Silver Wolf Award - B.S.A.'s First Super Scout Award

www.silverwolfaward.us  In 1911 Ernest Thompson Seton, the Chief Scout of the BSA used Lord Robert-Baden-Powell's Handbook for Scouting and combined it with elements of his Birch Bark Rolls to create the first "Proof" BSA Handbook.  In this book was the requirments for the completion of Merit Badges and Ranks.  The first proposed "super" rank was the Silver Wolf Award".  Based on Seton's love of Native American culture and his understanding of how they viewed the Wolf as the greatest creature alive, he decided to propose the Silver Wolf.

It should not go unnoticed that B-P was known as "Impassee", a name which roughly translated to cunning Wolf.  It was given to him by the native tribes of South Africa for his fighting ability.  B-P too viewed the highest rank in England as the Wolf Award, so it was only natural that the Silver Wolf be used with the BSA.  However, when the Proof handbook went out National Scout Commissioner Daniel Carter Beard, known as "Uncle Dan" proposed the Award be changed to the "Eagle" since it was the national symbol of the United States.  Effectively this was done and the Silver Wolf Award was never produced.  However, the artist rendering was supplied in the book and today a replica of the Badge can be obtained for collectors. 

The first set is limted to 100 serialized issues.  Coming with a maroon ribbon, the replica is faithful to the original artist rendering and has been used as a collector supplement to Medal collections as well as presentations to Eagle Scouts for achieving their rank.  For more information visit the web address related to the history of the Award at www.silverwolfaward.us - Scut   

Camp Zinn Horseback Trek Camp Patch

In the early 1950’s the Choccolocco Council began the process of improving its camping program within the Council. One of the goals was to create program that would continue to draw the interests of the older boys within the program. With this in mind a Horseback trek was developed to cater to Explorers within the council. The program ran from 1950-1952 and consisted of a five day trek from Camp Zinn into the heart of Talladega National Forest. During the trek Explorers would camp at outpost camps which included Lost Valley Camp, Bankhead Tower, and Shoal Creek. Explorers cooked their own meals which usually consisted of fish and frogs they caught while on the trek. The trek would culminate with the return to Zinn on Friday where a large rodeo was held to demonstrate the participants newly acquired equestrian skills.

The above patch was issued for these treks. It is not evident if this patch was issued for the three years the program was put on, but with the low number of participants each week and the limited number of years the program existed it serves as one of the rarest Zinn pieces in existence.  There were likely two patch issues, the above white flocked patch and a maroon colored patch with the same logo flocked in white.

Pow "Wow" Patch - Achunanchi Lodge 135

Achunanchi Lodge 135 was chartered in September of 1938 to serve the Choccolocco Council, from its inception the lodge held many activities including ordeals, fellowships, and an annual Christmas Banquet; but it was not until 1964 when the lodge hosted its first pow-wow. Held from August 7-9 at Camp Zinn this event also marked the first time the lodge had issued a patch for a lodge function. This event was described by Lodge Chief Jim Weed as “the big lodge meeting of the year” and the weekend served as a time to elect lodge and chapter officers, participate in OA Olympics, learn and compete in Native American Dance, and the weekend also served as an Ordeal as well.

At a cost of 3.50 for the weekend it is viewed today as a bargain. The 3.50 fee also included a “beautiful 80 cent Pow-Wow Patch”. Quite a steal as it is difficult to find one for under $800.00 now. The design however for the patch wasn’t original to the lodge. In 1959 Mowogo 243 of Athens, Georgia used the design to celebrate their first pow-wow. Talking with many traders this is a patch that has been difficult to locate ever since the late 1960’s and is one of the rarest OA event patches within Alabama. Many times this is one of the last holes filled by 135 collectors. It truly is a Pow "Wow" Patch!

1966 Area V-E Conference Patch & Camp Comer

On April 29^th 1966 the gates were flung open to Comer Scout Reservation as Arrowman from all over Alabama and Northwest Florida gathered for the 15^th Annual Area V-e Order of the Arrow Conference. The patch pictured above was issued for this annual event and was designed by Svend Damhave of Woa Cholena 322. What is of significant note about this conference is that this was the first big event held at Comer Scout Reservation since its total completion that same year. The area pulled out all the stops for the weekend as two distinguished guest were in attendance during the conference. Both Martin Mockford, who served as Executive Secretary of the Order of the Arrow, and National Committeeman Carl Marchetti were both in attendance. Marchetti would go on to serve as the Chairman of the National Order of the Arrow Committee from 1984- 1993.

258 Arrowman attended the conference making it the largest attended conference to that date. During the weekend the official ribbon cutting and dedication of Achunanchi 135’s OA Lodge was carried out.

Choccolocco "Woven" Patches - Ft. McClellan

The BSA and the United States Military have long had a strong partnership, and this partnership was very evident with the Choccolocco Council and Fort McClellan located in Anniston, Alabama. From the 1950’s through the council’s consolidation in 1998 Fort McClellan served as the primary location for the council’s Scout-O-Rama held every two years. The above pictured patches were issued for the 1959 Choccolocco Council Scout-O-Rama held May 15^th – 17^th. The event, held in conjunction with Armed Services Day, was chaired by Colonel M.F. Halloran and Lesley Stephenson, a professional within the council, served as the Director of Program. Over 2,000 Scouts and Scouters participated in the event which included individual district campfires, troop and patrol competitions, and a Scout Show on Saturday night that featured the famed WAC Band perform. 

This is the only time the Choccolocco Council used a woven patch for an event, and the difference in the two issues are unknown. The woven pattern allowed for a finer detail in the patches, and this ranks as one of the most esthetic patches ever issued by the Choccolocco Council. These patches were made by Apatche, a prevalent manufacturer of woven patches from this timeframe. Most examples of woven patches from the late 1950’s and early 1960’s came from them.

Camp Comer "Wild River" Patches

During the early 1970’s an older boy program at Comer Scout Reservation was available for Life and Eagle Scouts to participate in. Known as the Wild River Expedition, this program was geared toward whitewater adventure and outpost camping. Challenging both physically and mentally this program was a resounding success with older boys lining up to participate in the program. These treks were led by Bryan Winslow and Jeff Wells, Winslow a Military Medic was on loan from Fort McClellan during the summers to lead these expeditions.

Pictured above are the two patches that were issued for the expeditions. To this day they remain as two of the most difficult Comer patches to acquire.

The Old "Hide the O.A." in the Camporee Patch

Many camporees are held around the country each year.  Most of these are held in either the Spring or Fall with some having the involvement of the Order of the Arrow.  The O.A. has always been supportive with campfire programs; staffing; judging and other necessities at these events.  Sometimes the camporee committees vote to include the O.A. in their patch design.  Other times, the camporee committee just inserts the initials O.A. or W.W.W.  Of course these are not official Lodge issue patches, since they were never taken to the Lodge LEC for approval.  But by default they become part of the "Lodge Set" and collectors do their best to scoop these up so they have every angle covered on possible Lodge issues.

The patch pictured above is from the old Arapaho District in Decatur, AL.  The local O.A. Chapter helped put this event on and as such was honored on the patch. These make neat collectibles - Camporees which highlight O.A. functions.