Water and Woods Field Service Council was a field service council of the Michigan Crossroads Council that served youth in the central and northeastern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The Council was headquartered in Flint, Michigan, with service centers located in Auburn, Lansing, and Port Huron. The Water and Woods Field Service Council was the result of a merger in 2012 of Lake Huron Area Council, Blue Water Council, Tall Pine Council and Chief Okemos Council.
Organization
The Organization of the Boy Scouts of America councils in Area 2 of the Central Region is unique to Michigan. The Michigan Crossroads Council (MCC) was created by the merger of nine councils in the lower peninsula of Michigan. It is a coordinating council that oversees properties, personnel, and program. MCC is then split into four field service councils which handle the day-to-day aspects of Scouting and have their own professional staff serving local units.
The Water and Woods Field Service Council is composed of the former Blue Water, Lake Huron Area, Tall Pine, and Chief Okemos Councils.
Water and Woods is further divided into eight districts to better serve the Scouting units in the local community. Blue Star District serving youth in Lapeer County, and serving youth in Davison, Lakeville, Beecher, Bentley, Clio, Flint, Flushing, Genesee, Kearsley, Mount Morris, and Westwood Heights School Districts. Blue Water District serving youth in St. Clair and Sanilac County, Michigan Chief Okemos District serving youth in Clinton, Eaton and Ingham County, Michigan, and the Portland School District in Ionia county. Heartland District serving youth in Midland, Gladwin, Clare, Isabella and Gratiot Counties. Ojibway District serving youth in Saginaw County, Michigan, as well as the communities of Reese and Vassar in Tuscola county. Rivers North District serving youth in the Atherton, Bendle, Carman-Ainsworth, Fenton, Goodrich, Grand Blanc, Lake Fenton, Linden, Montrose & Swartz Creek School Districts and Shiawassee County, Michigan Shoreline District serving youth in Bay, Arenac, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Iosco, and Alcona counties. Thumb District serving youth in Huron and most of Tuscola County. In 2020, Michigan Crossroads Council made a decision to merge their Field Service Councils to create one central Council.
Properties All properties in the Michigan Crossroads Council are operated by the council-wide Outdoor Adventures Committee, not by the local Field Service Council. However, each of the four Field Service Councils continue to hold events at their traditional camps from their legacy councils. Each year, the Outdoor Adventures Committee assesses the council property and determines which camps will be open for resident summer camps, weekend camping, or closed for the season. Transition Properties Committee Report
Silver Trails Scout Reservation Silver Trails Scout Reservation Silver Trails was a 300-acre camp near Jeddo, Michigan, on the St. Clair-Sanilac County line. It is 28 miles North West of Port Huron, 78 miles North East of Detroit, 68 miles East of Flint and 88 Miles South East of the Tri-Cities; just a short 20 minute drive from a major shopping area. Silver Creek winds through the Scout camp, emptying into the Black River on the east end of camp. There are five cabins, three Adirondacks (3-sided shelters), and fourteen campsites. The camp’s Dining and Meeting Hall, known as the Rotary Lodge, was a gift from area Rotary Clubs and was completed in 1948. The camp was dedicated on November 1, 1945. Over the years, numerous other buildings and facilities were added to the camp. These include a chapel, health lodge, Order of the Arrow Trading Post, Nature Center, and most recently, a new Training and Activities Building.
The camp is situated in the Black River basin, carved out by the Black River, Silver Creek, Fuseline Creek, and Wilson Creek. Silver Trails might be best known for its steep cliffs, scenic bluffs, and rolling landscape. Hemlock and Birch trees cover the camp, as well a Trilliums, endangered flowers that flourish in the woodlands. The camp’s trademark is the “Number Nine Tree”, a large Sugar Maple that once grew along Silver Creek. Its trunk was twisted in the form of a number nine. The tree has since been cut down, but remains on display at camp as a testament to Silver Trail’s rich history.
Annual events held at Silver Trails included Fall and Spring Camporees for Boy Scouts; "Mom-and-Me" and "Dad-and-Lad" for Cub Scouts, and Fall and Spring Conclaves for the Order of the Arrow. Silver Trails has been host to both the 2005 and 2011 Section C-2A Conclaves of the Order of the Arrow.
Michigan Crossroads Council closed and sold Silver Trails in the fall of 2019 to gravel mine company, Mid Michigan Materials.
Paul Bunyan Scout Reservation The Paul Bunyan Scout Reservation was a wilderness camp near Rose City, Michigan. It was originally purchased by the Boy Scouts in 1959, and was closed in 2013. The Michigan Crossroads Council listed the camp for sale in 2019 Wisely, John, "Michigan Boy Scouts selling off campgrounds to balance books" (4 August 2019) Detroit Free Press, via Freep.com and eventually sold the property in September 2021.Warranty Deed No. 221-02595, Lake Huron Area Council (8 September 2021) via Oscoda County, MI 'Free record search'
Camp Rotary Owned by the Saginaw Rotary Foundation, and leased by the Boy Scouts, Camp Rotary offers of year around camping just north of Clare, MI, on Old US-27. Camp Rotary has heated cabins, a full service dining hall and an outdoor education center that can be used as a classroom for Schools, Civic Groups, or Business. Camp Rotary was purchased in 1924 and has served as a summer camp since 1926. It was alternately known as Camp Ke-pay-sho-wink (Anishinabe for "a good place to camp")in its early days. It has been a primary scout camp for the Saginaw Council (1926-1929) the Saginaw Valley Council (1929-1934) the Valley Trails Council (1934-1961) the Saginaw Bay Area Council (1961-1971) the Lake Huron Area Council (1971-2012) and continues as a primary Boy Scout Camp for the Michigan Crossroads Council (2012–present).
Camp Holaka Camp Holaka offers many camping choices among its of rolling woodlands and trails in Lapeer County. It also has many cabins and a couple lodges for indoor camping and many campsites for tent camping. During the summer, Camp Holaka is used primarily for Cub Scout camping with different day camps and weekend events.
Camp Holaka is closed as of 2014. It was sold to a developer in 2018 or 2019. The developers plan was to create a camp for disabled children.
Camp Tapico Camp Tapico is located in the eastern region of Kalkaska County just north of M-72 between Grayling and Traverse City; the camp's closest town is of the same name, Kalkaska. Directly to the north of the camp is the larger sporting lake of Manistee and to the east is Bear Lake. Camp Grayling, a United States National Guard installation, is also located to the south east.
The camp covers 1200 acres of mixed deciduous and coniferous forests. Camp Tapico has three bodies of water with the primary being the Grass Lake. The other two are smaller, developing ponds set away from the general campers. Grass Lake however, features a robust ecosystem and is one of the main attractions to the property. The lake's deepest spot of allows for large walleye and bass while shallow sandbars, make for great fishing. Camp Tapico has 17 wilderness campsites, which Scout troops, Venturing crews and other groups can rent. During the winter, Camp Tapico hosts activities such as snowshoeing and winter camping in quinzhees.
The camp was established in 1946 and developed a thriving summer camp operation. Camp Tapico ran a traditional week-long summer camp program. It served Scout troops from Flint, MI and the surrounding suburbs, as well as out-of-council troops from Illinois and Missouri. Troops camped out and participated in staff-led activities such as the Water Carnival and flag ceremonies. Scouts also earned merit badges like Archery, Rifle Shooting, Canoeing, Climbing, and Wilderness Survival.
This camp has been permanently closed and sold by the Council. It is now a nature preserve under the name: Upper Manistee Headwaters: The Milock Family Preserve.
Camp Kiwanis Camp Kiwanis located east of Mason, Michigan, on M-36 at Diamond Road. The camp contains , of which are wooded. Camp Kiwanis is open year-round for camping, hiking, sledding and outdoor fun. Camp facilities can sleep 107 people indoors, or 300 outdoors. Camp Kiwanis was previously owned by the Lansing Kiwanis Club and used as a fresh air camp for tubercular children. It was donated June 8, 1939, to the Chief Okemos Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The camp was also used for several years by the Volunteers of America and the Salvation Army for children and their mothers.
Northwoods Scout Reservation Northwoods Scout Reservation is located near West Branch in Ogemaw County, Michigan. The camp consists of of northern hardwood forest, wetlands and Lake Arrowhead, a private lake. 618 of the 840 is used as the main scout camp, the remaining is a family camp; where families can stay when their kids are at camp. Part of Big Williams Lake is also on camp property. Facilities range from rustic campsites on the south side of the lake to the heated log cabin overlooking Lake Arrowhead. Chief Okemos Council purchased Northwoods Scout Reservation in 1962. It was formerly the Kenyon Ranch, with the only structure on the property a horse barn, which is now a garage at the ranger’s house. The roads, campsites, cabins for staff and family camp, Log Cabin, Meijer Lodge, Administration Building, Memorial Building and program structures were added over the years. The camp has two unofficial Mascots; one is a loon, the other is a very large snapping turtle nicknamed Bowser. Once every four years, contingents of Scouts, both all-boys and mixed boys and girls, from over 20 countries all around the world, gather at Northwoods for 8 days of international friendship and fellowship at the Chief Okemos Council’s Michigan International Camporee, the largest council-run multinational Scouting event in North America.
The Northwoods Scout Reservation closed in 2016 following the 2012 merger of nine scout councils into the Michigan Crossroads Council, and was sold in 2018 to Detroit real estate developer Dennis Kefallinos.
Camp Weidman Camp Weidman was owned by Lake Huron Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and is intended for District or Council events and Unit (Pack, Troop or Crew) activities of the Boy Scouts of America. Unit activities must be approved by the Unit Committee and meet the requirements of Lake Huron Area Council and Boy Scouts of America.
Camp Weidman is located four miles (6 km) west of Mt. Pleasant just off M-20. From M-20, turn south on Vandecar Road. Go approximately ½ mile to the Chippewa River. The entrance to Camp Weidman is about south of the bridge on the west (right hand) side hand of the road and is marked by a sign. Camp Weidman is a square parcel with the Chippewa River winding through it. Deerfield County Park adjoins Camp Weidman on the north and west borders.
Legacy Councils
Blue Water Council
The former Blue Water Council No. 277 was based out of Port Huron, Michigan. The Council was Established in 1919 to serve scouts in the Port Huron Area, and was officially granted permission in 1928 to serve scouts in the St. Clair and Sanilac County area. Blue Water Council was the smallest council in the State of Michigan, and was one of, if not the smallest in the nation. Yet, the small council was stable both in membership and fiscally.