Heritage Center

From Camp Yawgoog.Org

The DREAM of having an Alumni Museum (Alumni Heritage Center) began in 1986 and the Yawgoog Alumni Association(YAA) started a campaign to collect memorabilia and historic items related to Yawgoog from the YAA membership. The response was overwhelming and Yawgoog's marvelous history was being inventoried and cataloged by a Museum Contents Committee in preparation for displays. In 1993 the Association converted a back room of the Bucklin Memorial Room into the Heritage Museum and the outstanding historical center was visited by thousand's over the years.

It became obvious to the Association that a plan was needed for a future Alumni Project that would be able to "secure, protect and display" historic memorabilia from Yawgoog's early beginnings (1916 to the present) and proudly share them with the current generation of Scouts - and prepare to serve the next generation as well.

The Alumni Association's dream of building a brand new program center for Yawgoog's past, present and future Scouts and Scouters was enthusiastically accepted and supported by the Alumni, Camp Staff, Council Camping Committee, Council Properties Committee and the final "GO" was given by the Council's Board of Directors.

Yawgoog's rich heritage has a home in the Alumni Association's 2003 project, a museum. The site for the Heritage Center is on the foundation of the Reservation Trading Post. New construction, as well as some renovations to the old space, allowed both the Heritage Center and new Reservation Trading space to be front-and-center in the Donald North Court.

Construction Project Update, Fall 2002, "The Belltower", Yawgoog Alumni Association.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE YAWGOOG ALUMNI HERITAGE CENTER HAS BEGUN!!!!!

When Gus Anthony founded the Yawgoog Alumni Association, his primary goal was to preserve the heritage and traditions of the camp he loved. One of his dreams was to create a place to show off that history to both new Scouts coming to camp for the first time and for veteran Scouts and Scouters to relive the days of summers past. With this in mind we are proud to inform you that work has now begun to build the Yawgoog Alumni Heritage Center.

With the cooperation of our Scout Executive, Dave Anderson, we have now included the Heritage Center in the renovation of the main Trading Post on the Donald North Court. This means that the history of this "adventure land for boys" will be on display in part of the oldest building on the camp property -- the first dining hall ever built at Yawgoog! Being part of the hub of the reservation will allow easy access for parents at Sunday dress parade, as well as for Scouts stopping at the Trading Post during the week. Additionally, this location will allow the Campmasters to open the Museum during the off-season for Scouts who are camping on the weekends with their troops.

The architectural drawings we have included in this newsletter show that the Museum will occupy the space that was formally the old Trading Post. A new doorway, to be built on the Donald North Court side of the building, with an entry porch similar to those on the East and West Cabins, will serve as the Heritage Center's main entrance. The existing open-air "picnic area" of the building will be closed in to house a new and improved Trading Post to serve both Scouts, Scouters, and visitors. A new porch is being added to replace the covered "picnic area" and will ultimately extend the structure by thirty-two feet.

We are presently working on the interior layout of the Museum, and the design of the display cases and furniture. Our goal is to create a rustic atmosphere, similar to that in the Bucklin Building, to be a gathering place for Scouts, and to house our collection of Yawgoog memorabilia. We are looking forward to creating a building that will bring to life the people and events that have shaped Yawgoog's past and have made it the place we all love so much.

We hope to see you all at the annual reunion on August 2, 2003, for the dedication of the Yawgoog Alumni Heritage Center. Please plan to attend and join us in raising a glass of bug juice in celebration of the fulfillment of Gus' dream!

The Yawgoog Alumni Association