Order of the Arrow Yokahú Lodge 506
Puerto Rico Council 661
The History and Legacy of Yokahú 506 Lodge
Compiled and edited by: Carlos E. Calzada Preston
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Acknowledgments and Dedication
History is an ever-expanding field that grows with every passing event and action. I thank all those who have helped me in the creation of the Yokahú 506 History Book. I particularly want to thank and acknowledge the effort and support that Mr. Luis Machuca has given me, through his counseling, encouragement and sharing the personal information he has recollected throughout
his life. Moreover, Mr. Luis Machuca not only allowed transcript information from his book “La
Filosofía del Escutismo y su Presencia en Puerto Rico 1910-2010”, he personally translated the text related to the Order of the Arrow. I would also like to extend my appreciation to Mr. Carlos
Acevedo and Mr. Carlos “Pucho” Gandía, who allowed use of personal photographs, documents
and provided additional insight through his many anecdotes. Finally, I would like to thank my
father, Enrique Calzada, for all the support and help he has given me. I couldn’t have done this
without you. It is through the actions of those who work to preserve and educate others about the past that we can move without hesitation into the future. Thus, I dedicate this compilation of historical facts to Mr. Luis Machuca and all those who, throughout the years, have dedicated themselves
passionately to researching and preserving our Lodge’s rich history. To all of you, an eternal
Thank You! from all of us who can now enjoy reading and learning from your works.
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Table of Contents
- Introduction
- pg. 4
Puerto Rico Council 661: A Brief History and Overview Camp Guajataka Scout Reservation Yokahú 506 Lodge History Lodge Infrastructure pg. 5 pg. 7 pg. 9 pg. 14 pg. 18 pg. 19 pg. 20 pg. 21 pg. 22 pg. 43 pg. 58
Lodge Activities Lodge Traditions and Insignia Communications in Yokahú 506 Lodge Yokahú 506 Lodge Chiefs Lodge Achievements and Awards Historic Photos and Documents References
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The legacy of Scouting’s National Honor Society is evident through past accomplishments and
the present youth leaders that are leaving a positive mark in the world. The Order of the Arrow and its impact on the Scouting movement in Puerto Rico is unmeasurable and profound. Thus the history of the Yokahú 506 Lodge of the Order of the Arrow is rich with many exceptional figures and events that have marked the Scouting movement in Puerto Rico.
(From left to right: Dr. Frank H. Wadsworth, Luis Matias Ferrer,
Luis Lopez and Local Scout Executive)
The Yokahú 506 Lodge was founded in the year 1954 in the Puerto Rico Council 661. Yokahú 506 serves the Scouting program on the mainland of Puerto Rico, although it used to have outreach up to the U.S. Virgin Islands. There are currently 8 chapters in the Yokahú 506 Lodge: Arasibo, Cayniabón, Guaitiao, Guaní, Guaraka, Guarionex, Majagua, and Yagüeka. Yokahú 506 has adopted the local indigenous culture, the Taíno, for its ceremonies. Yokahú is the Taíno word
for “God of Yuca and Water” and was the supreme ruler in the Taíno pantheon of the gods.
Yokahú 506 totem is the Cemí, a triangular shaped representation of the Taíno deities.
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Puerto Rico Council 661: A Brief History and Overview
The Puerto Rico Council 661 covers the area of the Puerto Rican archipelago, historically including scout troops from the big island and from the smaller islands of Culebra and Vieques. Although, the Puerto Rico Council 661 was officially admitted into the Boy Scouts of America in 1927, unofficial scout troops existed since 1910. Historical photos reveal that those scout troops were highly organized and wore uniforms consistent with those worn during that time period. This indicates that the Scouting movement arrived at both, the continental U.S.A. and Puerto Rico, during the year 1910. In 1927, thanks to efforts from the Youth Men Christian Association (YMCA) of San Juan, the Puerto Rico Council was organized and officially admitted into the BSA. The first Council President was James A. Mcallister and the first Council Executive was A. S. McFarlane, who also organized the first Council in the Philippines Isles. The first troop established under the Puerto Rico Council 661 was Troop 1, sponsored by the YMCA. The first scoutmaster of Troop 1 was Mr. Grimm and the troop itself consisted of two patrols, one with youth from Rio Piedras and the other from San Juan. In the year 1929 the jurisdiction of the Puerto Rico Council expands to include the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands, which lasted until 1960. In 1938 the Council acquired lands in the western part of the island and inaugurated Puerto Rico’s resident summer camp, Camp Guajataka.
A truly historic feat in the Puerto Rican Scouting movement occurred in 1948, when Scoutmaster Saturnino Amaral of Troop 47 from Humacao hiked around the entire island on foot. The hiking trip started June 1 and ended June 27, 1948. The purpose of the journey was to promote the Scouting movement throughout the island. Another important event was the first time a delegation from Puerto Rico participated in a National Jamboree in
1953 at Irvine Ranch, California. Puerto Rico’s elite
scouts were selected in a pre-jamboree meeting at Camp Guajataka based on their expertise in scout craft and leadership skills. Luis Matias Ferrer,
Puerto Rico’s Scout Executive at the time was the
person in charge of that task. Those selected formed
Puerto Rico’s first delegation of scouts to a National
Jamboree. The following year, due to the initiative of these same scouts, the first induction of the Order of the Arrow
Luis Matias Ferrer
was carried out. In 1955 a group of scouts were selected using the same method as the National Jamboree to send a delegation from Puerto Rico to Philmont Scout Ranch for a 15-day expedition.
On January 21, 1972, the original corporation, known as Council of Boy Scouts of America, Puerto Rico Chapter, was dissolved. The Executive Board then decided to incorporate the new corporation with the name: Puerto Rico Council of Boy Scouts of America. In the 70’s the BSA Program develops in the schools under the Public Education System. The program known as
“Programa de Niños Escuchas” or Boy Scouts Program was hosted by the public schools of
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Puerto Rico and was established as part of the curriculum of Physical Education. In 1975, the Council districts are realigned in the same manner as the school districts under the Public Education System (except for the District of San Juan) to counter losses in membership and
units. However, by the end of the 1970’s this program disappeared and the Council’s district
organization remained as established. During the 1980’s, the Puerto Rico Council headquarters are moved to their actual location in the city of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, thanks to the city’s donation of the facilities to the BSA.1
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Camp Guajataka Scout Reservation
Guajataka Scout Reservation is Puerto Rico’s resident camp and it is currently hosts all of Yokahú 506 Lodge’s induction ceremonies. Located in the municipality of San Sebastian and
established on the banks of “Lago Guajataca” or Guajataca Reservoir, the terrains of Guajataka
Scout Reservation originally belonged to the Civil Conservation Corps (CCC) and some of the original buildings can still be found on camp. These terrains were transferred to the Council of Puerto Rico with the historic cost of $1, thanks to the efforts of a group of citizens led by Ramon Valdes Cobián, the Council Executive Board’s Chairman. Mr. David Acosta directed Camp Guajataka assisted by Mr. Luis Matias Ferrer. A limited group of trained youth served as counselors or staff who supervised and established the program for the camp. Originally, Camp Guajataka was an ample valley with sugar cane plantations, few structures or large trees. It wasn’t until Dr. Frank H. Wadsworth, one of the founders of Yokahú 506 Lodge and member of the U.S. Forest Service, with the help of scouts at the camp, dedicated himself to the task of planting a series of trees, which nowadays compose most of the forest canopy. Under this same initiative, in the year 1952, Dr. Wadsworth trained youth staff to teach about the local ecosystems and wildlife and to carry out conservation projects all around Camp Guajataka, giving rise thus to the Nature Team, the first specialized patrol inside of Camp Guajataka’s Staff. Since then, other specialized patrols were formed specializing the staff serving in each of them through trainings in each area. The following are the patrols and the area these are specialized in:
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Nature Team – Conservation and Wildlife Aquatic Team – Aquatic Sports and Activities Voyager – High Adventure Programs S.A. – Administrative Staff Program Aide – Scoutcraft Skills Sport Team – Non-Aquatic Sports
To date, Camp Guajataka’s Staff still functions using the patrol system. An Order of the Arrow
Patrol, has served as an actual patrol at different times during Camp Guajataka’s history. During
the 1960’s the rifle shooting area was instituted and horses were used inside Camp.
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In the year 1967, one of the most outstanding and respected figures in Camp Guajataka’s
history arrives, Don Manuel Gonzalez Johnes. Kindly known as “Don Mano”, he was
recommended by Dr. Wadsworth to be Camp Guajataka’s Director. Don Mano was well
respected by the Council’s Executive Board
and the staff that worked at camp. He encouraged the patrol spirit in camp, but was firm and strict with the staff when he needed to be. Don Mano lived year-round on camp until the year 1985, when he retired due to his
age. Later on, Don Mano’s residence was
converted into a campsite aptly named
“Manolín” in his honor. Under his guidance,
Camp Guajataka started allowing the use of the camp for public and private institutions, maintaining the camp active throughout the year. In the year 2000, a life-sized statue of Lord Baden Powell was installed in Camp. Guajataka.2 In 2014, a bust of Dr. Frank H. Wadsworth was installed in Camp in honor of his service to Guajataka, the Order of the Arrow and the Scouting movement in Puerto Rico.
Don Mano, Manuel Gonzalez Johnes
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Yokahú 506 Lodge History
As part of the official activities of the 1953 National Scout Jamboree, in which the Puerto Rico (PR) Council had sent its first full delegation, a group of North American scouts, dressed with Native American clothing and accessories, as well as a white sash with a red arrow over their chests, made a traditional Indian dance. The next day, the PR delegates initiated a quick search about that group, called the Order of the Arrow (OA).
When the PR delegation came back to the Island, their curiosity about the group was so great, that the Council Advancement Committee wrote a letter to the National Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Headquarters, requiring more information about the OA program. The Advancement Committee, with the valuable help of Mr. Francisco Orlandi Bairan, then asked the PR Council to adopt the Order of the Arrow program locally.
The PR Council Scout Executive at the time, Mr. Joseph M. Thomas, named Mr. Luis Matias Ferrer as the person in charge to help out the Advancement Committee, in order to organize and create the Order of the Arrow in PR. When the Council Executive Board finally approved to adopt the OA program, the Advancement Committee immediately began to prepare for the induction of the first group of brothers. For that purpose, the Committee sent a lot of letters to all unit leaders, explaining the Order of the Arrow’s purpose and asking them to send an elected candidate for a special meeting in the PR Council office.
The First Brothers
The first official Ordeal induction ceremony took place at our Camp Guajataka, from April 10 to April 15, 1954. The ceremony was organized by Dr. Frank H. Wadsworth who, at that time, was the only member of the Order of the Arrow in PR; he had been inducted as a youth in the United States (US). Also, two North American brothers from the National OA Committee, Mr. Donald Rosemberg & Robert K. Ash, came to PR, in order to help out in the induction ceremony of this group of pioneers. This first group selected the initial Lodge name:
First inducted Ordeals of the Order of the Arrow in PR
Yukiyú, and the Taíno Cemí was taken as the official totem. Later on, after a conversation with
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Dr. Ricardo Alegría, who was a well-known Taíno culture historian, the Lodge name was changed to Yokahú.
As a new group, the Yokahú Lodge had to go through a lot of difficulties, in terms of purpose, ruling and organization, until finally being able to settle a formal working pattern. The first Lodge Chief was Mr. Rafael Maldonado Angulo (as seen on photo on the right).
The first Brotherhood induction ceremony was held at Rio Piedras Experimental Agricultural Station. The First Vigil Honor ceremony was conducted in 1959 at Camp Guajataka. Lodge members who obtained that promotion were: Luis Matias Ferrer, Pedro Bagur and Raul Iñesta. For that ceremony Vigil Honor members from the US also came to PR, because there were no. Vigil Honor members in the Island at that time. Even Mr. Wadsworth,
one of our Lodge founders, didn’t get that honor until 1960.
First Lodge Chief, Rafael
Maldonado
Initially, the Ordeal and Brotherhood ceremonies were held only once a year and were performed on different dates. For that reason, the Lodge membership was a lot smaller and also more difficult to be elected as a candidate. In time, the number of ceremonies as well as the Lodge membership increased gradually. The ceremonies were held concurrently with resident camp during the summer or during Holy Week at Camp Guajataka. It was this way until the early 90’s, in which the actual ordi-bro system was created, celebrating both ceremonies during the same weekend.
Previously, an Ordeal ceremony would last a whole week. To have an idea about how much the costs have been changed, fee for an Ordeal was about $ 6.00, plus $1.50 for the patch & sash, if the candidate successfully completed his induction.
During the early 60’s, the Lodge’s jurisdiction
included the Virgin Islands territory. This was until 1965, when Loge Chief, Jorge Camacho submitted a proposal to the Virgin Islands Council to organize the OA Program in that Area. The result was the creation of the Arawak Lodge 562. Also, during that same year, a proposal was made to the PR Girl Scouts Caribe Council, to create a sorority, similar to the Yokahú Lodge which would be called the Daughters of Yukiyú; but that proposal never became a reality.
Urner E. Goodman on his visit to PR
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Another historical fact for the Lodge occurs in 1965 with the visit to our Island from the Order of the Arrow founder Mr. Urner E. Goodman, who spent some days socializing with local brothers and Council staff. In 1974, the year of Yokahú 506 Lodge’s 20th Anniversary, we received the visit from National OA Chief, Mr. Clifford D. Harmon. He participated actively during the Lodge Convention.
In 2002, an Order of the Arrow National Leadership Seminar was celebrated for the first time in our territory. The National OA Chief, Mr. Clay Capp, and Regional Chief, Mr. Bryan Favat, traveled to Puerto Rico for the event.
The first female members to be inducted in our Lodge were Ms. Lester Colon, Sonia Ramirez and Ada Torres in 1991. Also, the first female Vigil to be inducted was Ms. Maria Molinelli in 2002, followed by Ms. Idarmis Cruz in 2008.
The Bronze Cemí is a Yokahú 506 award that was created by Dr. Frank H. Wadsworth in 1965 in order to recognize those youth brothers who demonstrated exemplary service to our Lodge,
our Council, their units and community. In that same way, the three W’s Award (also known as
Award of Cheerful Service) was created in 1970, with the same purpose as the Bronze Cemí, but focused on the adult brothers.
The Founder’s Award was given in PR in 1985 for the first time. This award recognizes arrowmen who have given outstanding service to their lodge. It is the highest recognition that a Lodge member can obtain as an arrowman. The award is reserved for an arrowman who demonstrates that he or she personifies the spirit of selfness service, as advocated by founder E. Urner Goodman and co-founder Carroll A. Edson. The first Yokahú 506 Lodge members to be honored with the Founder’s Award, were former Camp Guajataka Director Mr. Manuel Gonzalez Johnes and Mr. Evelio Gonzalez.
The three original Chapters of the Yokahú Lodge were: Guaitiao, Yagüeka and Guarionex. Due to the growing membership during the 60’s and 70’s, additional Chapters were created: Majagua, Guaní, Guaraka and Arasibo. The last Chapter to be originated in 1984 was Cayniabón, which was born from the Guaitiao Chapter.
Yokahú 506 Lodge Traditions
Throughout the years, our Lodge has gone through a lot of transformations and changes, in terms of traditions. However, many of them still exist today. The most relevant one that we can point out was the change that occurred between the use of Native American culture accessories and dressings, to our local Taíno Indians folklore.
Initially, brother Alberto Zayas made a proposal for such a change, but there was too much resistance for it. However, in 1975, a group of Lodge delegates to the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC), in which brothers Ignacio Olazagasti Sr. & Jr. were included, had the opportunity to speak with National OA Chief, about the possibility of changing the Ordeal & Brotherhood induction ceremonies from Lenni Lenape tradition to Taíno. After receiving
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authorization, it was approved by Yokahú 506 Lodge members in an experimental way. Also, that same year, the OA had begun to promote that official induction ceremonies could be performed using local or regional Indian traditions. Brother Evelio Gonzalez worked with the creation of the Indian names and characters that were to be used in the modified Yokahú 506 Lodge’s Ordeal & Brotherhood ceremonies.
For many years, an activity called the “Tap-Out”, took
place in Camp Guajataka. It consisted of two or three brothers dressed as Native American Indians, searching for those candidates to be inducted, arriving by surprise and giving them some instructions. The candidates were then taken to the legendary Mabodamaca Tower (named after a local Taíno Indian Chief) to begin their induction process.
Yokahú 506 Lodge in Camp Guajataka
Since its foundation until present time, the Yokahú 506 Lodge and our National Camp Reservation Guajataka have been closely connected. First, it is the scenario of all the Ordeal, Brotherhood and Vigil Honor induction ceremonies. To the Yokahú 506 Lodge, Camp Guajataka is home. As such, it has
Mabodamaca Tower in Camp Guajataka
benefited from the many service projects that our brothers continue to perform to maintain and improve the facilities and the conditions for all Camp visitors.
An example of this was the construction of the “Paquito Joglar’’ Cabin, where all of the funds were raised by our Lodge members. The project initiated in 1958, construction began during early 1959 and was completed in 1960, under the leadership of Lodge Chief Alfred D. Herger.
The “Paquito” Joglar Cabin was the Lodge official meeting & headquarters place until the early 90’s. Brother Herger was also the creator of the Cemí Newspaper, official Lodge
communications platform that still exists today in a digital format. Another important aspect, in the relation between Yokahú 506 Lodge and Camp Guajataka, is the Camp Staff. Initially, during the 50’s & 60’s decade, this group had great priority to be considered as new Lodge members. To date, the vast majority of the camp Staff are arrowmen, where the most notable exception are Venturing crew members that never served in a troop. The OA Patrol was created, and served as an independent service Patrol many times until 2001. Also, there were many seasons in which the Administration Patrol members, who were also inductees from our Lodge, were the ones who helped in the Lodge trading post. Members of the Yokahú 506 Lodge continue to coordinate the traditional Taíno Night as part of the summer camp entertainment activities.
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National and International Participation
The Yokahú 506 Lodge has always emphasized the value of service, not only in PR, but also at the National and International level. It participates actively, sending delegates to all official Order of the Arrow activities, such as the Regional Conclave as well as NOAC.
In 2008, for the first time in the Lodge’s history, the Regional Conclave was celebrated in Puerto
Rico at Camp Guajataka. Over 300 Arromen from Section 5-A participated in the event. Visitors
from other Lodge’s had the opportunity to visit and explore some of Puerto Rico’s cultural and
national resources, including El Yunque National Forest, the Caguana Ceremonial Park and the Arecibo Observatory. After the Conclave officially concluded, the participants enjoyed a beach party at Boquerón before heading home. The Yokahú 506 Lodge has been chosen to host the 2016 Conclave for the NE-5A Section.
In 1989, our Lodge conducted a special Ordeal ceremony in the local Vieques Island Municipality, for Troop 435 from Guantanamo Bay Cuba, Naval Base. Also, in 1993 a Brotherhood ceremony was organized and conducted by members from our Lodge, in order to induct brothers from the Arawak Lodge in the US Virgin Islands.
An interesting fact is the existence in the Dominican Republic, of a similar organization like the
OA, known as the “Order of Enriquillo”. Our Lodge cooperated greatly and was partially
responsible for its organization in 1979. 3
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Lodge Infrastructure
Yokahú 506 Lodge belongs to the NE-5A Section, in the Northeast Region of the National Order of the Arrow.
2015
National Chief-Alex Call
National Chairman-Ray Capp
Northeast Region Chief-Matt Bell Northeast Region Chairman-Bob Black
NE-5A Section Chief-Ted Apostle
NE-5A Section Chairman-Don Duthaler
Yokahú 506 Lodge Chief-Roberto E. Vélez
1st Vice Chief- José Goyco
2nd Vice Chief-Ricardo M. Calzada 3rd Vice Chief-Eduardo Rodriguez
Secretary-Omar González Tresurer-Miguel Gutiérrez
Supreme Chief of Fire- Maria Molinelli
Lodge Advisor-Enrique Calzada
Lodge Associate Advisor-Francisco J. Fernández
Professional Advisor-Dan Muñoz
Lodge Chapters
Yokahú 506 Lodge has 8 operational chapters which are: Arasibo, Cayniabón, Guaitiao, Guaní, Guaraka, Guarionex, Majagua, and Yagüeka. The chapters carry out service projects to the local district and community and coordinate fellowship activities within their own chapter. The chapters also organize and illustrate a traditional ceremony known as the Call-Out (“El
