Posted 4 years ago
Pencil-nec…
(104 items)
I've had this Boy Scout patch on a bandana kicking around for awhile. While looking for more info on location and years of operation, I found several references to a "Camp Baldy" in California near LA, but no mention of BSA involvement there. I found a reference a while ago that indicated that it might have been in WA or Oregon, but can't find it now. Any trustworthy, loyal & helpful scouts here? (well, helpful at least?)
Just to be clear, I am trying to find info on "Camp Baldy" actually run by the Boy Scouts of America, not just any prominence named 'Baldy' that had scouts hiking on it. Most every state in the Union it seems had the latter.
I believe that refers to Mount Baldy which is what everybody calls it. It is actually Mt San Antonio. And it is freeway close to Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Mountains. I am in the San Bernardino Mountain range which is pretty much the same range but on the other side of the Cajon Pass.
Thanks, fortapache - I was hoping this item would catch your eye.
I saw a lot of references to the Old Baldy Council, but nothing as specific to a Camp Baldy. I guess I'm suprised there aren't more examples of any age online. Along with mine, there is one other dated 1949 and otherwise identical in design. That's why I was asking if it stopped operating as a BSA camp and when. I looked at lists of current BSA camps, but there was no simple Camp Baldy listed.
I remain puzzled.
the WP List of council camps (Boy Scouts of America) has 2 listings using 'Baldy'. The 'Camp Baldy' listing is in Washington state but on additional info, and the linked URL to that title is for the LA area Mt. Baldy location.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_council_camps_(Boy_Scouts_of_America)
Thanks, TallCakes - that is the listing that had me so confused. Since the Mount Baldy redirect makes no specific mention of BSA involvement, I was trying to get some verification that hyperlink wasn't an error (What? Something on the interweb isn't accurate???). I was hoping there was more accurate info out there on a possible WA location.
From the official list of Boy Scout camps, scroll down to Washington and you will find Camp Baldy and not much more.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_council_camps_(Boy_Scouts_of_America)
There was a BSA Camp Baldy in the 1920's from Gray Harbor Council in WA State. However, I believe your patch on the n/c is from Yucca Council in TX. The Camp opened in 1945 and closed in 1958. Might your patch/n/c be available for trade?
Bob Sherman footdoc7777@gmail.com
Hello,
Camp Baldy was located on Lake Quinault in Grays Harbor County, Washington State. It was owned by the Twin Harbors Area Council, which has now been merged into the Pacific Harbors Council.
However, I'm not aware of this patch being used for that Camp Baldy. The one with which I'm familiar had an (out-of-place) Native American head profile with full warbonnet (used by Plains tribes, not Coastal tribes).
Information is virtually impossible to find about this old camp on the Internet. I know it still existed in the '50s. (In SW Washington, when I was a kid in the '70s and '80s you could *still* find old-timers who were very disgruntled that the camp was closed.) :)
However, it is referenced in A Handbook of Summer Camps: An Annual Survey, Volume 1 (1924): https://books.google.com/books?id=qWLzAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA446&lpg=PA446&dq=bsa+camp+baldy+washington&source=bl&ots=BtwxD-FNmT&sig=ACfU3U2E0Mt4k_Si3yKVHuUxAuNQ5ru9DA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwijiPeN3472AhVfJjQIHaCrC2UQ6AF6BAghEAM#v=onepage&q=bsa%20camp%20baldy%20washington&f=false
That's all I know. It was the stuff of legends by the time I was a Scout. Hope that helps.
A bit more information from a friend who still lives in the area: "Camp Baldy is now Kamp Kiwanis on the north shore of Lake Quinault. The Twin Harbors Council sold it to the Kiwanis Club."
Radar - thanks for providing that information! Seems to be providing all that I was looking for. Much appreciated!