Troop 225 -  Westlake, Ohio - Pipestone

The pipestone camp honors program is a Buckeye Council honor. It can only be earned at Seven Ranges Scout Reservation. A picture of the Pipestone honor is above. This award is earned based on several different areas including, scout spirit, service projects, merit badges, advancement, ecology, and swimming. Each year the requirements become harder and require more scout spirit. A scout can be denied his Pipestone based on his scout spirit alone. However, a scout may not earn his Pipestone on effort alone. The requirement for Pipestone are as follows:

First Year:
Rank: Scout (Pipestone wood required)
Scouting Skills: 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 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.
 

Second Year:
Rank: Second Class (Pipestone wood required)
Scouting Skills: 12 parts of any rank or 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 Participation
Scout Spirit: Same as for all years. See first year requirements.

Third Year:
Rank: First Class (Pipestone wood required)
Scouting Skills: 14 parts of any rank or 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 Participation. Scout Spirit: Same as for all years. See first year requirements.

Fourth Year:
Rank: Star (Pipestone Wood Required)
Scouting Skills: 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: Leadership 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 for the
younger Scouts.
 

Fifth Year:
Rank: Life Scouting Skills: Serve in a designated leader’s capacity.
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.
Scout Spirit: Same as for all years.
Please note: Pipestone wood may not be collected at home. This is due to the Emerald Ash Bore that has killed many trees in Ohio. To stop the spread, the state of Ohio is not allowing any wood to be brought to camp from infected counties. This includes Cuyahoga county. We are awaiting a decision from Seven Ranges as to what will be done in its place or if we can bring wood from the Ogonek farm.