council based out of Port Huron, Michigan
. The Council was Established in 1919 to serve scouts in the Port Huron Area, and was officially granted permission in 1928 to serve scouts in the St. Clair
and Sanilac County
area.
Blue Water Council is the smallest council in the State of Michigan, and is one of, if not the smallest in the nation. Yet, the small council is considered the most stable in Michigan, both membership and fiscally.
The original council camp was located along North River Road in Clyde Township, Michigan
. The Council also operated Camp Loyalty for a short time in the 1930s, which was located south of Lexington, Michigan
. In 1942, the family of Crowswell Businessman Philip Graham donated property along the Black River in Sanilac County to Blue Water Council. The property was known "Camp Chickagami", named after the Council's Order of the Arrow
lodge that was established just one year earlier. Camp Chickagami was located 2 miles north of Croswell, Michigan
, and is now a county park by the name of "P.L. Graham Memorial Park". In 1948, the council's camp moved downriver to the current Silver Trails Scout Reservation in Jeddo, Michigan.
and the Silver Creek. Silver Trails has 285 acres (1.2 km²) that can be explored and hiked. There are five all year cabins and three Adirondacks (3 sided structures). Silver Trails has a total of 14 campsites; some are not open all year long, and some are more remote than others, there are also 3 adirondacks(three sided-lean toos). Most of the council's money comes from renting land on the camp property to a gravel mining company. This quarry is running out of stone, and an artificial lake is proposed to be built out of the empty pit. The lake is planned to be built by 2012.
Annual events at Silver Trails include a spring and fall camporee for Boy Scouts
; "mom and me", and "dad and lad" for Cub Scouts, and a spring and fall conclave for the Order of the Arrow
. Silver Trails has been host to both the 2005 and 2011 Section C-2A Conclaves of the Order of the Arrow.
has faithfully served the Blue Water Council since 1941. The Lodge has no chapters and hosts bi-annual conclaves at Silver Trails Scout Reservation. The lodge is a member of Section C-2A and meets annually for the Section Conclave.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Chickagami Lodge was home to one of the nation's best ceremonial dance teams. The Chickagami team competed across the nation for Order of the Arrow competitions.
The lodge's totem is the Standing Brave, and a Chicken is the "unofficial mascot" of Chickagami Lodge. Total membership is 168 members. Chickagami Lodge is the second smallest lodge in the nation, and has the lowest dues in the Central Region due to its trading post located at Silver Trails Scout Reservation. It is the only lodge in the nation that operates its own store. Chickagami Lodge has earned Quality Lodge in 2007, 2008, and 2010.
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...
Council based out of Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
. The Council was Established in 1919 to serve scouts in the Port Huron Area, and was officially granted permission in 1928 to serve scouts in the St. Clair
St. Clair County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69 enters the county from the west, coming from Lansing and Flint, terminating at the approach to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron....
and Sanilac County
Sanilac County, Michigan
-Highways:* M-19* M-25* M-46* M-53* M-81* M-90-History:Sanilac County was probably named for a Wyandot chief named Sanilac. See List of Michigan county name etymologies....
area.
Blue Water Council is the smallest council in the State of Michigan, and is one of, if not the smallest in the nation. Yet, the small council is considered the most stable in Michigan, both membership and fiscally.
The original council camp was located along North River Road in Clyde Township, Michigan
Clyde Township, Michigan
Clyde Township is the name of two places in the U.S. state of Michigan:*Clyde Township, Allegan County, Michigan*Clyde Township, St. Clair County, Michigan...
. The Council also operated Camp Loyalty for a short time in the 1930s, which was located south of Lexington, Michigan
Lexington, Michigan
Lexington is a village in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,104 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Lexington Township.-Geography:...
. In 1942, the family of Crowswell Businessman Philip Graham donated property along the Black River in Sanilac County to Blue Water Council. The property was known "Camp Chickagami", named after 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 that was established just one year earlier. Camp Chickagami was located 2 miles north of Croswell, Michigan
Croswell, Michigan
Croswell is a city in Sanilac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,467 at the 2000 census.-Geography:*According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
, and is now a county park by the name of "P.L. Graham Memorial Park". In 1948, the council's camp moved downriver to the current Silver Trails Scout Reservation in Jeddo, Michigan.
Silver Trails
Silver Trails Scout Reservation http://www.bwcbsa.org/silvertrails.php is located near Jeddo, Michigan, south of Croswell, and about 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Port Huron. The Boy Scout Camp is settled along the banks of the Black RiverBlack River (St. Clair County)
Black River is an river in the U.S. state of Michigan, flowing into the St. Clair River at in the city of Port Huron. The Black River Canal in northern Port Huron extends east into Lake Huron near Krafft Road....
and the Silver Creek. Silver Trails has 285 acres (1.2 km²) that can be explored and hiked. There are five all year cabins and three Adirondacks (3 sided structures). Silver Trails has a total of 14 campsites; some are not open all year long, and some are more remote than others, there are also 3 adirondacks(three sided-lean toos). Most of the council's money comes from renting land on the camp property to a gravel mining company. This quarry is running out of stone, and an artificial lake is proposed to be built out of the empty pit. The lake is planned to be built by 2012.
Annual events at Silver Trails include a spring and fall camporee for Boy Scouts
Boy Scouts
A Boy Scout is a member of a Scouting organization. There are thousands of national Scouting organizations or federations; these are grouped into six international Scouting associations with some non-aligned organizations....
; "mom and me", and "dad and lad" for Cub Scouts, and a spring and fall conclave for the 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...
. Silver Trails has been host to both the 2005 and 2011 Section C-2A Conclaves of the Order of the Arrow.
Districts
- Three Rivers (St. Clair County South of Port Huron) Troops in the 200's
- Black River Basin (Northern St. Clair & Sanilac County Area) Troops in the 100's and 300's
Chickagami Lodge 180
Chickagami Lodge #180 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...
has faithfully served the Blue Water Council since 1941. The Lodge has no chapters and hosts bi-annual conclaves at Silver Trails Scout Reservation. The lodge is a member of Section C-2A and meets annually for the Section Conclave.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Chickagami Lodge was home to one of the nation's best ceremonial dance teams. The Chickagami team competed across the nation for Order of the Arrow competitions.
The lodge's totem is the Standing Brave, and a Chicken is the "unofficial mascot" of Chickagami Lodge. Total membership is 168 members. Chickagami Lodge is the second smallest lodge in the nation, and has the lowest dues in the Central Region due to its trading post located at Silver Trails Scout Reservation. It is the only lodge in the nation that operates its own store. Chickagami Lodge has earned Quality Lodge in 2007, 2008, and 2010.