GC21C38 H.A.C The History of Camp Waubeek and Camp Wakonda (Unknown Cache) in Iowa, United States created by Tape worm

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Hidden : 12/31/2009

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Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

The History Of Camp Waubeek and Camp Wakonda

The geocache is not at the listed location. The listed location is near the gate's of the camp's but are not open to the public.

To find the location of the cache you will have to answer the question's from the below text about the history of the two scout camp's. Please obey the private property sign's and fence as there is no need to trespass to get to the cache location which you will find the start of your little romp in the wood's a kind of broken trail for a little way's then a up kept trail you can follow from there. This area is only open from sun rise to sunset. You will be looking for a 30 cal. ammo can..

The Howard H. Cherry Scout Reservation (HHCSR) began in 1930 when the Council's lease expired on Camp Mishawaka at Stone City, Iowa. At that time Howard H. Cherry contributed $1000.00 for the purchase of eighteen acres of land along the Wapsipinicon River one mile North of the town of Waubeek, Iowa. Camp Waubeek opened in 1931 due to the efforts of the Cedar Rapids American Legion's Hanford Post # 5. In October 1930 78 men from the Post cleared three acres of brush and small trees for temporary roads and the dining hall they would build the following spring. That winter the Legion wrote, produced and starred in a play that raised $1500.00 for the materials and equipment to put up the building. In April and May of 1931, 200 Legionnaires spent 792 man days of work constructing the 40 foot by 60 foot dining hall known as Hanford Lodge and clearing nature trails. The Legion members had even made the tables, hung screens and shutters, and built a fireplace with native stone from the Waubeek Quarry and the hearth from a millstone of an old flour mill. Mr. Cherry also donated an old family log cabin which the Legionnaires dismantled and moved from Sodtown to camp and reassembled. This became the first administration building and camp store.

In 1933, the Legion decided to improve the road into camp. To do this they quarried rock from the Waubeek Quarry, dug gravel from a nearby pit and then with dump trucks and other assorted road building equipment constructed a road 8 inches deep, 15 feet wide and one half mile long from the main road into the camp grounds. During this same year the Post tore down the first Scout cabin at Indian Creek (site of the first Scout Camp called Horse Thief Cave, 1924) since it was no longer being used and built a handicraft lodge at camp with part of the material.

In 1936 the Legion saw the need for swimming facilities at camp. After many surveys of the 60 foot and 100 foot bluffs along the river, they decided to build a zigzag stairway following the natural contours of the bluffs down to a bend in the river.

The Hanford Post's next major project was in 1938 when they decided to improve camp sanitation by building a large bathhouse complete with showers and a toilet.

In 1940, when Cedar Rapids discontinued street cars, the Legion acquired many of the power poles that were removed and trucked them to camp. There they hewed and notched them to form an authentic looking log cabin. Next a large heating and cooking stove was installed for winter camping activities. This cabin still stands just south of Hanford Lodge as is now known as the Nature Lodge but for the past several years has been used for storage. A few years after this the Legion repaired the road into camp in addition to clearing all the trails. In spite of World War II and other obligations the Hanford Post continued to improve Camp Waubeek. During 1944 they repaired the old water system, installed a new hot water system and a sanitary drinking fountain.

In 1945 The Waubeek Area Council, as the Hawkeye Area Council was then known, began a capitol fund campaign to improve Camp Waubeek and build an in ground swimming pool (completed in 1949).

The Cedar Rapids Elks C.C.C. gave $1500.00 to purchase the recreation building used by Coe college during the War and moved it to camp where it was used to build the Administration Lodge and the Directors Lodge. These structures are now know as the Trading Post and the Winter Cabin respectively.

In 1952 the Waubeek Area Council of Cedar Rapids area merged with the Iowa River Valley Council of Iowa City area to become the Hawkeye Area Council.

In 1956 a new fully equipped kitchen and basement were added to the Hanford Lodge at a cost of $10,000.00.

Due to continuing growth in Council membership, attendance at camp and in line with camp development needs, Howard Cherry senior donated $14,000.00 in 1957 for the purchase of an additional 125 acres. A new 30,000 gallon water reservoir was built to store water for the camp, pool, fire protection and future expansion. This very conspicuous hill in Camp Waubeek was christened "Marrs Mound", a title Dr. Marrs quickly banned (Dr. M. D. Marrs was 1956 Council president). To supply this $15,000.00 reservoir a new 326 foot deep well was drilled by Latta & Sons Well Drilling. Cost of the well, concrete casing and new lines to undeveloped areas was $6,000.00. During the 1957-58 period eight new campsites were developed in Camp Waubeek to allow for troop camping under troop leadership. Camp improvements of the fifties ended in 1959 with the construction of the first rifle range in camp.

The next few years were relatively quiet except for construction of the Waubeek quartermasters building in 1961 and the beginning of a $400,000.00 capitol fund drive by the Council in 1962.

In 1965 a $25,000.00 donation from Mr. Cherry enabled the Council to purchase an adjoining 265 acres and open a second camp called Wakonda. It was to become a patrol cooking camp.

In 1966 the two camps resembled a gold rush town with a furry of building activity. In Waubeek the Hanford Lodge got new dishwashers, septic tanks and a range. A new pool replaced the old one which had been plagued with problems from the beginning because the hill it was built on was sliding and carrying the pool downhill. The pool was completed in June at a cost of $48,000.00. The Health Lodge was also built in June, ($ 12,000.00) as well as the Program Shelter. Most of the new development was at Camp Wakonda where a second new pool was built, (June 48,000.00), Troop Service Building ($15,000.00 ), two Family Cabins ($10,000.00), a three bedroom Ranger's Home ($30,000.00), a second rifle range and a parking lot. If a person would take a hike around the two camps it is very evident which structures were built during this boom. All are of similar design and are made from 4 inch by 8 inch square cedar logs. Even the campsite latrines follow the same pattern. After the storm came the quiet until 1969 when the Pool Shelter, Nature and Handicraft Shelters were erected. Also, two chapels were built and dedicated by a Marion Troop in memory of a Scouter.

During the 1970's only four improvements of note occurred. The first in 1971 when the Order of the Arrow built a new ceremony ring in Wakonda called Dancing Quail. In 1975 the Council recognized the need for a stable water front area for rowing and canoeing. An agreement was reached with the National Guard Reserves to dredge a lagoon at the Lower Meadow. With part of the earth dredged from the lagoon a backstop was graded to form a new rifle range and both ranges were consolidated on the Lower Meadow in 1977. Also this year a series of three sided shelters were built for winter camping at three different locations in Wakonda and were designated Adirondacks A, B & C.

In the early 80's patrol cooking was phased out due to lack of interest and Camp Wakonda became dormant as far as summer camping was concerned. In 1984 a temporary classroom was purchased from the Cedar Rapids School Board for $1.00 and moved to Camp Waubeek for staff housing to replace the " Tent City " that had been used for years. This became Cedar Lodge. By the mid 1980's it became apparent that something had to be done about Hanford Lodge. This structure which was built in the thirties and designed to seat 70 people was now seating almost twice that number at times. So plans were drawn and another capitol fund campaign started to raise the $350,000.00 for a new dining hall in Wakonda. In 1987 the summer camp operations were moved to Wakonda and the first meals were served in the new dining hall. It was eventually called the Allin B. Dakin Dining Hall in honor of Dean Allin Dakin, Administrative Dean of the University of Iowa. Mr. Dakin was also the first Eagle Scout in Iowa. He was instrumental in the merger of the two Councils and was the first president of the new Hawkeye Area Council. 1987 marked his 70th year of active involvement in the Scouting program.

In the shadow of this structure, built by Pat Moore Construction of Iowa City, other things had been happening. In 1986 Iowa Electric Light and Power donated 40 acres of land across the road from Waubeek called High Point. The Gibson Shelter was built in 1987 in the Upper Meadow in memory of " Gibby Gibson " a beloved Scouter who had recently died . Also in 1987 the Order of the Arrow built a new lodge at Wakonda. This was a multipurpose building that served as O.A. administrative headquarters during Summer Camp and Conclaves as well as the O.A. Trading Post and sleeping quarters for the O.A. Coordinator. The last improvement in this year entailed jack hammering out the Wakonda pool apron and replacing it with new concrete. Most of this project was done by volunteer Scouts and Scouters under the direction of Ranger Rick.

In keeping with National guidelines the Council banned alcoholic beverages on Camp Property in 1990 stopping almost all income from corporate picnics, wedding parties, etc. In 1990-91 with funds from the Bill Tinsley Memorial the O.A. updated the Wakonda Council Ring. This consisted of new seat planks, split-rail fencing at the top and bottom of the ring, evergreen bushes, a new gateway at the entrance, underground water and electric lines from the Troop Service Building for a frost free hydrant and power for the electric lights they installed.

In 1991 the High Point property was sold for $40,000 and these proceeds designated for future Camp acquisitions. A new shelter at the Archery Range and one behind Meadowlark Campsite are two of three donated by East Cedar Rapids and Marion Rotary Club, the third to be sited in 1992. 1991 marked the development of a Low C.O.P.E. course (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience) with donations of material and equipment by Iowa Electric Light and Power. It also marked a ban on smoking in camp.

By this time Low C.O.P.E. is complete and High C.O.P.E. (30' high) is well underway with six stations. O.A. has doubled the size of their lodge with a new addition. Construction has finally begun on the lake, after twelve years of hoping and planning, with the cutting and removal of literally hundreds of dump truck loads of wood. In April of this year began the Council's largest ever capitol fund campaign, two million dollars. The proposed projects to be completed over the next four years are; renovation of the Waubeek pool which has been out of service for the past eight years, replacement of the Wakonda pool filtration system and shower house, handicapped accessible campsites and facilities, a multipurpose staff quarters and conference center building at Wakonda, a Cub Scout Theme Park at Waubeek, completion of the lake, new equipment and buildings to house it, and perhaps an addition to the Scout Service Center.

Here's the question's and use the answer's to solve where the cache is hidden. No mulitplying is needed just addition and subtraction.
1)What year did Cedar Rapids discontinued Street Car's? This answer is A.

2)What year was the first swimming pool at Waubeek completed? This answer is B

3)In 1930 how many people from the post cleared 3 arcres of brush? This answer is C.

4)What year was Dancing Quail built? This answer is D.

5)How many letter's in the current Ranger's First name? This answer is E.

6)How many acre's did Howard Cherry help buy for a second camp to be built? This answer is F.

7)How many people were Hanford Lodge designed to seat? This answer is G.

8)What year was the lagoon dredged and finished to create a backstop for the rifle range? This answer is H.

9)How many letter's are in the last name of the first Eagle scout in Iowa? This answer is K.

10)What was the year the first rifle range was built? This answer is J.

The location of the cache is at: North (E)(first number of F)°(0)(Add the year's together from all question's and add 143) Put a decimal 3 number's from the end of the answer. Example 11.111 West 091°(C-51).(F-C-G+E+K+14)

The starting content's of the cache are:
Bottle Koozie
Dinosaur Mask
3 Car toy's
An Alien Toy
Sweat Band
Yoyo
Harmonica
Noise Maker

Please place cache back in it's location. And please remember to trade even or trade up.

You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.