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 Page | 1 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. Page | 2 Table of Contents Introduction pg. 4 Puerto Rico Council 661: A Brief History and Overview pg. 5 Camp Guajataka Scout Reservation pg. 7 Yokahú 506 Lodge History pg. 9 Lodge Infrastructure pg. 14 Lodge Activities pg. 18 Lodge Traditions and Insignia pg. 19 Communications in Yokahú 506 Lodge pg. 20 Yokahú 506 Lodge Chiefs pg. 21 Lodge Achievements and Awards pg. 22 Historic Photos and Documents pg. 43 References pg. 58 Page | 3 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. Page | 4 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 Page | 5 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 Page | 6 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: - 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. Page | 7 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.