The Order of the Arrow:
Buckskin Lodge 412

Things generally began with a Spring weekend at the camp each year, with members beginning the process of  getting it ready for the hordes of campers soon to arrive. Crews set out on a variety of projects, including road grading, tent platform repairs and restringing electrical and telephone wires downed over the Winter. While these weekends were a lot of work, they were also a lot of fun, for those on the camp staff were all looking forward to the upcoming Summer. In the Fall, another service weekend was held to help button the camp up for the Winter.

After a long day of work, dinner was served Saturday night in the Council House, and a business meeting conducted. Those meetings were interesting, for despite the best efforts of the Lodge Chiefs to follow Roberts Rules of Order, things tended to get sillier as the night went on. This is a picture from one of the Fall weekends, with everyone on their best behavior, at least temporarily. That's Lodge Chief Don Heiberg sitting behind the pumpkin, circa 1968. Can anyone identify anyone else in the picture?

During the Summer, the Lodge conducted tap-out sessions for the new Ordeal candidates and ceremonies for new Brotherhood and Vigil members. The tap-outs were generally conducted as part of the camp bonfire and Indian dance ceremonies in the amphitheater, which helped to set the mood for both the honorees and watching Scouts.

I met many friends through Buckskin Lodge and am glad to hear that it continues to serve the Council today.

Here's a history of the lodge, reprinted from the booklet issued for the 10th Annual Conclave, 1982. It also appeared in Scouting Collectors Quarterly, Vol. 17, No.4.

Our Lodge - Steeped in a Rich Tradition
by James W. Evans, Jr.

To fully appreciate and understand the meaning of Brotherhood in Buckskin Lodge, it may be helpful to trace the beginnings of cheerful and humble service in Nassau County Council, B.S.A. The heritage of the lodge significantly predates the start of the Order of the Arrow in the council. The symbols, their meanings, and those traditions which help bind all members together in a life of service to Scouting and ultimately our fellow man, come from a society forgotten by all but a few, The Buckskin Sons of Wauwepex. The members are fortunate that their traditions have such deep roots, they provided a firm foundation for the principles of the Order of the Arrow. Establishing Buckskin Lodge 412 was essential to making unselfish service a permanent part of the Scouting program in Nassau County. It fulfilled all of the visions of the Buckskin Sons of Wauwepex and its founders.

Our Heritage - The Buckskin Sons of Wauwepex

The Buckskins of Camp Wauwepex was born in 1923 as part of the camp Indian lore program. Founded by "Chief" Howard Covey and Irving "Southy" Southworth, it was not a society as we know the Order today; it was designed to provide opportunities for Scouts sincerely interested in the American Indian. To be a member, a Scout was to have been a three-year camper and first class. The organization took its name from Dan Beard's Buckskin Men and helped promote advancement by making the earning of merit badges a requirement in order to obtain additional feathers for a member's bonnet. The Buckskins had not yet realized the potential of their group to promote the high ideals of cheerfulness and service.

During the early 1920's many Scout Councils sought to develop organizations to recognize the outstanding Scout campers. Some affiliated with Wimachtendienk W.W., later known as the Order of the Arrow, while others started their own societies with local membership prerequisites. The Order was not yet recognized as an official American Scouting institution, only experimental. Consistent with the national trend, the camp's Indian lore program at Camp Wauwepex was abandoned and one to honor Scout campers was put in its place. The Indian based foundation was retained, however, to give the new Buckskin Sons of Wauwepex its character and mystique.

The Buckskin Sons' development of ceremonies, traditions and ideas consistent with those of the Order of the Arrow was not accidental. both Covey and Southworth had been inducted into the Order at one of its national meetings. During the 1930's the Sons became an integral part of the council camping program, serving Wauwepex and her Scouts.

On June 2, 1934, the Order of the Arrow was officially approved by the National Council as an institution of the Boy Scouts of America to honor Scout campers. With this historic event came speculation that The Buckskin Son's would seek affiliation with the Arrowmen. Such was not to be. It was not until 1948 that the idea of merging with the national organization was seriously discussed. A committee of dedicated Sons was selected to meet with the Order's national secretary. The parallel growth of the two service organizations made the transition easy; the national secretary agreed that "inasmuch as our Ordeal was similar to that of the Order we could become the Buckskin Lodge after going through an initiation ceremony".

Preserving our most cherished traditions and yet binding us into a national brotherhood of honor campers, Buckskin Lodge #412, Order of the Arrow, became a reality on September 3, 1949. Twenty-four Sons were inducted in ceremonies at the Area 2-A Conclave held at Camp Manhattan, Ten Mile River Scout Camps. The Tap-Out was presented by the Ranachqua Lodge of the Bronx and Shu-Shu-Gah Lodge of Brooklyn presented the pre-Ordeal. Man-A-Hattan Lodge of Manhattan conducted the Ordeal ceremony. Bob Hayes was our first Lodge Chief from September 1949 to September 1950.

BUCKSKIN LODGE -- SERVICE AND DEVOTION

The years since the Sons' passage into the Order have been a shining light of "service and devotion to the welfare of others". To list the accomplishments of our lodge and those devoted arrowmen who gave of themselves unselfishly would make this narrative unwieldy in length. Suffice it to say that Camp Wauwepex and Onteora Scout Reservation have had the dedicated service of lodge arrowmen both in promoting the camp program and laboring to improve and protect their facilities.

In turn, the camps have historically supported the Order both at summer camp and on fellowship weekends. The camp administration has provided ceremonial rings for all Buckskin Lodge rituals. The habitual and continual use of these areas has enriched lodge traditions. The arrowman who stands in the Stone Ring at Wauwepex or at Wildcat Falls at Onteora and remembers his first pre-ordeal renews his strength of purpose.

A highlight of lodge history occured in 1965; reminiscent of our own affiliation with the Order, our arrowmen were called upon to conduct the premier ordeal of the Arawak Lodge in the Virgin Islands.

OUR TOTEMS AND SYMBOLS - REMINDERS OF HUMILITY, AND SERVICE AND SELF-RELIANCE

The totem and emblems of The Buckskin Lodge hold meaning only for members in Nassau County. Our lodge is regarded with much respect because of its symbols and the rich tradition they represent.

The Tab - Our Totem

The totem of the Buckskin Sons of Wauwepex, the Tab, is still worn by lodge arrowmen today. It is the official emblem of our lodge, consisting of a white buckskin (older members) or leather "tear drop" upon which is drawn a pine tree. The tree points of the tree represent the qualities of trustworthiness, service and self-reliance. The wolf, whose head profile is superimposed on the drawing, also exemplifies self-reliance.

Tradition urges brothers to have the back of their Tab signed by fellow arrowmen for whom they hold esteem and respect. Often this may be one who has helped them follow the path of the arrow - perhaps a guide, taskmaster, elangomat or brotherhood sponsor. Lodge members receive only one Tab in their lifetime.

Lodge members receive only one Tab in their lifetime. To trade or giveaway one's Tab means to forfeit it.

The Neckerchief

The Buckskin Sons wore a royal blue neckerchief with a white stripe bisecting the triangle vertically; it represented humble service. Superimposing the red arrow pointing over the right shoulder made the traditional neckerchief official for Buckskin Lodge, Order of the Arrow. Buckskin brothers receive only one neckerchief in their lifetime; therefore, it becomes a cherished item in the arrowmen's OA wardrobe.

Tradition tells us that special neckerchiefs were once made for those attending National Order of the Arrow Conferences. One half was always gray and the other was a different color for each meeting. The white stripe and arrow remained constant.

The Feather

A single white squaw feather was worn by Buckskin Sons at special camp functions. As the squaw of an Indian tribe served without recognition, so the white feather served to remind the brother of his obligation to serve with humility. The Lodge Chief approves the functions at which the feather is worn.

Pocket Flap and Other Emblems

While most brothers wear our pocket flap, it is not the official emblem of Buckskin Lodge. Therefore, it is the item available for and most often traded to brothers from other lodges. With the exception of our Tab and neckerchief, our lodge permits brothers to exchange Buckskin Lodge emblems with arrowmen of other councils.

BUCKSKIN LODGE -- ITS FUTURE

A time of trial and testing for our lodge occurred in the 1970's when the problems of the world overshadowed the simple, but important, principles of cheerful service. Forgetting the instruction of our admonition, members allowed Buckskin Lodge to move into a period of virtual non-existence. Yet the ideals of our order applied at the local level establishes the foundation for selfless service and devotion to our country and our world. These principles, no matter how idealistic, serve to promote the aims of scouting -- citizenship training, character building, and physical fitness.

A few Buckskin arrowmen understood the timeless character of the Order's ideals; with their guidance we weathered the problems of the seventies.

As the future unfolds and writes new history, let us as members of the Brotherhood of Cheerful Service remember the words of Meteu traditionally spoken at the end of Buckskin tap-out and ordeal proceedings:

"Thus to keep you brave and cheerful, thus to keep you true and faithful, to yourselves and to your brothers and unto the God who made you."

(Portions of the history of the Buckskin Sons of Wauwepex paraphrased from the original manuscript by Irving Southworth.)

Here's a collection of Buckskin Lodge patches. The numbers below the patches are from the Blue Book guide commonly used to catalog Scout patches. Please let me know if you have any of the ones marked WANTED or any others for sale or trade. Also, I would appreciate any information as to errors in these numbers. There are many conflicting versions of these numbers, and some of the patches are hard to distinguish, so if you have any information, please let me know.

F01 - First Buckskin Lodge flap Issued in 1960 Almost rectangular: 49x130mm WANTED	F02a 53x126mm, with a 7mm inner border WANTED	F02b 53x124mm, with a 8mm inner border; W's not uniform
F03 53x121mm, with a 10mm inner border	F04 800 of these flaps were made for NOAC 1992.	The F05 flap is the same design as the F04, but with a silver Mylar border. Only 220 were made. WANTED
The F06 flap is the same design as the F04, but with a gold Mylar border. Only 20 were made. WANTED	S01a Issued in 1965. Ears point straight up; 53x125mm	S01b Ears point straight up; 51x120mm WANTED
S02 Ears point straight up; white border	S03a Ears point back; orange W's are higher; white border WANTED	S03b Ears point back; W's are even height; white border
S04 25th Anniversary	S05 White FDL; horizontal stitch for black; top green horizontally stitched; issued 1981 WANTED	S06 White vertically stitched FDL; vertically stitched black and green; 5mm high letters WANTED
S07 35th Anniversary	S08 Probable white FDL; vertical stitch green and black; 6mm high letters	S09 Probable white FDL; vertical stitch black
S10 White FDL; vertical stitch black; plastic back	S11	S12 Same design as S11, with a silver Mylar edge
S13 40th Anniversary	S14 White FDL; 8 white W's; white edge WANTED	S15 Same design as S14 but with a blue edge WANTED
S16	S17 Probable: Same design as S14 but with a gold Mylar edge WANTED	S18a?? Orange FDL at bottom; 24 W's which do not touch border; plastic back
S18b?? Same design as S18a, but W's touch top border WANTED	S18 Issued for the 45th Anniversary. A total of 400 were made, with 199 numbered flaps for those attending annual banquet.	S19 is a NOAC issue - please see that page
S20 Wolf has no forehead WANTED	S21 Issued 1996-2001 The wolf on this one bears a strange resemblance to the state of Connecticut! Plastic back.	S22 Details unavailable
S23 50th Anniversary Flap	S24	This is a numbered variant of the S24 flap. WANTED
The current lodge flap, first issued in 2001.	ZF01 A copy of the first lodge 412 flap.	X01
X03 WANTED	R01	ZR01 Copy of R01
R02	R03 was issued in 1970 for the lodge's 20th anniversary WANTED	R04 (silk screened) Issued in 1990 WANTED
R05 (embroidered) Issued in 1990	R06 WANTED	This patch is from approximately 1999. A member's Ordeal or Brotherhood pin is to be worn in the center over the silver tab.
Jacket Patches
J01 This jacket patch tells the origin of the OA in pictographs. First issued in 1965 or 1966. 203x150mm. A rare version also exists with a light blue background (produced in error).	A rare version also exists with a different background (produced in error and not officially issued). WANTED	The J02 patch is the same design as J01 but measures 205x150mm.
J03 The same patch reissued for the lodge's 40th anniversary in 1989.	J04 Issued from 1996-98 to acknowledge the new Council name	More to come!

Click here for Buckskin Lodge patches issued for the National Order of the Arrow Conferences (NOAC) and regional events. Click here for a look at neckerchiefs from Buckskin Lodge. Or, you can take a look at some more patches from Nassau County Council, look at some patches I have for trade, or head back to the main Onteora page.