Jersey Shore Council

Jersey Shore Council
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Website www.jerseyshorescouts.org www.cittascoutreservation.org www.beascout.org

The Jersey Shore Council serves all of Ocean and Atlantic Counties, and part of Burlington and Cape May Counties. Its camp is Joseph A. Citta Scout Reservation, located in Barnegat, New Jersey.

Districts

The council is divided into the following districts:^[1]

• Joshua Huddy District (Toms River, Brick, Lakewood, Point Pleasant, Point Pleasant Beach and Jackson)
• Jersey Devil District (Remainder of Ocean County)
• Sea Pines District (All of Atlantic County)

Joseph A. Citta Scout Reservation

The Joseph A. Citta Scout Reservation at Brookville is a Boy Scout Camp located in the Brookville section of Barnegat, Ocean County, New Jersey, USA, and is part of the Boy Scouts of America's Jersey Shore Council. First opened in 1957, it was originally called the Ocean County Scout Reservation, but then changed its name to the Brookville Scout Reservation. It is currently known as the Joseph A. Citta Scout Reservation.

Recently celebrating its 50th Anniversary, the Citta scout camp is a home away from home to many troops and other Scouting organizations. Citta's summer program offers a variety of activities such as COPE, First Year Camper Program (Beaver), and numerous merit badges.

The Joseph A. Citta Scout Reservation is located at 39 degrees 46'39.33 North by 74 degrees 18'37.83 West.

Campsites

Citta currently has 9 campsites that can be used year round. The sites are Apache, Seneca, Comanche, Iroquois, Algonquin, Kewe, Chippewa, Mohican, and Mohawk. For Resident Summer camp, two-man canvas tents are provided for camper usage. When summer camp is not in session, you need to bring your own tent. Except if you are staying in Kewe which has year round Lean-tos

Summer camp program areas

As mentioned earlier, The Citta Scout Reservation offers a large variety of programs for a wide spectrum of ages.

Aquatics

Aquatics

Also known as The Waterfront, this area offers the following Merit Badges: Swimming, Lifesaving, Small Boat Sailing, Rowing, Canoeing, and Kayaking. This area also offers many open area programs in the afternoon and Scuba certification in the morning.

Ecology

In this area scouts learn about nature and the environment, scouts also will learn about the Earth's ecosystem, their effect on it and how it affects them. Numerous merit badges are available to earn such as Sustainability, Space Exploration, Nuclear Science, Fishing, Pulp and Paper, Environmental Science, Mammals, Reptiles and Amphibians, Astronomy, Weather, Mining in Society, Fish and Wildlife Management, Nature, Archaeology, Geology, Forestry, Insect Study, Soil and Water Conservation, Chemistry, and Bird Study.

Scoutcraft

This area is focused on teaching outdoor skills such as camping, knot tying, hiking, cooking, wilderness survival, and leave no trace. The Camping, Cooking, Wilderness Survival, Pioneering, Geocaching, Orienteering, Hiking, and Scout Heritage merit badges are taught at Scoutcraft. Totin' Chip and the Paul Bunyan Woodsman award can also be earned by scouts at this area.

The Range

The Range

Learning to shoot a rifle, a shotgun or a bow and arrow is possible at the Range. Using strict safety rules and precise directions, scouts are instructed how to use a firearm, an activity that few very teens outside scouting can experience. The merit badges taught at the Range are Rifle Shooting, Shotgun Shooting, and Archery. Troops can also set up troop shoots, so every kid can have a chance to shoot a rifle.

Handicraft

The Handicraft area of camp is where the scouts take their arts and crafts merit badges. They offer the following Merit Badges: Leatherwork, Woodcarving, Indian Lore, Composite Materials, Chess, Theater, Basketry, Railroading, Sculpture, Photography, Art, Textile, Music, Bugling, and Collections.

First Aid

During the summer, camp has a full-time Health Officer who meets the health needs of all of the campers.

CSI: Brookville

This area in camp focus on First Aid Merit Badges including Emergency Prep, First Aid, Search and Rescue, Medicine, Public Health, Disability Awareness, Law, Crime Prevention, Fire Safety, and Safety.

First Class Frontier

The First Class Frontier program is for first year campers. This program allows Scouts the opportunity to work on many rank requirements up to First Class. It also allows them to meet other Scouts from the same age group. The First Class Frontier program covers Swimming and Leatherwork Merit Badges and allows Scouts time to earn additional Merit Badges.

Eagle's Nest

The Eagle's Nest Area is where aspiring Eagle Scouts can take Eagle required merit badges. Starting in 2015 the Eagle's Nest Area will be split away from Scoutcraft and it will be then known as CSR: Eagle Corp. The badges that will be offered in this area are American Business, American Labor, Salesmanship, Entrepreneurship, Personal Management, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, American Culture, American Heritage, Family Life, Genealogy, Public Speaking, Personal Fitness, and Inventing.

C.O.P.E.

The COPE Tower

C.O.P.E. is an acronym for Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience. This program, which is based on developing teamwork, communication, and problem solving, allows scouts to form experiences outside troop activities. Together, groups of scouts must maneuver their way through various obstacles, strengthening the teamwork and trust between themselves. During the end of the week, scouts use their newfound trust to climb Citta's rock wall. C.O.P.E. also offers the Climbing merit badge to scouts.

Treks

Over the past decade, Citta Scout Reservation has been improving their trek program. Usual treks include surfing, biking, and kayaking within the area. Trek programs traditionally are designed to provide levels of character building most commonly found on high adventure bases while keeping the price reasonable and the experience close to the troop.

Ranger

The Ranger program looks to teach Scouts practical skills by offering the following Merit Badges: Auto Maintenance, Plumbing, Painting, Home Repair, Electricity, and Welding.

Japeechen Lodge

The Order of the Arrow is an honor society of campers that promote service and camping. In order to gain entry to the lodge you must be at least a first class scout and be elected by your fellow scouts. Elections are held once a year at every troop. Adults must be nominated to join the lodge. Our local Order of Arrow of the Lodge is Japeechen Lodge, #341.

Japeechen Lodge 341 of the Order of the Arrow was first chartered to the newly formed Jersey Shore Council, Boy Scouts of America, on January 1, 1993. To search out the history of this infant lodge, young braves must first look at two great past lodges, Gitche Gumee # 423 and Schiwa' Pew Names # 535.

Gitche Gumee was chartered on September 23, 1949, as the Order of the Arrow Lodge affiliated with the Atlantic Area Council # 331. The name of the lodge was taken by its founders from the Indian term for "the great waters" in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "SONG OF HIAWATHA". The Laughing Gull, symbolizing the coastal environment that largely encompasses the Atlantic City region, was chosen as the lodge totem.

The first Vigil recognition was held in the Lodge ceremonial grounds in 1954 when Brother Raymond Wright was conferred the honor. Wright was also the first Adviser, holding the post from 1949 to 1959. He was succeeded by the late S. Edward Bickerstaff and Dave Lutton. The first Chief was Peter Buck, who served from 1949 to 1951. In 1974, Gitche Gumee celebrated its 25th Anniversary. In 1993, the lodge merged with neighboring lodge, Schiwa' Pew Names.

Gitche Gumee hosted 5 local Order of the Arrow gatherings. It hosted the 1953, 1960 and 1968, Area 2C Conferences and the 1974 and 1983 NE-4B Conclaves. Prior to 1973, lodges gathered at an Area Conference, which is the forerunner to the present Section Conclave.

James Ogle had the honor of serving as the first Chief of Lodge 535, Ocean County Council, which was chartered on June 18, 1958. Robert Yaeger served as first Adviser. "Schiwa' Pew Names" received its name from the traditional Lenni-Lenape language used by the Order of the Arrow, directly translated as "Blue Fish," a fish frequently found off the Ocean County coast.

Serving others from the very beginning, Lodge 535 hosted a number of Camporees for mentally and physically challenged Scouts. These were held from the early 1970s to the early 1990s. The Camporees focused on Scouting skills and teamwork.

In 1984, Schiwa' Pew Names marked a milestone in the history of Ocean County. On May 20, 1984, the Captain Joshua Huddy Historical Scout Trail was dedicated. Recognized as a national Scout trail, the Huddy Trail was established by the lodge and is still maintained the Japeechen lodge. The Lodge celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 1988.

As a “newer” lodge to the Section, Schiwa' Pew Names hosted 2 local Order of the Arrow gatherings. It hosted the 1982 and 1992 NE-4B Conclaves. In 1992, Schiwa' Pew Names celebrated its 35th anniversary by hosting the NE-4B Section conclave. This was the last conclave the lodge would host, as Ocean County Council #341 and Atlantic Area Council #331 would merge to form the Jersey Shore Council #341, later that year.

The new lodge, Japeechen, would also receive the number 341. Given the many scenic rivers that flow through the new council, the youth members of the infant lodge chose "Japeechen" as their name. Translated from Lenni-Lenape, the name means "along the bank." An Osprey (commonly referred to as a "sea eagle"), arrow in Claws and flying over the Atlantic Ocean with rising sun in the background was chosen as their symbol. Matthew Simmons was elected as the first Chief, while Richard Dempsey served as the first Adviser.

Japeechen hosted its first section conclave (NE-2B) in 1996 at The Joseph A. Citta Scout Reservation at Brookville, located in the pristine New Jersey Pinelands. In 1998, Japeechen Lodge celebrated its 5th anniversary by sending contingents to NOAC, NLS and planning for its first Lodge Officers' Training Course that was held in early 1999. In 2000, the Lodge attended NOAC, increased support for the Council's Annual Six Flags Great Adventure Camporee, promoted Citta Scout Reservation and was very active in the Section's Conclave.

The Lodge also sponsored and staffed a wilderness weekend during one week of Citta’s Summer Camp 2000. Nine merit badges were offered during the week: Camping, Cooking, Wilderness Survival, Indian Lore, Pioneering, Orienteering, Nature, Leather Work, and Wood Carving. During the week a drum, song and dance show was performed by the participants and staff during the campfire which ended with a flag burning ceremony. All felt strongly that the program should be continued as a service project for Japeechen and members of the Lodge are asked to step forward and volunteer for this program in the future.

The Lodge is currently divided into four chapters: Mni Oyate Kin and Lowaneau Kuwe covers Brick, Point Pleasant, Toms River, Jackson and Lakewood. Mbi Memoshet and Nawakwa covers Barnegat, Forked River, Lacey, surrounding areas and Atlantic County. Each chapter holds local meetings where camp promotions, unit elections, Native American interests, goals and upcoming events are discussed. The Lodge plans to continue its service to the Council this year at the Invitational Camporee at Great Adventure by again providing kitchen staff, trading post staff and promoting Citta Scout Reservation to the units in attendance.

The year 2001 was great for the Lodge. Japeechen earned Quality Lodge status and two Chapters, Nawakwa and Mni Oya'te Kin, earned a newly instituted Quality Chapter award.

In 2002, Japeechen re-chartered with over 510 members. Future plans for the Lodge include redesigning the Japeechen Lodge Eagle Scout Neckerchief. This neckerchief is given to Eagle Scouts of Japeechen Lodge at their Court of Honor who meet specific requirements. A Brotherhood Guide has been developed to give Ordeal Brothers an idea of how and why this next step in the Lodge is important.

In 2003, Japeechen celebrated its 10th anniversary. An anniversary back patch was released in limited quantities. During its tenth year, Japeechen also hosted the NE-2A Conclave at the Joseph A. Citta Scout Reservation.

In 2005, the Order became involved with the Thunder Over the Boardwalk airshow in Atlantic City. By selling programs and patches for the event, the Lodge was able to develop a fundraising effort that would help for years to come.

Japeechen Lodge was awarded 'Quality Lodge' in 2006.

The year 2007 brought big changes for the Lodge. The Chapters were realigned. As a result, the Lodge now has two Chapters, entitled North and South for their areas of service within the Council. Also in 2007 the Summer Camp Award program was created in an effort to foster stronger ties between the Order and Scouts from Wolves to Second Class who were not yet members of our Brotherhood. Largely successful, the program will be continued at future summer camps. In 2008, thirty-two Japeechen Arrowmen attended the last NE-2A Conclave in Puerto Rico. Japeechen is proud to host the first ever NE-5A Conclave at Citta Scout Reservation in June 2009.

As the Lodge continues to support both its membership and Jersey Shore Council through continued training, on-going service and dedication to the local Troops.

References

External links

Coordinates: 39°46′57″N 74°18′02″W / 39.7826°N 74.3006°W / 39.7826; -74.3006