Order Of The Chingagook - Beginning in 1921 the Kansas City, Missouri Council held its annual Summer Camp at Camp Dan Sayre in Noel, Missouri. The site was a beautiful one consisting of an open field located close to dense woods and a good swimming beach on the Elk River. The Mystic C and the 4M camp honor societies were utilized at Camp Dan Sayre in these early camps to keep the Scout's interest in coming to camp. They had both been implemented at early area Scout camps in the teens.
Early in the 1920's, a Scouter named Eb S. (Uncle Eb) Thresher joined the staff at Camp Dan Sayre. It is believed that he was responsible for developing and implementing the requirements for the Order of the Chingagook. Thresher remained active in the Kansas City, Missouri Boy Scout organization for many years and was the first Medicine Man in the Kansas City Tribe of Mic - O - Say and was documented the requirements and achievements as the Tribe grew thru World War Two when he volunteered for overseas service with the American Red Cross.
The Tribe Of The Chingagook used belt stencils as a form of instant recognition. The requirement sheet 22 different symbols (bars denoted years at camp, an axe showed participation in a camp project, a hunting horn showed participation in the drum and bugle corps...etc.) that could be earned for various activities. The final symbol listed on the sheet was a SWASTIKA – What is it??????????? This was evidently the last symbol that showed membership in the Order Of The Chingagook.
Campers met with Thresher in the evening and applied the stencils to their belts. There was also a post camp assembly at a high school in Kansas City where members were again recognized. The Order Of The Chingagook was discontinued in 1929 with the beginning of the Tribe of Mic - O - Say at Camp Dan Sayre.
Andy Dubill
Material found on this page is the work of David L. Eby and used USSSP, Inc. by permission. This material may not be reproduced without the express permission of David L. Eby
|
