On April 26th, a delegation of 105 Muscogee #116 Arrowmen from across the Pee Dee and Midlands regions visited the Belk Scout Camp outside of Midland, NC for what would be the lodge’s second Cornerstone Conclave, hosted this year by the Arrowmen from Catawba Lodge. After arriving in the late afternoon and claiming campsites 7 and 8 for the weekend, the Muscogee delegation enjoyed a fantastic opening campfire, featuring games, skits, and lodge-led cheers.
Saturday began with administrative events and ceremonies competitions, with Muscogee #116 ready to perform the Pre-Ordeal and Brotherhood ceremonies and to showcase a new lodge display, video, newsletter, and website. At the recently reintroduced knowledge & training sessions, John Cuenin presented “Empowering Youth Arrowmen Transitioning Into Adulthood” training to those in attendance from each lodge. Meanwhile, Muscogee’s totem pole carving team used hand tools to create a masterpiece that would go on to win first place.
Administrative Events
Michael O., Vice Chief of Administration
Displays showcase a lodge and what they do; patches can be used, but should not be the focus of the display. Lodge display themes can be about any Boy Scout related subject (i.e. Philmont, joining the ceremony team, backpacking, etc.). The Conclave theme does not have to be used.
Tail and Feather, Michael O. and Evans M., Newsletter Staff
Each lodge, in order to be judged for Newsletter competition, enters at least one newsletter, published since April 23, 2023. The newsletter(s) judging criteria include such things as content, print, quality, and use of graphic art.
Hand Tools Team: Brad Hutto, Troy McNall, Larry Parrish
The purpose of the Totem Pole competition is to incentivize lodges to participate in providing a gift to the Service Lodge. There are two categories for this competition: hand-carved and power tools. The totem pole is judged on design, creativity, and skill. Participants may be youth or adult.
Empowering Youth Arrowmen Transitioning Into Adulthood
by John Cuenin
Points are awarded to those lodges who participate by creating and presenting a 45-minute training program from a list of provided training topics.
Committee: Michael O., Kyle Hughes
Each lodge plans, shoots, and edits a video that displays a part of their lodge (e.g. Summer Camp, Cook Team, Inductions Team, Fellowships, etc.). This will be a well-produced video that showcases an aspect or overview of the lodge. The video should be targeted to new or prospective members. Videos should include additional information on how to connect with the lodge’s program.
Michael O. – VC Admin, and Evans M. – Website Chair
Lodge websites are judged in advance of Conclave, based on content, design, construction method, adherence to compliance and required content standards, usability, and accessibility.
The ceremony team competition provides an opportunity for teams to learn how to improve ceremonies from qualified judges and to help teams learn through a thorough and positive evaluation with suggestions for improvement. Ceremony teams are not only rated against each other but also against a national standard.
- Pre-Ordeal: Good Overall Rating – Grace Franklin, Sean G., Michael O., Joshua Prevette
- Brotherhood: Good Rating – Tiwaii F., Joshua Prevette, Grace Franklin, Sean G.
In what would perhaps be the most unexpected success of the weekend, the American Indian Affairs (AIA) Team from Muscogee #116 placed in Outfit Coaching and Individual Dance for both the women’s and men’s styles, and the lodge swept the Arts and Crafts Competition. In an event unique to this Conclave, the lodge placed first in the Tomahawk craft competition. To get involved with AIA in Muscogee Lodge, join the #aia channel on Slack or email vcindianaffiars@muscogeelodge.org.
American Indian Activities Events
The event is intended to help preserve the skills and talents
necessary to make high quality, historically accurate Native American style materials. Muscogee entrants placed as follows:
- Ella C.
- Sean G.
- Michael O.
During the Dance Clothes Coaching Session each dancer has the opportunity to discuss their dance clothes with a senior powwow dance enthusiast, tapping into years of experience in the areas of dance, dance clothes, craft and powwow culture. Muscogee entrants placed in the following:
- Northern Traditional – (1st) Sean G.
- Grass – (3rd) Benjamin P.
- Men’s Fancy – (1st) Ahren S.
- Women’s Fancy Shawl – (1st) Ella C.
Wearing authentic clothing that represents their chosen traditional style of Native American dance, dancers from all participating lodges compete in a powwow-style dance event. Muscogee entrants placed in the following dance styles:
- Northern Traditional – (1st) Sean G.
- Grass – (1st) Benjamin P., (2nd) Dhantei S.
- Men’s Fancy – (1st) Ahren S.
- Women’s Fancy – (3rd) Grace Franklin
Using the tomahawk provided by the service lodge, each lodge decorates their own in a uniquely representative manner. Muscogee’s entry (pictured right) featured a red metal hatchet head, with the lodge logo etched into the cheek; the lodge name engraved in the body of the handle; and a custom wrap applied to the handle grip and joining the handle to the hatchet head. Three ceremonial feathers decorate the hatchet, affixed to the head’s binding wrap.
After lunch, the Muscogee #116 delegation began a truly remarkable run through the Quest for the Golden Arrow, a tournament of field-day-style Scout events. Muscogee #116 placed in six of 12 events, securing the top spot in three events, as the lodge went on to place second overall in the Quest for the Golden Arrow (amongst all lodges in the Section).
Quest for the Golden Arrow Events
Each lodge’s three person team completes a timed run over a three mile course. The three times are averaged, and the winning lodge is the team with the lowest average time.
Team of two delegates alternate throwing a whole raw egg to one another, beginning with each 15 feet apart. The egg must be thrown and caught barehanded, without breaking. Teams with an unbroken egg will be moved back 5 feet for each subsequent throw, until one team remains.
Participants use climbing skills to traverse the entire length of the Boulder Wall without falling off. The boulder wall is rectangular in shape, with two short walls, two long walls, and color-coordinated handholds randomly affixed.
A timed, 2-person team completes a canoe race course, with time ending when the team crosses the designated start/finish line.
A four-person team will be timed as they build a triangle-shaped sled, using three wooden poles and three lengths of rope, tied with a diagonal lashing at the top and two square lashing on either leg. After the triangle is complete, one member of the team will ride on the bottom crossbar and the other three members will pull them around a designated track approximately forty yards in length. Time is stopped upon completion of the track, and the lodge team with the lowest time wins.
This is a timed event, designed to test bait casting and fly fishing skills. Up to 2 Arrowmen per lodge use a fly rod and a bait casting rod to “hit” and/or “retrieve” designated targets while being timed. Teams are ranked based on shortest elapsed time (or the average for 2 Arrowmen).
A timed relay of seven lodge delegates must tie a randomly assigned series of seven knots, one per delegate, as assigned by the judge. The knots are the square knot, bowline, sheet bend, taut-line hitch, clove hitch, and two-half hitches.
First team of up to 6 delegates (not weighing more than 1,000 lbs.) to pull a flag, attached to the center of a rope, 3 feet across the center line is the winner.
The event begins with the first of 8 participants from each lodge sitting in a kayak with no paddles. On the “go” mark, using only their hands, the participant propels their kayak to the opposite bank of the lake. The participant exits the kayak, the second team member enters the kayak, then using only hands, they return to the starting point on the opposite side of the lake. This continues until all eight (8) participants cross the lake. The first lodge to complete eight (8) lake crossings wins the event.
On a football-style field, two teams of seven players compete in a timed, 10-minute game. The object of the game is to score goals. A goal is scored when a player catches any legal pass in the end zone that player is attacking. A player may not run while holding the disc. The disc is advanced by passing it to other players. The disc may be passed in any direction. Any time a pass is incomplete, a turnover occurs, resulting in an immediate change of the team in possession of the disc. The team with the most points after the 10-minute game is the winner.
On the “go” mark, participants must properly put on BSA-approved lifejackets. One participant proceeds to a rowboat on the shore and prepares it for use. The other participant proceeds to the dock, picks up a throw-ring, and throws to a target in the water. Participants must “hit” the target before joining the partner at the row boat. The participants row to a designated area of the lake, retrieve a “drowning victim” dummy, tow the ”victim” back to shore, then drag the “victim” to the designated start/finish line.
On the “go” mark, the first racer will complete one lap on the timed BMX track. At the finish line, the rider “tags” the second rider, who completes the next a lap. This process continues until all four (4) riders completed one lap each. Teams are ranked by lowest total time.
The closing show did not disappoint, with Muscogee leading cheers and sporting glow-sticks throughout the evening. An Eternal Flame ceremony celebrated the lives and many contributions of several Arrowmen across the Section who passed away during the year, including David Surrett, longtime Section Adviser to many Muscogee leaders. After hotly contested and rather lengthy Section officer elections, the show concluded, and the lodge contingent headed to the dining tent to enjoy a night full of patch trading.
Sunday morning, after several cups of coffee and a little campsite clean-up, the lodge returned to the camp amphitheater for the awards ceremony, where the lodge won the Spirit Award, second overall in Quest for the Golden Arrow, and the Section E7 Lodge of the Year! The Lodge of the Year award is presented to the top lodge in Section E7 in recognition of accomplishments across the entire lodge year, not just the successes enjoyed during the weekend’s events. All foxes and parakeets from Muscogee Lodge #116 can take pride in the year’s accomplishments, taking time to rest on our laurels if only for a bit.
Section E7 2024 Lodge of the Year
Muscogee Lodge #116 proudly serves the Indian Waters Council, BSA, across