As predicted by this year’s Lodge Theme, “Let Muscogee Cook”, our delegation “cooked” the competition at this year’s Cornerstone Conclave, held at the Knox Scout Reservation, just outside rural Lincolnton, GA. Indian Waters Council supplied a contingent of 121 of the finest Arrowmen from the Midlands and Pee Dee Areas. Bob White, this year’s service lodge, welcomed Muscogee #116 to its third Cornerstone Conclave, where our lodge was honored with Section E7 Lodge of the Year for the second year in a row.
On its way to earning Lodge of the Year, Muscogee was recognized as a High Performing Lodge, Section Honor Lodge, Pre-Ordeal Ceremony Honor Team, and recognition of many other lodge awards.
The American Indian Affairs (AIA) Team from Muscogee #116 had a huge showing at this year’s Conclave. Your AIA Team is working hard to make sure AIA is here to stay in Muscogee Lodge. To get involved, join the #aia channel on Slack or email vcindianaffiars@muscogeelodge.org to join the team.
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
After lunch, the Muscogee #116 delegation competed in the Quest for the Golden Arrow, a tournament of field-day-style Scout events.
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.
Muscogee Lodge #116 proudly serves the Indian Waters Council, BSA, across