CHRISTIANSTED, VI — On the southern half of the island of Saint Croix, three miles outside of the city of Christiansted, lies the small Howard M. Wall Boy Scout Camp, which plays host to approximately 150 campers each camp session.
For the leadership of Amangamek-Wipit Lodge of the National Capital Area Council, it also played host to a unique opportunity to reach out to the members of their lodge.
A contingent of lodge leaders, led by Lodge Chief Davis Kellogg, travelled down to the Scout camp to conduct an Ordeal for the members of its own Arawak Chapter, which covers the US Virgin Islands, from January 16-22, 2014.
Kellogg remarked that the lodge leadership was warmly welcomed.
"We had the best hospitality I've ever experienced. Everyone down there was very welcoming," remarked Kellogg.
After the Virgin Islands Council merged with National Capital Area Council in April 2013, the lodge completed its merger in October of that year. This Ordeal weekend marked the first time the lodge was able to conduct an event for the Arrowmen in the Virgin Islands. Over 30 Arrowmen came out to the Ordeal weekend, including 10 Arrowmen from the nearby
St. Thomas island. The lodge inducted 12 candidates from troops throughout the US Virgin Islands; they did tasks such as beach cleanup, camp inventory and more.
The lodge also completed a Brotherhood ceremony for nine Arrowmen, marking the first time that a Brotherhood ceremony had been performed for Arrowmen in the US Virgin Islands in four years.
In addition to Kellogg, Amangamek-Wipit's youth representatives included Lodge Vice Chief of Operations Ty Raffensperger and 2009-2011 Lodge Chief Andrew Widmann.
Widmann saw this trip as exemplary.
"This Ordeal was a prime example of what our Order is all about," Widmann said. "We are a brotherhood of cheerful service, and these aspects were seen in full swing through this Ordeal and weekend."
While they were there, the lodge leadership met with the leadership of Arawak Chapter to discuss aspects of the lodge program. This included a special talk, led by Art Widmann, associate lodge adviser, with some of the adults that would be key adults for Arawak Chapter. Outside of the weekend, the lodge leadership also had the opportunity to try some cool activities like bioluminescent bay kayaking, which Kellogg said was his favorite activity.
The lodge has the unique challenge of trying to bridge the distance between them. To address this, Kellogg wants to let them lead as if they were a lodge. "This is going to involve them going to events like NLS or Conclave," Kellogg remarked, "which will hopefully inspire them to send a lot of people to NOAC next year!"