Cub Scouts
Scouting doesn’t just start at Camp Mitigwa. Our youngest Scouts are learning to Do Their Best! and build skills to help them be ready for bigger adventures ahead. For each year of camp a youth attends at Camp Akela, they will receive a metalic pony bead.
Scouts BSA Youth Members
As an honor camping society, youth members are inducted as campers their second year attending a week long summer resident(long-term) camp. At that time, new members are recognized with their new log chain with a wooden acorn. It is an acknowledgment that these new members have started their journey. After receiving their log chain, new members can begin adding beads (described below) to display their achievements as a Mitigwa camper and their dedication to the Reservation.
Youth members who attend camp for two additional years (four total) continue on their journey to become Guardians. They are recognized as a squire apprentice and receive a white wooden “M” to attach to their acorn. This “M” stands for Mitigwa and symbolizes the Scouts growth from their first years camping at Mitigwa. Each year forward, a member advances in rank. A fifth year camper is recognized as a squire; a sixth year camper is recognized as a Guardian Apprentice; and as eleventh year camper is recognized as a Guardian First Degree. Rank recognition for the log chain is explained below.
Camp Staff
Summer camp staff of the Reservation have a special role in maintaining the traditions of Mitigwa and have a special track within the Guardians. First year staff members are eligible for Guardian Apprentice rank at the conclusion of one successful year on staff. Staff completing three additional years become Guardian First Degree staff completing five years become Guardian Second Degree; staff completing seven years become Guardian Third Degree; and staff completing ten years become members of the Old Guard. An honor role of Old Guard is maintained on the Reservation website and at camp. Other rank recognitions are described below.
Adult Members
Adult members have a different journey, as their role is different. An adult attending one session of camp and participating in a camp service project (as approved) are eligible to become a Guardian Apprentice and update their log chain. Any adult with previous youth membership will automatically be eligible for Guardian Apprentice if they have not already achieved that rank.
Adults returning a third year and participating in three approved service projects are eligible for Guardian First Degree membership; adults attending camp five years are recognized as Guardian Second Degree; adults attending seven years and completing seven service projects are recognized as Guardian Third Degree; and adults attending ten years and completing ten service projects are recognized as Honor Guard. An honor role of Honor Guard is maintained on the Reservation website. Other rank recognitions are described below.
Order of the Arrow Members
Each log chain is unique, beyond the rank Totem of each member. Guardians add beads to document their life at Mitigwa. These beads and requirements to add them to the log chain are described below. In addition, many members wear an additional oak leaf Totem. These are Mitigwa campers that are also members of the Mitigwa Lodge. The Guardians recognize the important role that Scouting’s National Honor Camping society plays in the Mitigwa program, and can never thank members of our local lodge enough for their service. Ordeal members receive an oak leaf to wear on their log chain. It is either on it’s own because the individual may have attended one year or has never attended summer camp at Mitigwa. Those that have received their acorn attach the leaf to the bottom of their acorn using two small eye screws and a jumper ring. Those with red painted on the veins of the oak lead are those who have sealed their membership in the Order and are Brotherhood members. Vigil members are recognized by a Vigil Triangle affixed to their oak leaf. The oak leaf was chosen as a fitting symbol for lodge members in the Guardians program. Within the Ordeal call-out ceremony, candidates are described as oaks spreading their branches; within the Vigil call-out ceremony, candidates are described as mighty oaks distinguished in stature. The leaf, partnered with the acorn, symbolizes growth to first-class rank and membership in Scouting’s National Honor Camping society, an achievement completed traditionally at local resident camps. Mitigwa Lodge members may also earn beads, with special beads for participating in the Lodge program. These beads are described below.