Pipestone Camp Honor Requirements
The Advancement, Ecology, and Swimming requirements must be completed during our week of camp. If the Good Turn is missed at the Troop campout, it must be completed at Summer Camp during the week. All requirements must be finished by noon on Friday of our week in camp. A Scout is only eligible to attempt for his Pipestone Honor once per summer.
First year:
Rank: Scout
Advancement: 10 parts of any rank or one merit badge.
Ecology: Identify in the field: any combination of 15 trees, plants, or shrubs. Identify 4 constellations and 8 insects.
Swimming: Jump feet first into water over your head, swim non-stop using any stroke a distance of 25 yards.
Good Turn: Unit project participation.
Scout Spirit: This is the daily practice of the living Code of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Camp Spirit is very important. A Scout could complete all the other requirements and not be eligible for the award because he did not live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law. This applies just not during the week the Scout is in camp, but for the prior year as well.
Pipestone Wood: One cubic foot (12" by 12" by 12") bundled with natural twine or string.
Second year:
Rank: Second Class
Advancement: One merit badge.
Ecology: Identify in the field: any combination of 25 trees, plants, or shrubs. Identify 6 constellations and 10 animals, mammals, reptiles, fish, crustaceans, or amphibians.
Swimming: Jump feet first into water over your Head, swim non-stop using any two Different strokes a distance of 50 Yards.
Good Turn: Unit project participation.
Scout Spirit: Same as for all years. See first year requirements.
Pipestone Wood: One cubic foot (12" by 12" by 12") bundled with natural twine or string.
Third year:
Rank: First Class
Advancement: One merit badge.
Ecology: Identify in the field: any combination of 35 trees, plants, or shrubs. Identify 8 constellations and 10 birds.
Swimming: Jump feet first into water over your head, swim non-stop using any three strokes a distance of 100 yards.
Good Turn: Unit project participation.
Scout Spirit: Same as for all years. See first year requirements.
Pipestone Wood: One cubic foot (12" by 12" by 12") bundled with natural twine or string.
Fourth year:
Rank: Star
Advancement: One merit badge.
Ecology: Serve as or assist the Unit Naturalist or Astronomer or serve in a designated leadership capacity.
Swimming: Jump feet first into water over your head, swim non-stop 125 yards of which 25 yards must be a resting backstroke.
Good Turn: Serve in a designated leadership capacity during summer camp and on the unit's project.
Scout Spirit: Same as for all years. However, particular emphasis is placed upon Scout Spirit for the 4th year candidates. They should set an example at all times for the younger Scouts.
Pipestone Wood: One cubic foot (12" by 12" by 12") bundled with natural twine or string.
Fifth year:
Rank: Life
Advancement: Serve in a designated leadership capacity, and one merit badge.
Swimming: Jump feet first into water over your head, swim non-stop for 150 yards of which 25 yards must be a resting back stroke AND pass or hold swimming merit badge.
Good Turn: Serve in a designated leadership capacity during summer camp and on the unit's project.
Scout Spirit: Same as the 4th year candidates.
Pipestone Wood: Approve bundles of younger Scouts along with SPL.
Pipestone Wood
For summer camp, each First through Fourth Year Candidate Scout must present a cubic foot bundle of Pipestone Wood. A cubic foot bundle is a tied up pile of wood sticks that measures 12 inches high by 12 inches wide by 12 inches long and tied only with natural twine or string. Pipestone Wood is used during the Pipestone Camp Honor ceremonies at summer camp. It is hardwood, gray and does not have any bark. It is reasonably straight, with no branches or long stubs. Each piece is not to be smaller than the size of the Scout’s little finger, yet no larger than his thumb. It is to be retrieved by the Scout. While the Scout may bring more than a cubic foot, the pieces cannot be longer than 12 inches long. The ends of the sticks are to be broken, not cut. It is to be dead hardwood - not pine! Burning pine or green wood attracts mosquitoes, and the Scouts don't want to be swatting at them during ceremonies. Pipestone Wood is to be bundled tightly with only string or twine, and tagged with the Scout’s name. The Pipestone Wood can be collected from any location, but typically can be found in old growth hardwood forests in isolated areas. We generally don't have time during scouting activities to allow a Scout enough opportunities to collect the needed cubic foot, so they need to locate sources on their own.
Each Scout attending Summer Camp will be required to bring their Pipestone Wood bundle to the Troop Meeting PRIOR to leaving for summer camp for inspection. Scouts will then take their Pipestone Wood back home until check in for summer camp. 5th Year Pipestone Candidates, under the direction of the SPL, will be performing the inspection and check in of all Pipestone Wood bundles. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!! Scouts should collect their Pipestone Wood through the year as it can be difficult to find at times and is always in high demand by Scouts throughout the Council. Unfortunately, it tends to be found in areas common with poison ivy! So the earlier you can find it, the better: DO NOT wait until the week before summer camp to start looking for it. Get help from your Patrol Leader if needed.
Official statement from Buckeye Council: “Pipestone is not a required program. It is offered as part of the overall summer camp program for Scouts to utilize it, if they so desire. Any coercion to participate is detrimental to its values. Coercion and peer pressure are not necessary to make the program function. The requirements have been structured so as to appeal to the Scouts strictly on their own merits. It is something that should attract and interest the majority of Scouts and be consistent with current Scouting advancement. Scouts who work to earn the five years of Pipestone are also being encouraged toward orderly advancement in rank.”
Consistent with Troop 921 philosophy, all boys must earn the right to take part in the Pipestone Camp Honors.
“Honors earned are valued much more than honors given.”
No scout will just be "given" his Pipestone.
More information from Buckeye Council