Firecrafter

Chief Executive Francis Oliver Belzer created Firecrafter as an honor program to recognize Scouts at summer camp and to keep them involved from year to year.

The first Firecrafter ceremony took place at Camp Chank-Tun-Un-Gi on a summer night in 1920. At the close of the first camping period, the customary awards campfire was held in the camp arena. Among those expecting to be recognized were four Woodsmen who had completed all of the requirements for the new third camp rank. They waited through the campfire without being called, and as its closing minutes came near, they began to think they had been forgotten. Finally, just before the Scoutmaster's benediction, Assistant Executive Stanley Norton instructed the candidates to remain in the arena after the close of the campfire. And so the four bewildered Woodsmen waited anxiously while the other Scouts, Scouters, and parents drifted away.

When they were at last alone facing the dying embers of the campfire, they were put to the Unknown Test, and became the first to take the Firecrafter Oath that has challenged more than eight thousand Scouts and Scouters since that night. The ceremony was conducted by Francis O. Belzer and Stanley Norton, assisted by Rex Pruitt and P. D. Hoelscher, the camp physical director.

The year is now 2004 and instead of four Woodsman standing before Firecrafter Hill, 282 of the council's outstanding leaders were bestowed upon the knowledge of the Unknown Test this year.

Firecrafter truly shined in the year 2004 emphasizing its creed and pledge of Faithful Service. Aside from the character building and leadership training objectives, Firecrafter is a service organization. Its members dedicate themselves to a life of service to Scouting, above and beyond what might be expected of a Scout. In more than eighty years of existence, Firecrafters have performed thousands of special service projects. Firecrafters are challenged to conduct camporees, campfires and other outdoor activities. In established camps they have built buildings, repaired facilities and constructed conservation projects. Each year Firecrafter assists the council in preparing camps for the summer camping season. Recently, Firecrafter has been active in providing information for camp promotion.

We as Firecrafter also believe that Enthusiasm and the Scouting Spirit are contagious. Firecrafter's goal is to instill this spirit through the candidacies and fellowship with other Firecrafters. At the 2004 annual Spring Fellowship we were proud to report that there were more than 400 Scouts and Scouters who participated in the fun activities and shared in comradeship.

We are a growing organization and we believe that it is always easier to follow rather than lead. Often it is necessary to lead when one must defend one's beliefs or takes one's life in the right direction. Firecrafter forces candidates out of the following attitude and shows them that in some situations, one must lead the way to accomplish their goals. Leadership is a rare and valuable trait, which Firecrafter attempts to instill.

We are building on our council's outstanding leaders and shaping them into the future of Scouting. We encourage our Scouts not only to be leaders in Firecrafter, but to be leaders in their own troop and all of Scouting. We emphasize their continued quest for Eagle and hope that the experience of Firecrafter can help them to succeed in the skills needed to advance.

I must say it is quite rewarding to help the younger Scouts advance along our trail to Firecrafter. I am always overwhelmed upon getting that irreplaceable feeling when I sit down with a young Scout who goes through seven or eight matches and about five different fire lays to accomplish the task of making flame. And then after discussing what the fire needs and giving a demonstration, the Scout is able to place one match in the fire lay and produce a 15 minute Fire. Or seeing a Scout work all week on Fire-By-Friction, and on Saturday morning he produces a small ember. It is an organization I know I will be a part of for many years to come. And I believe it is one of Crossroads Scouts' most memorable experiences. And it is not only Crossroads who is able to seek the mysteries of Firecrafter. Many other Scouts and Scouters from neighboring councils participate as well.