Circle Ten Council is a

Scouting America Scouting America is the largest scouting organization and one of the largest List of youth organizations, youth organizations in the United States, with over 1 million youth, including nearly 200,000 female participants. Founded as the Boy Sco ...

chartered council in central north Texas and a portion of

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. It encompasses all or parts of:

Camp Camp may refer to: Areas of confinement, imprisonment, or for execution * Concentration camp, an internment camp for political prisoners or politically targeted demographics, such as members of national or minority ethnic groups * Extermination ...

, Collin,

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

Delta Delta commonly refers to: * Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet * D (NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta"), the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet * River delta, at a river mouth * Delta Air Lines, a major US carrier ...

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, Fannin,

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, Grayson, Henderson,

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, Kaufman, Lamar,

Morris Morris may refer to: Places Australia * St Morris, South Australia, place in South Australia Canada * Morris Township, Ontario, now part of the municipality of Morris-Turnberry * Rural Municipality of Morris, Manitoba ** Morris, Man ...

, Navarro, Rains, Red River, Rockwall,

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, and

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counties in Texas as well as Bryan,

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, McCurtain, and

Pushmataha Pushmataha ( – December 24, 1824; also spelled Pooshawattaha, Pooshamallaha, or Poosha Matthaw) was one of the three regional chiefs of the major divisions of the Choctaw in the 19th century. Many historians considered him the "greatest of a ...

counties in Oklahoma. Founded in 1913 and based in Dallas, approximately 32,000 youth and 8,600 adults (as of 2024) participate in Scouting through the council each year. The council has four camps - Camp Wisdom, Camp James Ray, Clements Scout Ranch / Camp Trevor Rees-Jones and Camp Constantin / Jack D. Furst Aquatics Base. The

Order of the Arrow The Order of the Arrow (OA) is the honor society of Scouting America, composed of Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Promise, Scout Oath and Scout Law, Law in their daily lives as elected by their peers. It was founded as a camp fr ...

is represented by Mikanakawa Lodge.

History

The Scouting movement came to

in 1910, the same year the BSA was created in the United States, and by 1913 several troops were already in existence. In 1923 the council came into possession of its first camp. Donated by John S. Wisdom, also known as "Daddy Wisdom", to support the council he gave his farm as a permanent campsite. Since Wisdom's generous act, Circle Ten has acquired three more major camps: Constantin, James Ray, and Cherokee. J.L. Tarr, the Scout Executive of Circle Ten became Chief Scout Executive in 1979. In 1996 Circle 10 moved into its new home, The John D. Murchison Service Center, named after the National BSA President and Dallas area businessman/philanthropist who died in 1979 during the first year of his term.Brief history of the BSA 1972–1979

Organization

The council is administratively organized into districts: Central Service Area Northern Trail – Richardson, Lake Highlands Tejas Caddo – East Dallas West Park – Highland Park, University Park, West Dallas, Fair Park, Lindsey Park Duck Creek – Garland, Sachse, Rowlett East Trinity Trails – Wylie ISD, Rockwall County, Community ISD North Service Area Chisholm Trail – Plano Eagle Trail – Allen, Fairview, Lucas Iron Horse – Frisco, Prosper, Celina Lone Star – McKinney, Anna, Farmersville, Melissa, Princeton Eastern Lakes - Hunt, Rains, Hopkins, Delta, Red River, Titus, Camp, Morris, Franklin Counties Texoma Valley - Grayson & Bryan Counties Two Rivers – Fannin, Lamar, Pushmataha, Choctaw, McCurtain South Service Area Rising Sun – Mesquite, Sunnyvale, Balch Springs, Seagoville, Pleasant Grove & South East Dallas Post Oak - Kaufman, Van Zandt, Navarro, Henderson Counties (not including Forney ISD) Elm Fork – Carrollton, Southern Lewisville, East Coppell, Northwest Dallas, Irving, Addison, North Dallas Soaring Eagle – Duncanville, DeSoto, Lancaster, Cedar Hill, Wilmer, Hutchins, Oak Cliff Southern Star – Ellis County Western Horizon – Irving, Coppell, Grand Prairie Scout Reach Service Area Program Specialist Units STEM Scouts

Camps

Circle Ten Council operates six year-round camping grounds and three summer camps.

Camp Constantin

Camp Constantin is the flagship campground for Circle Ten. Located on on the shores of

Possum Kingdom Lake Possum Kingdom Lake (popularly known as P.K.), is a reservoir on the Brazos River located primarily in Palo Pinto County, TX, Palo Pinto County Texas. It was the first water supply reservoir constructed in the Brazos River basin. The lake has ...

near Graford, Texas and containing 15 campsites, Constantin acts as both a regular camp open to Scouts from all areas and as Circle Ten's largest and longest-running summer camp hosting roughly 2,800 Scouts during the 5 weeks it is open during the summer. Constantin was acquired by the Boy Scouts in 1946 when Eugene Constantin donated it, after the death of his son in World War II, to the group that he decided best served the needs, morals, and values of young men. The camp recently celebrated its 60th birthday and regularly plays host to International Scouts, most notably

Scouting Ireland Scouting Ireland () is one of the largest youth movements on the island of Ireland, a voluntary educational movement for young people with over 45,000 members, including over 11,000 adult volunteers . Of the 750,000 people between the ages of 6 ...

.Circle 10 page on Constantin

Jack D. Furst Aquatics Base

Within Camp Constantin is an Aquatics Base that was established by a generous donation from Circle Ten board member and former Constantin staff member Jack D. Furst. The Aquatics area is the best maintained and most used Aquatics area within Circle Ten Council and one of the best in Texas. The Aquatics Base features a fleet of sailboats (consisting mainly of Sunfish and Hobie Cats), dozens of newly donated canoes, 5 ski boats, a two-year-old state-of-the-art swim dock, and a boat dock. Another popular feature are the "Blob" set out every summer. Because of Fursts' generosity and the area upkeep by staff members, it is able to offer the Swimming, Rowing & Canoeing, Motorboating, Lifesaving, Kayaking, Sailing & Advanced Sailing, and Waterskiing merit badges as well as Lifeguard training. Its Water Odyssey program is unique to the camp and is designed solely for

Eagle Scouts Eagle Scout is the highest Ranks in Scouts BSA, rank attainable in the Scouts BSA program of Scouting America. Since its inception in 1911, only four percent of Scouts have earned this rank after a lengthy review process. The Eagle Scout rank ha ...

James Ray Scout Reservation

James Ray Scout Reservation, formerly known as Camp Grayson (1930–1999), is located on the Texas side of

Lake Texoma Lake Texoma is one of the largest reservoirs in the United States, the 12th-largest US Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) lake, and the largest in USACE Tulsa District. Lake Texoma is formed by Denison Dam on the Red River in Bryan County, Oklah ...

, near Pottsboro, occupying . Like Constantin, James Ray is a year-round camp and a summer camp. During the summer months, James Ray utilizes its 11 campsites and is in operation for 4 weeks for Webelos resident camp. During the 2005 summer, James Ray suffered a setback when a refrigerator fire damaged its electrical system. Some dedicated Circle Ten volunteers repaired the electrical system, which was back in operation within 48 hours. James Ray is home to the Sanford Aquatics Area which contains a 180,000 gallon, one-of-a-kind swimming pool. In and surrounding the pool is a beach-front entrance, two aqua jet systems, and a water slide.

Camp Wisdom

Camp Wisdom is Circle Ten Council's original camp. Donated in 1923 by farmer John S. Wisdom, still known by his nickname "Daddy Wisdom", Camp Wisdom started at about . At one point, the camp grew to almost through land donations. Some of the original camp was purchased by Texas for the construction of

Interstate 20 Interstate 20 (I‑20) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I-20 runs beginning at an interchange with I-10 in Reeves County, Texas, and ending at an interchange with I-95 in Florence, South Carolina. B ...

. Since then, Wisdom has returned to much of its original size. Wisdom is known for Cub World, Circle Ten's primary Cub leader training site and Cub Scout campground. In addition to its 40 campsites, Wisdom also hosts leadership training for adults and youth owing, in part, to the easy access from the Dallas metropolitan area. The camp lends its name to Camp Wisdom Road, a major east–west road near the camp. Gill Clements Shooting Sports Complex (opened May 2017) is the premier shooting range in Circle Ten and includes: 50-yard rifle range 5-stand shotgun range, 5 position shotgun game with multiple targets 2-stand shotgun range for merit badge instructional range Shooting sports building with air-conditioned/heated classroom and secure storage Onsite bathrooms Camp Wisdom has an unfortunate reputation of being noisy at all times due to proximity to two highways: Interstate 20 and Texas Spur 408. Also, lighted highway billboards shine into some campsites.

Clements Scout Ranch

Clements Scout Ranch houses two Boy Scout camps, Trevor Rees-Jones Scout Camp and Camp Meisenbach. Named after former Texas Governor Bill Clements, a lifelong supporter of the BSA, the ranch comprises of towering pines and four well-stocked fishing lakes.

Trevor Rees-Jones Scout Camp

Trevor Rees-Jones Scout Camp (formerly Camp Cherokee), located near Athens, Texas, has sixteen campsites for weekend and week-long summer camp visitors. TRJ hosts one of two COPE courses in the council, features a climbing tower and has Circle 10's only ATV course. The summer program also offers more than 60 merit badges, programs, and activities for Scouts and Scouters alike. TRJ's biggest draw is the horsemanship program, the only place within the Circle Ten Council to obtain the Horsemanship merit badge. In June 2008, Camp Cherokee opened the Jim Tarr Dining Hall, a air-conditioned facility that also features a state-of-the-art kitchen and a Scoutmaster's lounge. Another unique offering is the annual Winter Camp held there every winter from December 27 to 31. Like a summer camp, campers have the chance to earn merit badges, but unlike Summer Camp, campers must provide their own food. Mikanakawa Lodge staffs Winter Camp every year, presenting various Native American themed events such as Pow wow's to campers and visitors in addition to performing the normal duties of camp staffers.

Camp Meisenbach

Camp Meisenbach (formerly Camp Comanche) is the smaller of the two camps located on Clements Scout Ranch and is used exclusively for year-round primitive camping. Meisenbach features six campsites with two pavilions. Located on Murchison Lake, Meisenbach offers great fishing and canoeing programs. Camp Meisenbach currently has of hiking trails and three additional

Philmont Philmont Scout Ranch is a ranch located in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States, near the village of Cimarron. Donated by oil baron Waite Phillips, the ranch is owned by Scouting America. It is a high adventure base where crews of Scouts ...

style campsites. Clements Scout Ranch is also very proud to host the "Governor's Trail", which has recently been renovated with a service grant from the National Order of the Arrow lodge along with the Ft. Bridger Trail.

Programs and activities

Circle Ten Council has strong International Scouting ties, particularly with

with whom they have set up a Scouting exchange program every summer. In the summer of 2005, a composite troop from Ireland toured the three Circle Ten summer camps and stayed with foster families for a time in Dallas. In 2006 Scouts from Circle Ten visited

Larch Hill Larch Hill International Scout and Guide Centre is the national campsite, and administrative and training headquarters, of Scouting Ireland. It was previously owned by Scouting Ireland (CSI), one of the two scout organisations which merged to for ...

and went hiking and camping with Irish Scouts in the Southern part of Ireland. An Irish contingent is planned for 2007 with a return trip by Circle Ten already planned for 2008.

Order of the Arrow

Mikanakawa Lodge is the local extension of the

within Circle Ten. It was founded in 1937 by L. L. Hotchkiss after Scouts from Circle Ten Council returned from the 1937 National Scout Jamboree. On April 26 Hotchkiss, himself a distinguished Arrowman, mailed a letter to the National OA Secretary about starting a Lodge. On June 22, final approval for the lodge was given and within seven days of the letter, the first Ordeal was held at Camp Wisdom. The lodge gained its name when the Mikanakawa Tribe, a group of Scouts acting outside of the Order of the Arrow but with similar activities, was merged by Circle Ten into the official Order of the Arrow lodge and allowed to keep the name Mikanakawa. The Lodge lacked the traditional "patch flap" until 1950 when it was designed by Bill Jordan in preparation for a trip to a National meeting. In 1994 the Mikanakawa Lodge welcomed the Okiciyapi Lodge upon the Texoma Valley Council merging with Circle Ten Council. Okiciyapi became a chapter as Texoma Valley Council became a district, Mikanakawa elected to adopt the Okiciyapi Thunderowl totem alongside its Owl in a show of unity. This made Mikanakawa one of the few OA Lodges in the country to have two totems: the owl and the thunderbird. The lodge holds many events, including five annual ordeals, a Native American Pow-Wow, a Fall Fellowship, an Annual Dinner, a leadership development conference, and is charged each year with organizing and staffing the council's winter camp at Camp Trevor Rees-Jones (formerly known as Camp Cherokee). The lodge also sends delegates to the annual Southern Region Section 2 Conclave and regularly sends at least 100 delegates to National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC)

Chapters

The lodge is administratively divided into chapters matching each district: Southwestern Service Area 1. Elm Fork - Pechan Ozate 2. Soaring Eagle - Takoda 3. Southern Star District - Alankw Shaoneyunk 4. Western Horizon - Ah-Shu-Ko Southeastern Service Area 1. East Trinity Trails District - N'wingi 2. Duck Creek District - Atoskata 3. Texas Skies District - Soquili 4. Trinity Wood District - Cayuga North Central Service Area 1. Rising Sun - Tlanuwa 2. Northern Trail District - Arapaho 3. Tejas Caddo District - Piscke 4. West Park District - Shawnee North Metro Service Area 1. Chisholm Trail District - Cha’wat 2. Eagle Trail District - Haokah 3. Iron Horse District - Adanvdo Ditlihi 4. Lone Star District - Wicahpi Northeastern Service Area 1. Texoma Valley District - Okiciyapi 2. Tonkawa District - Sachapiwak 3. Two Rivers District - Nisha Sipu 4. White Oak District - Wipunkokw

References

External links

Collection of Mikanakawa Patches
{{Scouting Local councils of the Boy Scouts of America Youth organizations based in Texas Southern Region (Boy Scouts of America) 1913 establishments in Texas