Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation
Encyclopedia
The Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation, located in central New Jersey
, was a major Boy Scout training facility for almost 50 years. It was named after Mortimer L. Schiff
, the father of John M. Schiff
; both of whom were World Scout Committee members and notable early Boy Scouts of America
(BSA) leaders.
The original reservation comprised 400 acres (1.6 km²) near Mendham, New Jersey
and was in operation from 1932-1979. It was formally dedicated on October 18, 1933. The land was purchased for the BSA by Mrs. Jacob Schiff in memory of her son, Mortimer, who died while President of the BSA in 1931. During this time it served as the BSA's National Training Center, the Ellsworth H. Augustus International Scout House
, and hosted the first Wood Badge courses held in the United States.
After the National Council moved its headquarters in 1979 from New Brunswick, New Jersey
to Irving, Texas
, the Philmont Scout Ranch
in New Mexico
became the new home of the National Training Center.
When the Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation was closed, Nassau County Council's Camp Wauwepex in Wading River, New York
was renamed as the John M. Schiff Scout Reservation, in honor of Moritmer's son, John.
William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt is buried in Mendham, New Jersey
near the Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation, now within the Patriots Path Council
. Today over 310 acres (1.3 km²) of the original 500 acres (2 km²) of the camp are preserved as the Schiff Nature Preserve.
Taking to the world.
Scouting ways forever,
With flags and banners
Mightily Unfurled
To our Oath and Scout Law
True We'll always be
With every council
every region
Bound together in our legion
Men of Schiff are we.
Taking to the world.
Scouting ways forever,
With flags and banners
Mightily Unfurled
To our Oath and Scout Law
True We'll always be
With every council
every region
Bound together in our legion
Friends of Schiff are we.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, was a major Boy Scout training facility for almost 50 years. It was named after Mortimer L. Schiff
Mortimer L. Schiff
Mortimer Loeb Schiff , sometimes Mortimer Leo Schiff, was an American banker and notable early Boy Scouts of America leader. His son John Mortimer Schiff was also involved with the BSA.-Biography:...
, the father of John M. Schiff
John M. Schiff
John Mortimer Schiff was an American banker and national president of the Boy Scouts of America from 1951 to 1956.-Biography:...
; both of whom were World Scout Committee members and notable early Boy Scouts of America
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...
(BSA) leaders.
The original reservation comprised 400 acres (1.6 km²) near Mendham, New Jersey
Mendham, New Jersey
Mendham is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 Census, the borough population was 5,097.While New Jersey was an English colony, Mendham Township was formed on March 29, 1749 as a new governmental entity, from portions of Hanover Township, Morris Township,...
and was in operation from 1932-1979. It was formally dedicated on October 18, 1933. The land was purchased for the BSA by Mrs. Jacob Schiff in memory of her son, Mortimer, who died while President of the BSA in 1931. During this time it served as the BSA's National Training Center, the Ellsworth H. Augustus International Scout House
Ellsworth H. Augustus
Ellsworth Hunt Augustus was an American businessman from Cleveland, Ohio who served as the tenth National president of the Boy Scouts of America.-Biography:He was born on November 23, 1897 in Cleveland, Ohio....
, and hosted the first Wood Badge courses held in the United States.
After the National Council moved its headquarters in 1979 from New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
to Irving, Texas
Irving, Texas
Irving is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within Dallas County. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city population was 216,290. Irving is within the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, designated...
, the Philmont Scout Ranch
Philmont Scout Ranch
Philmont Scout Ranch is a large, rugged, mountainous ranch located near the town of Cimarron, New Mexico, covering approximately of wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Rocky Mountains of northern New Mexico...
in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
became the new home of the National Training Center.
When the Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation was closed, Nassau County Council's Camp Wauwepex in Wading River, New York
Wading River, New York
Wading River is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, USA, on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the CDP population was 7,719....
was renamed as the John M. Schiff Scout Reservation, in honor of Moritmer's son, John.
William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt is buried in Mendham, New Jersey
Mendham, New Jersey
Mendham is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2000 Census, the borough population was 5,097.While New Jersey was an English colony, Mendham Township was formed on March 29, 1749 as a new governmental entity, from portions of Hanover Township, Morris Township,...
near the Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation, now within the Patriots Path Council
Scouting in New Jersey
Scouting in New Jersey has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live...
. Today over 310 acres (1.3 km²) of the original 500 acres (2 km²) of the camp are preserved as the Schiff Nature Preserve.
Men of Schiff
Men of Schiff togetherTaking to the world.
Scouting ways forever,
With flags and banners
Mightily Unfurled
To our Oath and Scout Law
True We'll always be
With every council
every region
Bound together in our legion
Men of Schiff are we.
Friends of Schiff
Friends of Schiff togetherTaking to the world.
Scouting ways forever,
With flags and banners
Mightily Unfurled
To our Oath and Scout Law
True We'll always be
With every council
every region
Bound together in our legion
Friends of Schiff are we.