Santa Clara County Council
Encyclopedia
Santa Clara County Council, Inc. is a Boy Scouts of America
council headquartered in San Jose, California
. As of 2004, the council serves over 11,000 youth in over 400 Boy Scout troops, Cub Scout
packs, Venturing
crews, and Explorer posts.
Council of the Boy Scouts of America was founded on August 20, 1920 by John Crummey (president of Bean Spray and Pump Company (later known as Food Machinery Corporation)), Robert Bentley, Jr. (president of Muirson Label Company) and Archer Bowden (San Jose attorney). Bentley served as the first council president, Julius Rainwater was the first scout executive, and Edmund Richmond was the first council commissioner.
In 1922, the council changed its name to Santa Clara County Council, and took over administration for all of Santa Clara County
. The council was incorporated in 1923, and oversight of San Benito County
was added the same year. Monterey
and Santa Cruz
counties were added in 1927.
In 1933 San Benito
, Santa Cruz
and Monterey counties were split off to form the Monterey Bay Area Council. In 1939 the area around Palo Alto
split off to form its own council, the now-defunct Stanford Area Council. That council, which had been the smallest BSA council in the nation by area, merged with San Mateo County Council in the 1990s to form Pacific Skyline Council.
camp located in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, only minutes away from the small town of Longbarn, California. This camp is notably high, with the majority of its buildings standing at approximately 4,800 feet and the highest point of the mountain standing over a mile high at 5,300 feet. The camp is used year round with five weeks of Scouting camp during the summer, one of which is the International Rendezvous every even year. During the 'off season' Camp Hi-Sierra is used for training sessions as well as council activities.
. Before the camp was a Scout Reservation though it was inhabited by the Miwok Indians. When logging
scions discovered the forest, they decided to start logging in the spot where the camp is now located. To this day, as one walks through camp, they can still see remnants of the logging industry, bits of the old mill, etc... Currently small-scale logging continues along the main camp road.
As of now, the Santa Clara County Council maintains the camp as well as a full time ranger who lives in the camp year round, he is the caretaker for all of Camp Hi-Sierra. The current Ranger is Alan Buscaglia as of August 2010.
. Its official postal address is in nearby Long Barn, California
, although it is about one mile southeast of Cold Springs, California
. The turn-off is about 30 miles East of Sonora
and nearly one mile West of Cold Springs Market on State Route 108
. The tourist town of Pinecrest, California
and its popular Pinecrest Lake are approximately five miles further East on Hwy 108.
. On the western side is Staff Hill, home to the camp staff during the summertime. Also, this side contains the camp office, health lodge, dining hall, flag meadow, and the ranger's home. On the southern-most end of the camp property is a small seasonal man-made lake.
On the eastern side of camp is the Blackfoot Meadow, home to the baseball diamond. Directly across from Blackfoot Meadow is the archery range. Also near the meadow is the frisbee golf|disc golf course. Further south is the high adventure area; this includes the bike barn and rock climbing tower. Across from the climbing wall is the trading post, which was built in 2005. Next to the high adventure area is the Trail-to-First Class area and beyond that the Scoutcraft area. Opposite from Scoutcraft is the "livery", home of the craft shop. Behind this is the Nature area, formerly the High-Adventure Base. The log cabin has now been converted into the nature cabin, with space on the second floor for people to sleep.
Across the road from the Nature area is Foxfire. On this fenced-in property, there is a tipi for Native American classes, and a blacksmith shop. This is home of the Mountain Man program, where scouts can learn blacksmithing, woodcarving, and tomahawk throwing.
The eastern side of the river contains all of the scout camps, where 250-350 scouts can be housed in tents. High on the hill are the shooting range and chapel.
camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains
of Santa Cruz
and San Mateo
counties, California
. The camp is owned by the Memorial Foundation of the Santa Clara County Council, and is used year round for troop campouts, Order of the Arrow
events and Wood Badge
trainings; and as a Cub Scouts (Boy Scouts of America)
day camp and a junior leadership resident camp during the summer.
The council wanted to use Chesebrough as an undeveloped wilderness camp, but the closing of Camp Stuart in Saratoga
in 1990 forced many of the activities from that camp to Chesebrough, including the Cub Scout day camp which required the construction of additional facilities.
passes through the camp about five miles (8 km) from its Skyline terminus, in Castle Rock State Park
.
The camp is bordered by Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve and Long Ridge Open Space Preserves of the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District, and Castle Rock and Portola State Parks.
, and Cutter Scout Reservation.
. It was donated by Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Stuart, and named in memory of their son, Reginald Ross Stuart. The camp contains 144 acres (0.583 km²), and is located near Sanborn-Skyline County Park.
The camp had a pool, dining room, multipurpose building, flush toilets, shower building, meeting lodge and many campsites. Bohlman Road, which was paved in the 1950s, divides the camp in two. One side served as a Cub Scout day camp, one of the largest in the United States, serving nearly 3000 Scouts each year.
Camp Stuart's last summer of operation was in 1988. The Santa Clara County Council already owned two other camps, and decided to sell Camp Stuart to take advantage of rising land values. The camp was sold in 1989, shortly before several buildings were damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake
. The county has not demolished or developed the camp, and has no funds or apparent plans for the area.
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 headquartered in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
. As of 2004, the council serves over 11,000 youth in over 400 Boy Scout troops, Cub Scout
Cub Scouts (Boy Scouts of America)
Cub Scouting is part of the Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America , available to boys from first through fifth-grade, or 7 to 11½ years of age and their families. Its membership is the largest of the three BSA Scouting Divisions...
packs, Venturing
Venturing (Boy Scouts of America)
Venturing is part of the program of the Boy Scouts of America for young adults, men and women, from the age of 14 years old or 13 years old and completed eighth grade through 21....
crews, and Explorer posts.
History
The San JoseSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
Council of the Boy Scouts of America was founded on August 20, 1920 by John Crummey (president of Bean Spray and Pump Company (later known as Food Machinery Corporation)), Robert Bentley, Jr. (president of Muirson Label Company) and Archer Bowden (San Jose attorney). Bentley served as the first council president, Julius Rainwater was the first scout executive, and Edmund Richmond was the first council commissioner.
In 1922, the council changed its name to Santa Clara County Council, and took over administration for all of Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County, California
Santa Clara County is a county located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 it had a population of 1,781,642. The county seat is San Jose. The highly urbanized Santa Clara Valley within Santa Clara County is also known as Silicon Valley...
. The council was incorporated in 1923, and oversight of San Benito County
San Benito County, California
San Benito County is a county located in the Coast Range Mountains of the U.S. state of California, south of San Jose. As of 2010 the population was 55,269. The county seat is Hollister, which includes nearly two-thirds of the county's population. El Camino Real passes through the county and...
was added the same year. Monterey
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
and Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
counties were added in 1927.
In 1933 San Benito
San Benito County, California
San Benito County is a county located in the Coast Range Mountains of the U.S. state of California, south of San Jose. As of 2010 the population was 55,269. The county seat is Hollister, which includes nearly two-thirds of the county's population. El Camino Real passes through the county and...
, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
and Monterey counties were split off to form the Monterey Bay Area Council. In 1939 the area around Palo Alto
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
split off to form its own council, the now-defunct Stanford Area Council. That council, which had been the smallest BSA council in the nation by area, merged with San Mateo County Council in the 1990s to form Pacific Skyline Council.
Council Camps
Santa Clara County Council currently operates two camps, and has operated several others in the past.Camp Hi-Sierra
Camp Hi-Sierra is a Boy ScoutBoy 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...
camp located in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, only minutes away from the small town of Longbarn, California. This camp is notably high, with the majority of its buildings standing at approximately 4,800 feet and the highest point of the mountain standing over a mile high at 5,300 feet. The camp is used year round with five weeks of Scouting camp during the summer, one of which is the International Rendezvous every even year. During the 'off season' Camp Hi-Sierra is used for training sessions as well as council activities.
History
Camp Hi-Sierra was created in 1949 with land that the Santa Clara County Council bought within the Stanislaus National ForestStanislaus National Forest
Stanislaus National Forest contains in four counties in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California. It was established on February 22, 1897, making it one of the oldest national forests...
. Before the camp was a Scout Reservation though it was inhabited by the Miwok Indians. When logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
scions discovered the forest, they decided to start logging in the spot where the camp is now located. To this day, as one walks through camp, they can still see remnants of the logging industry, bits of the old mill, etc... Currently small-scale logging continues along the main camp road.
As of now, the Santa Clara County Council maintains the camp as well as a full time ranger who lives in the camp year round, he is the caretaker for all of Camp Hi-Sierra. The current Ranger is Alan Buscaglia as of August 2010.
Location
This camp is located within the Stanislaus National ForestStanislaus National Forest
Stanislaus National Forest contains in four counties in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California. It was established on February 22, 1897, making it one of the oldest national forests...
. Its official postal address is in nearby Long Barn, California
Long Barn, California
Long Barn is a census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California. Long Barn sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported Long Barn's population was 155....
, although it is about one mile southeast of Cold Springs, California
Cold Springs, Tuolumne County, California
Cold Springs is a census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California. Cold Springs sits at an elevation of . The 2010 United States census reported Cold Springs's population was 181.-Geography:...
. The turn-off is about 30 miles East of Sonora
Sonora, California
Sonora is the county seat of Tuolumne County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,903, up from 4,423 at the 2000 census. Sonora is the only incorporated community in Tuolumne County.-Geography:...
and nearly one mile West of Cold Springs Market on State Route 108
California State Route 108
State Route 108, also known as Highway 108, is a numbered state highway in California. SR 108 runs generally northeast across central California from downtown Modesto near the SR 99/SR 132 interchange, crossing the Sierra Nevada at Sonora Pass, to U.S. Route 395 near the Nevada state line...
. The tourist town of Pinecrest, California
Pinecrest, Tuolumne County, California
Pinecrest is an unincorporated community in Tuolumne County, California, United States. Pinecrest is located near Pinecrest Lake northwest of Mi-Wuk Village. Pinecrest has a post office with ZIP code 95364. The post office was established in 1917 and briefly closed from 1921 to 1923....
and its popular Pinecrest Lake are approximately five miles further East on Hwy 108.
Programs
Camp Hi-Sierra offers a range of Scouting programs to meet participants' skill levels and experience:- Boy Scout Summer Camp (Hi-Sierra's main program for Boy ScoutsBoy Scouts (Boy Scouts of America)Boy Scouting is a membership level of the Boy Scouts of America for boys and young men. It provides youth training in character, citizenship, and mental and personal fitness...
)- Trail to First Class (2010 renamed Trail to Eagle) (for first-year Scouts working on achieving their First Class rank)
- Merit BadgesMerit badge (Boy Scouts of America)Merit badges are awards earned by youth members of the Boy Scouts of America , based on activities within an area of study by completing a list of periodically updated requirements. The purpose of the merit badge program is to allow Scouts to examine subjects to determine if they would like to...
- Aquatics (Canoeing, Rowing, Swimming, Lifesaving)
- High Adventure (Climbing, Cycling, Backpacking, Wilderness Survival, First Aid)
- Handicraft (Basketry, Leather work, Art, Pottery, Woodcarving)
- Nature (Astronomy, Energy, Environmental Science, Fish and Wildlife management, Forestry, Geology, Mammal Studies, Nature, Weather)
- Scout Craft (Camping, Cooking, Orienteering, Pioneering)
- Shooting Sports (Rifle, Shotgun, Archery)
- Fox Fire (a "living mountain man history" program based around 19th-century metalworking and woodworking crafts)
- also includes Indian Lore and Metalwork MBs
- High Adventure
- Climbing (featuring a 35-ft tall climbing/rappelling tower)
- Mountain biking
- Trekking (guided backpacking trips exploring the National Forest)
- Pinecrest Program (Sailing at Pinecrest lake)
- Clavey Expedition (5 mile backpack or 12 mile bike trip to the Clavey River site on Thursday night)
- 18 Hole Disc/Frisbee Golf Coarse
- Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) Week
- Counselor-in-TrainingCounselor-in-TrainingThis article is about the program at a summer camp, i.e., church, Scouting, or other organization.Counselor-in-Training can be both a person’s designation and a program, intended to prepare the individual for the leadership and responsibility of being a counselor...
(CIT) experience - Adult leader trainings
- Tribe of Hi-Sierra (a service-based honor society open to all youth and adults participating in Camp Hi-Sierra programs)
- Tribe of Hi-Sierra Ranks
-
- Brave
- Warrior
- Medicine Man
- Chief
- Great Chief
Facilities
Buildings at Camp Hi-Sierra include a staff bunkhouse, dining hall, office, and other structures. The camp is bisected by the North Fork of the Tuolumne RiverTuolumne River
The Tuolumne River is a California river that flows nearly from the central Sierra Nevada to the San Joaquin River in the Central Valley...
. On the western side is Staff Hill, home to the camp staff during the summertime. Also, this side contains the camp office, health lodge, dining hall, flag meadow, and the ranger's home. On the southern-most end of the camp property is a small seasonal man-made lake.
On the eastern side of camp is the Blackfoot Meadow, home to the baseball diamond. Directly across from Blackfoot Meadow is the archery range. Also near the meadow is the frisbee golf|disc golf course. Further south is the high adventure area; this includes the bike barn and rock climbing tower. Across from the climbing wall is the trading post, which was built in 2005. Next to the high adventure area is the Trail-to-First Class area and beyond that the Scoutcraft area. Opposite from Scoutcraft is the "livery", home of the craft shop. Behind this is the Nature area, formerly the High-Adventure Base. The log cabin has now been converted into the nature cabin, with space on the second floor for people to sleep.
Across the road from the Nature area is Foxfire. On this fenced-in property, there is a tipi for Native American classes, and a blacksmith shop. This is home of the Mountain Man program, where scouts can learn blacksmithing, woodcarving, and tomahawk throwing.
The eastern side of the river contains all of the scout camps, where 250-350 scouts can be housed in tents. High on the hill are the shooting range and chapel.
Chesebrough Scout Reservation
Chesebrough Scout Reservation, also called Camp Chesebrough is a 544 acre (2.2 km²) Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy 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...
camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central California, United States. They form a ridge along the San Francisco Peninsula, south of San Francisco, separating the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley, and continuing south,...
of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
and San Mateo
San Mateo County, California
San Mateo County is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. It covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula just south of San Francisco, and north of Santa Clara County. San Francisco International Airport is located at the northern end of the county, and...
counties, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The camp is owned by the Memorial Foundation of the Santa Clara County Council, and is used year round for troop campouts, 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...
events and Wood Badge
Wood Badge
Wood Badge is a Scouting leadership program and the related award for adult leaders in the programs of Scout associations throughout the world. Wood Badge courses aim to make Scouters better leaders by teaching advanced leadership skills, and by creating a bond and commitment to the Scout movement...
trainings; and as a Cub Scouts (Boy Scouts of America)
Cub Scouts (Boy Scouts of America)
Cub Scouting is part of the Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America , available to boys from first through fifth-grade, or 7 to 11½ years of age and their families. Its membership is the largest of the three BSA Scouting Divisions...
day camp and a junior leadership resident camp during the summer.
History
The original 404 acres (1.6 km²) of Chesebrough Scout Reservation, in Santa Cruz County, were donated to Santa Clara County Council by Paul and Nessie Chesebrough in 1977. Paul had inherited the camp and much of the surrounding area from his aunt Edith Van Antwerp in 1949. The Chesebroughs felt that the land should remain open and available for use by the people of California, so they donated much of it to the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District, the Sempervirens Fund, and of course, the Boy Scouts. The Chesebroughs donated another 140 acres (0.6 km²) adjoining the property in San Mateo County in 1983.The council wanted to use Chesebrough as an undeveloped wilderness camp, but the closing of Camp Stuart in Saratoga
Saratoga, California
Saratoga is a city in Santa Clara County, California, USA. It is located on the west side of the Santa Clara Valley, directly west of San Jose, in the San Francisco Bay area. The population was 29,926 at the 2010 census....
in 1990 forced many of the activities from that camp to Chesebrough, including the Cub Scout day camp which required the construction of additional facilities.
Location
Chesebrough Scout Reservation stradles the Santa Cruz-San Mateo county border, and is located nine miles (15 km) south of Saratoga on California State Route 9, and two miles (3 km) south of that road's intersection with California State Route 35, or Skyline Boulevard at Saratoga Gap. The Skyline-to-the-Sea TrailSkyline-to-the-Sea Trail
The Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail is a 29.5-mile hiking trail that descends from the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains in Northern California to the Pacific Ocean, passing through Castle Rock State Park and Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Big Basin is California's first state park...
passes through the camp about five miles (8 km) from its Skyline terminus, in Castle Rock State Park
Castle Rock State Park (California)
Castle Rock State Park is a state park of California, USA, located along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It embraces coast redwood, Douglas fir, and madrone forest, most of which has been left in its wild, natural state. Steep canyons are sprinkled with unusual rock formations that is a...
.
The camp is bordered by Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve and Long Ridge Open Space Preserves of the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District, and Castle Rock and Portola State Parks.
Facilities
Chesebrough Scout Reservation has about 8 campsites, each capable of holding at least 30 campers. In addition, the camp has a large modern kitchen, a 300 seat campfire amphitheater, BB gun and archery ranges, and 32 miles (51 km) of hiking trails. The trails connect to the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, giving access to Castle Rock State Park, Big Basin Redwoods State ParkBig Basin Redwoods State Park
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of California, located in Santa Cruz County, about northwest of Santa Cruz. The park contains almost all of the Waddell Creek watershed, which was formed by the seismic uplift of its rim, and the erosion of its center by the many...
, and Cutter Scout Reservation.
Former camps
- Alum Rock ParkAlum Rock ParkAlum Rock Park, founded in 1872, was the first municipal park in the U.S. state of California. Located in a valley in the Diablo Range foothills on the east side of San Jose, the 720 acre park offers 13 miles of trails, varying from fairly level along Penitencia Creek to sharp switchbacks...
(1921 - unknown). The council was given exclusive access to 15 acres (61,000 m²) in the park. - Camp Swanton (1924 – 1930)
- Camp Arroyo Sequoia (1931 – 1944, 1948)
- Camp Bonnie Brier (early 1940s), now known as Boulder Creek Scout Reservation and operated by Pacific Skyline Council
- San Lorenzo Scout Ranch (1941 – 1948)
Camp Stuart
Camp Stuart (formally, the Stuart Scout Training Reservation), founded in 1944, is a defunct camp in Saratoga, CaliforniaSaratoga, California
Saratoga is a city in Santa Clara County, California, USA. It is located on the west side of the Santa Clara Valley, directly west of San Jose, in the San Francisco Bay area. The population was 29,926 at the 2010 census....
. It was donated by Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Stuart, and named in memory of their son, Reginald Ross Stuart. The camp contains 144 acres (0.583 km²), and is located near Sanborn-Skyline County Park.
The camp had a pool, dining room, multipurpose building, flush toilets, shower building, meeting lodge and many campsites. Bohlman Road, which was paved in the 1950s, divides the camp in two. One side served as a Cub Scout day camp, one of the largest in the United States, serving nearly 3000 Scouts each year.
Camp Stuart's last summer of operation was in 1988. The Santa Clara County Council already owned two other camps, and decided to sell Camp Stuart to take advantage of rising land values. The camp was sold in 1989, shortly before several buildings were damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake
Loma Prieta earthquake
The Loma Prieta earthquake, also known as the Quake of '89 and the World Series Earthquake, was a major earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area of California on October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m. local time...
. The county has not demolished or developed the camp, and has no funds or apparent plans for the area.
External links
- Santa Clara County Council official site
- SCCC Programs-Camping-Camp Hi-Sierra Santa Clara County Council's official Camp Hi-Sierra page
- Friends of Camp Hi-Sierra promotional community site