Camp Delmont, Resica Falls Scout Reservation, and the Order of the Arrow
A Legacy Across Generations
My Scouting experience in southeastern Pennsylvania wasn’t just mine alone—it was part of a family legacy. My father had been a Scout in the Delaware and Montgomery Counties area in the early 1920s, and my brother and I followed in his footsteps through some of the same camps and traditions. This collection preserves artifacts from both generations, documenting nearly 40 years of Valley Forge Council Scouting history.
The Valley Forge Council and Philadelphia Council have since merged to form the Cradle of Liberty Council, but these patches, neckerchiefs, and memories preserve the distinctive identity and spirit of Valley Forge Council Scouting during its golden years.
🏕️ Camp Delmont
Camp Delmont, nestled near the town of Green Lane in Montgomery County, was where I spent some of my most formative summers as a Scout. The camp offered everything a boy could want: swimming, boating, wilderness skills, campfires under the stars, and the camaraderie of fellow Scouts from across the council. Our troop would attend for a week or two, but for a couple of years I then stayed for the rest of the summer in a provisional troop.
It was at Camp Delmont that I was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, Delmont Lodge 43—an honor that recognized not just camping skills but the Scout ideals of cheerful service and brotherhood. That induction ceremony, held in the woods by firelight with the mystery and solemnity unique to the Order, remains among my Scouting memories.
Camp Delmont Artifacts
My Father’s Camp Delmont Felt “CD”
The construction is layers of colored felt carefully cut and assembled to form the interlocking “CD” camp monogram. The yellow/gold “C” overlays the blue gray/charcoal “D” . The craftsmanship shows the pride Scouts took in their camp achievements.
In the 1920s, these felt letters were highly prized—earned through participation, skill development, or service at camp. Scouts would display them on camp blankets, Scout room walls, or special memory boards. That my father kept this for decades, and that it survived to be part of my collection, speaks to how much Camp Delmont meant to him.
This treasured artifact connects two generations of Scouts in the same council. My father earned this Camp Delmont “CD” felt letter in the early 1920s—likely around 1920-1924 based on other materials from his Scouting years.
Disposition
1/29/2026 – to Unami Lodge History Committee advisor
Displayed at Musser Scout Reservation on 4/11/2026. See Facebook post.
When I attended Camp Delmont in the 1950s, I was quite literally walking in my father’s footsteps, swimming in the same lake, hiking the same trails, singing around the same campfire sites. This simple felt “CD” represents that multi-generational bond.
My Camp Delmont Artifacts
The circular patch was the patch worn by campers, and it could be surrounded by small patches indicating years of camping. I attended Camp Delmont for four years and earned various skill badges which also surround the main patch. Skill badges include conservation (below) an from top clockwise – axemanship, first aid, lifesaving, quartermaster, camping, bugling, hiking, cooking, nature, marksmanship, and archery (?).
Disposition
1/29/2026-to Unami Lodge History Committee advisor
Displayed at Musser Scout Reservation, 4/11/2026 – See Facebook post
Delmont Lodge 43 Artifacts
This collection represents my membership in Delmont Lodge 43 of the Order of the Arrow:
Lodge Flap Patches: These distinctive patches were worn on the right pocket flap of the Scout uniform, identifying the wearer as a member of Delmont Lodge 43 or Unami Lodge 1. The “WWW” lettering represents the Order of the Arrow’s principle of Wimachtendienk, Wingolauchsik, Witahemui—which translates to “Brotherhood of Cheerful Service.”
Round Patches: Additional lodge identification patches showing the lodge number and the Valley Forge Council affiliation. The lodge image was distinctive to Delmont Lodge.
Neckerchiefs: These neckerchiefs were worn during Order of the Arrow ceremonies and events. The elegant design with embroidered patches showed our lodge pride and OA membership. The colors and design varied over the years and undoubtedly still does.
Disposition – white embroidered background neckerchief & pocket flap
2/13/2026 to Scout Heritage Museum-Milwaukee
Unami Lodge 1 Patches and Neckerchief
Unami Lodge 1 was the Order of the Arrow lodge for the Philadelphia Council, and these artifacts represent the connection between our councils even before the official merger. I knew some scouts from this lodge, and probably swapped artifacts. The distinctive turtle totem continued in Unami Lodge’s imagery—in fact, “Unami” refers to the Turtle Clan of the Lenape (Delaware) people who originally inhabited the Philadelphia region.
The green and red neckerchief with the turtle patch is particularly striking. The neckerchief shows some age and wear, suggesting it was actually used at camp and OA events rather than kept pristine as a collector’s item.
The patches include both the circular red with black and green turtle (likely from the mid-1950s based on design) and flap-style patch showing “PHILA ONE” and “1915 T.I.” (referencing Philadelphia Council’s establishment year on Treasure Island). These document the parallel OA tradition in Philadelphia that would eventually merge with Valley Forge Council.
Disposition
2/13/2026 to Scout Heritage Museum-Milwaukee
Historical Note: When Delmont Lodge 43 and Unami Lodge 1 merged following the council consolidation, they became part of the current Cradle of Liberty Council’s OA program. Many traditions from both lodges continue today.
🏔️ Resica Falls Scout Reservation
Marshall’s Creek, Pennsylvania
If Camp Delmont was where I became a Scout, Resica Falls was where I became a Scouter. Located near Marshall’s Creek in Monroe County, Resica Falls Scout Reservation was (and remains) one of the premier Scout camps in the region. The reservation takes its name from a beautiful waterfall on the property that provided both a scenic landmark and a swimming hole for generations of Scouts.
I was privileged to serve on staff at Resica Falls for two summers, working with Scouts from across the council and beyond. One year I was on the staff of the first year of the Great Bend Camp. The second year I was at the Big Springs Camp. Staff life taught me responsibility, leadership, and the deep satisfaction of helping younger Scouts discover what Scouting could mean in their lives. I think I taught handicraft and axemanship, and helped coordinate weekly campfires.
The “Big Springs” camp area, named for a natural spring on the property, was known for its excellent program and its tradition of meaningful closing campfires. The closing campfire program I’ve preserved from August 1960 captures the spirit of those evenings—the songs, the ceremony, the sense of brotherhood that transcended individual camps and patrols.
Resica Falls Artifacts
This collection spans multiple years and shows the evolution of Resica Falls insignia:
Woven Ribbons (1959, 1960): These delicate woven silk or rayon ribbons were given to Scouts attending specific camp sessions. They feature:
- “RESICA FALLS” text in red
- Year dates (1959, 1960)
- “SCOUT RESERVATION B.S.A.” identification
- Scenic illustrations of camp buildings and the natural setting
- Firestone Explorer Base
Scouts would collect these ribbons year after year, displaying them as pocket patches as proof of their Resica Falls experiences.
Round Patches: The circular “RESICA FALLS / SCOUT RESERVATION” patches with embroidered scenic designs were the standard camp patches, likely from the late 1950s-early 1960s based on the design style. The detailed embroidery shows waterfalls and trees. I believe that the white background patches were for staff members, whereas the blue gray background was for campers.These artifacts document not just my own participation but the broader Valley Forge Council tradition of sending Scouts to Resica Falls year after year.
Disposition – 1 woven Resica ribbon and 1 staff patch
January 13, 2026 – Donated to an Eagle Scout who has worked at Resica.
Big Springs Campfires
This three-page mimeographed program documents the closing campfire ceremony at Big Springs camp on August 20, 1960— perhaps …
my final campfire as a staff member at Resica Falls. Reading it now, I can still hear the songs, see the council fire blazing, and remember the mixed emotions of that special campfire; satisfaction in a summer well spent, sadness that it was ending, and pride in what we’d accomplished.
The Ceremony Structure
The program follows the traditional Resica Falls closing campfire format, carefully choreographed to create a meaningful experience:
Opening: After scouts were seated, the ceremony opened without microphone announcement—just the appearance of an “Indian (Irlenborn)” approaching the falls with a torch. When Daniels and Mulholland shot flaming arrows toward the island (along a wire for safety), the council fires were lit, creating the dramatic illumination that signaled the ceremony’s start.
Songs and Performances:
- “Old MacDonald” led by Tom Casey
- “Junior Birdmen” led by Dave Curry
- “One Finger, One Thumb” led by Bill Elliot
- Troop skits including “The Growing Machine” (Troop 261, Springbrook) and “The Baseball Game” (Troop 343, Chester)
- Songs reflecting the era: “The Hiking Song,” popular songs of the day, “Handkerchief Cheer,” “I’ve Been Working on the RR,” “Watermelon Cheer”
- The patriotic closing: “God Bless America” led by Bill Elliot
The Cast of Characters:
The “General Instructions” on page 3 reveal the elaborate logistics behind the seemingly spontaneous ceremony. Named staff members had specific responsibilities:
- Tom Hollis, Bill Donnell, Dick Magee: building council fires and handling torches
- Dave York and Jack Finberg: wiring and lighting the electrical effects
- Rich Schaub: ensuring the tattoo (drum ceremony) synchronized with the record player
- Bill Elliot: forming troops and leading them to the campfire at 8:20
- Harry Decker: signaling with flashlight when to use the microphone
- Steve Bonner: signaling Indians when to light fires
- Jack Finberg: collecting candles (Scout Law ritual)
- The Indians: Joe Daniels, Bill Kane, Jack Mulholland, Lynn Robinson, with explorers Jay Tittermary, Bob May, and Eric Schmidt
Special Note from “YOUR EDITOR”:
The program ends with heartfelt words:
- “P.S. Let’s make this campfire the best Resica has ever seen.”
- “P.P.S. Only 11 days of camp left.”
- “P.P.P.S. This is the last of the many bi-weekly newsletters that you have been receiving throughout the summer. Aren’t you glad!”
This was my world in August 1960: planning ceremonies, coordinating dozens of boys and staff, creating memories that would last lifetimes. Reading this program transports me back to that firelit circle, the smoke drifting up through the pines, the voices rising together in song.
Disposition
1/29/2026-to Unami Lodge History Committee advisor
This booklet was from the Big Springs “library” and I used it throughout a summer for campfires at Resica Falls, then in 1979-1980 when I was a Scoutmaster.
🏛️ Valley Forge Council
Valley Forge Council Patches (1959, 1960, Pilgrimage 1960)
These patches document Valley Forge Council’s identity during my latter Scouting years:
1959 and 1960 Delmont Scout Reservation Patches: Featuring the Revolutionary War cannon symbol that connected Valley Forge Council to its historic namesake. The blue and yellow/gold color scheme with red accents represented the council colors. These patches were likely given to Scouts attending council-wide events or serving at camp.
1960 Pilgrimage Patch: The silver/gray patch with George Washington mounted on a white horse surrounded by 5 American flags, symbolizing the 50 years of Scouting in our country.
These patches help preserve Valley Forge Council’s distinctive identity before the merger with Philadelphia Council created the Cradle of Liberty Council.
🎯 Historical Context
The Merger: Creating Cradle of Liberty Council
In 1996, Valley Forge Council and Philadelphia Council merged to form the Cradle of Liberty Council, combining their resources, traditions, and Scouting heritage. Similarly, Delmont Lodge 43 and Unami Lodge 1 merged their Order of the Arrow operations.
While administrative structures changed, the spirit and traditions of both councils continue. Many Scouts who grew up in Valley Forge Council or Philadelphia Council now serve as adult leaders in Cradle of Liberty Council, passing on the values and experiences that shaped them.
💭 Personal Reflections
Following My Father’s Path
Attending Camp Delmont along with my brother, knowing my father had been there in the 1920s added profound meaning to every activity. When I held his Camp Delmont “CD” felt letter and then wore my own Camp Delmont and Delmont Lodge 43 patches, I felt connected to something larger than myself—a tradition of character development and outdoor adventure that transcended generations.
My father and I never attended camp together—he was long past his Scouting years when I began mine. But we’d shared the same lake, the same trails, the same songs around the same campfire sites. That invisible thread connecting us across decades made Scouting feel like family heritage, not just a youth program. He inspired me.
From Camper to Staff
The transition from camper at Camp Delmont to staff member at Resica Falls was transformative. As a camper, I’d focused on earning merit badges, improving my skills, and enjoying the experience. As staff, I saw how much work went into creating those experiences for others.
Planning that August 1960 closing campfire required coordinating dozens of people, managing complex logistics, and creating meaningful ceremony from what could have been just another evening program. The responsibility was significant, but so was the satisfaction when everything came together—when we could see in the Scouts’ faces that they’d been moved by what we’d created.
The Order of the Arrow
My induction into Delmont Lodge 43 of the Order of the Arrow ranks high among experiences of my youth. The ceremony itself—conducted in the woods at night, with symbolic challenges and solemn rituals—made a deep impression. But more important was what it represented: recognition by my fellow Scouts that I embodied the values we all aspired to.
The Order of the Arrow taught me that leadership isn’t about authority or position—it’s about cheerful service, about doing what needs to be done without seeking recognition, about putting the group’s needs ahead of personal comfort. Those lessons served me throughout life, far beyond my Scouting years.
Songs and Traditions
The songs we sang at those campfires weren’t just entertainment—they were the glue that bound us together. “Old MacDonald,” “One Finger One Thumb,” “God Bless America”—these songs created shared experience and collective memory. Decades later, I can still sing every verse, and I suspect many of the Scouts from those campfires can too.
The traditions mattered as much as the activities. The way we opened and closed campfires, the ceremonies for advancing in rank, the rituals of the Order of the Arrow—these created continuity and meaning. They told us we were part of something that existed before us and would continue after us.
🎁 Collection Disposition Plan
These artifacts represent a significant portion of my Valley Forge Council Scouting heritage, and I want them to continue serving Scouting rather than gathering dust in storage.
Intended Recipients:
For Cradle of Liberty Council:
- Historical artifacts documenting Valley Forge Council and Delmont Lodge 43 heritage
- Items that could be displayed at council headquarters or used in historical exhibits
- Materials that help current Scouts understand the council’s legacy
For Individual Scouts and Scouters:
- Duplicates or common patches for collectors
- Items for Scouts or leaders who attended these same camps
- Artifacts for those with connections to Delmont Lodge 43 or Valley Forge Council
- Materials for Eagle Scout projects involving Scouting history
For Resica Falls Scout Reservation:
- The 1960 closing campfire program for their archives
- Patches and materials documenting Resica Falls history
- Items that could enhance their museum or historical displays
For Museums and Archives:
- Significant pieces that document 1920s-1960s Scouting in southeastern Pennsylvania
Contact About These Artifacts
If you have a connection to:
- Valley Forge Council or Cradle of Liberty Council
- Camp Delmont or Resica Falls Scout Reservation
- Delmont Lodge 43 or Unami Lodge 1
- 1950s-1960s Scouting in southeastern Pennsylvania
And you’re interested in preserving these artifacts or adding them to a collection, please contact me.
Important: Nothing is for sale. These are donations to appropriate recipients who will value and preserve Scouting history.
For Fellow Veterans of These Camps
Were you at Camp Delmont in the 1950s? On staff at Resica Falls in 1959-1960? A member of Delmont Lodge 43? I’d love to hear from you and compare memories. Please reach out through my contact page.
🔗 Related Collections
- My Boy Scout Years (1950s-1960s) – Overview of my complete Scouting experience
- 1957 Valley Forge National Jamboree – My participation in the National Jamboree
- 1957 World Jamboree Badge Collection – International Scouting experience
- Father’s Early Scouting Materials (1920s) – His Delaware and Montgomery Counties artifacts, and Milwaukee Council artifacts
Last Updated: January 15, 2026
“The traditions of Valley Forge Council and Delmont Lodge 43 live on in every Scout who carries forward the values of cheerful service, outdoor adventure, and brotherhood. These artifacts preserve that legacy for future generations.”