Girl Scouts of Woodland Council's
Camp Sacajawea

serving the girls of central wisconsin

Campers | Parents | Troop Leaders | Meeting Planners | About Camp Sacajawea

Camp Sacajawea Wish List | The Story of Sacajawea

The history of Camp Sacajawea

1929 Rev. J. M. Johnson of Saint John's parish organizes Girl Scouts in Wisconsin Rapids with Blanche Bushnell's five-girl troop.

1931 In January, Rev. William Reding of Saint Peter and Paul parish forms Troop 53 under Mrs. Robert Deguere and Miss Agnes Lidral.

1931 In February, Miss Marie Aftreith organizes Wood County Council with an office in the Wisconsin Rapids library.

1939 Original 40 acres is donated by a group of interested Wisconsin Rapids citizens. The first building built on the campsite is Red Arrow Lodge, named after the Native American brave who took Sacajawea under his wing. A contest among local troops determined the name Camp Sacajawea , which was chosen because of the spirit of adventure in the out-of-doors shown by this Native American maiden.

1940 VFW flag pole donation.

1941 Camp Sacajawea receives electricity.

1943 Camp Sacajawea becomes a game refuge.

1945 Mead Hall is built as an all-purpose building as a gift from Emily Mead and George W. Mead, naming it in honor of their mother, Mrs. Ruth Witter Mead.

1947 Equipment storage shed intended as shower house and three cabins are built.

1949 Juliette Low Stamp was issued by the USPS.

1949 Campers celebrate International Friendship Night, Mardi Gras, Wizard of Oz Progressive Party, and 10th anniversary.

1950 Thelma Kellogg, camp director for Wisconsin Rapids Area Girl Scout Council, is remembered with memorial amphitheater and campfire.

1950s Frank Gill donates outdoor kitchen---a screened building where campers can cook out.

1950 Red Arrow Lodge gets a new floor.

1953 A new unit, named Minataree, is built and named after the Native American who captured Sacajawea, adding four new cabins.

1953 An additional 20 acres is purchased by Consolidated Foundation and presented as a gift.

1957 A shower house, nicknamed "the drip", is built.

1963 Stevens Point Council and the Mid-Wisconsin Council merge to form Woodland Girl Scout Council.

1969 Baptiste Lodge, named for Sacajawea's son, is built as a winterized, multi-purpose troop house.

1976 Charbonneau Center , named for Sacajawea's husband, Toussaint Charbonneau, is completed. The center is used as the main office of Woodland Girl Scout Council, as well as for troop housing during weekend camping in winter months.

1978 Lake Tapawingo is completed to provide additional program opportunities for girls, such as fishing, canoeing, and nature exploration.

1981 Lisa Martin is the first Girl Scout at Camp Sacajawea to receive the Silver Award.

1983 Girl Scouting is extended to girls under 5 years of age. This will be the new Daisy Girl Scout program.

1984-1985 New triple-glazed windows, a new roof, and new lighting system improve Baptiste Lodge.

1987 Woodland Girl Scouts from Camp Sacajawea make pilgrimage to Savannah , Georgia (the birthplace of Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low) for 75th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA.

1988 In May, the first capital fundraising campaign since 1939 begins. The goal of the campaign is to fund Camp Sacajawea renovations. Mead Hall is renovated with indoor plumbing and winterization, making it usable all year round. In September, ground is broken for the new Service Center , as capital fundraising campaign meets 78% of its goal.

1989 Woodland Girl Scouts surpass capital fundraising campaign goal at 119%, allowing for central septic system, new Service Center, centralized storage and maintenance building, central shower and toilet facility, and a farm tractor with implements for maintenance.

1990 Highway 54 project threatens Camp Sacajawea with plans for "Far East Bypass."

1991 510 girls attend "A Day With Ranger Rick at Camp Sacajawea ."

1992 Ground is broken for maintenance facility.

1992 Woodland counselors welcome Hmong to the central Wisconsin community.

1993 Minataree Unit cabins are sold, removed, and replaced with platform tents.

1999 Woodland celebrates 60th Anniversary of Camp Sacajawea.

2002 Woodland receives grant from Mead-Witter Foundation to build new cabins in Shoshone Unit. National Guard and other volunteers will provide labor.

THE Sacajawea STORY

Many, many years ago a little Native American girl lived with her people in the Rocky Mountains . Their tribe’s name was Shoshonee and they were always afraid of cross Native Americans as they searched for food. The children hunted for roots and berries to eat, and one day, while the little girl and her playmates were wandering by themselves, they were captured by an enemy tribe called the Hidatsa.

A Native American brave named Red Arrow took the little girl up on his horse and started the long journey east to his home. When they arrived there after many miles of weary travel, Red Arrow’s squaw welcomed the little Native American girl and was kind to her. In the days that followed, she taught her all the things the Hidatsa squaws knew. It was here that the girl received the name Sacajawea, which means "Bird Woman," for her love of birds. She would call them, feed them, and much of the time, share her life with them in the woods where they made their homes. It was this knowledge that she obtained from spending time with the birds in the woods that would benefit her later in life.

As she grew older, there would be a sorrowful turn of events for Sacajawea. While gambling with a French fur trader named Charbonneau, Red Arrow lost nearly everything he had, including Sacajawea. He and his squaw were saddened as Sacajawea would now have to leave them to live with Charbonneau. In time, Sacajawea married Charbonneau and returned to his home at Fort Mandan .

In the winter of 1804-1805, two Caucasian men, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark camped at Fort Mandan upon their expedition to the Pacific Ocean . The two men were looking for a guide to the west, and Sacajawea and Charbonneau offered to go with the men in the spring. Sacajawea’s birthplace had been west of Fort Mandan , so she was anxious to try to find her people. Before they set out, many events took place. Lewis and Clark built a Fort in which to live until spring; preparations were made for the long journey; Sacajawea gave birth to a baby boy, and, with her knowledge of the woods and the trails west, she helped the men in planning for the journey. She was very interested in a journal Lewis and Clark were keeping, telling of all they had seen and heard. Sacajawea busied herself with making a basket of skins for her papoose, while she dreamed of the day that she might see her old home. She helped the men pack presents for the Native Americans with whom they must make friends as they traveled west.

As the explorers made their journey west, they encountered many challenges. Sometimes the boats overturned, and it was mainly by Sacajawea’s quick skill that the precious maps and records were saved. At other times, it was very difficult to get food, and again, Sacajawea knew how to find and prepare food for them. The men were very pleased and grateful for all the help she gave them.

There came a day when Sacajawea knew she was very near home. Lewis and Clark needed to make friends with the Shoshonee tribe in order to have a place to rest, buy horses, and learn the trail ahead. The explorers took presents to the Shoshonee Chief, who turned out to be Sacajawea’s brother! It was here that the explorers purchased everything they would need for the mountain journey, and Sacajawea’s brother gave them a guide to lead the way. It was a tumultuous journey, but the explorers finally reached the country beyond the Rockies , making the 4,135 mile journey a success.

Sacajawea embodied courage, personal strength, extraordinary leadership, exploration, and discovery... the same qualities promoted
in Girl Scouting.

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Girl Scouts of Woodland Council's Camp Sacajawea

Camp Sacajawea Wish List | The Story of Sacajawea

Girl Scouts of Woodland Council's
Camp Sacajawea