Firecrafters Felt Patch - Indiana

One of the earliest Camp Honor Societies was the Firecrafters which started at Camp Chank-Tun-Un-Gi in the Central Indiana Council.  The system was the brainchild of Council Executive Francis Belzer who wanted it to be a method by which Scouts would continue coming to Camp each successive year.  It worked much like the Order of the Arrow - you had levels of achievement based on Camp Proficiencies achieved.  This originally came from Dan Beard's Culver Woodcraft Camp or Academy in northern Indiana.  Uncle Dan Beard rewarded his campers' achievements with a series of three ranks: Notcher (bronze), Midnotcher (silver), and Topnotcher (gold), each symbolized by a patch of appropriate color having a beaver within a stylized "C" for Culver.

Using Berard's model, Belzer designed the camp rank emblems starting with the Culver "C" for the Camper rank. The original patches were cut from felt and hand-sewn by 'Aunt Stella' Doeppers, who worked at the Council office.  In the early days, when a Scout became a Camper, he received a khaki vest with the Camper "C" emblem sewn on it. When he became Woodsman, a yellow teepee was added to the original patch. When he became a Firecrafter, he received a whole new patch including the red fire.  A final honor was created that had to be awarded - not earned.  It was called the Minisino - a recognition and honor of one who has made outstanding contributions to Scouting and Firecrafter and who can be expected to continue his contributions.  Minisino is a Miami Indian word meaning "tried and proven".