Camp Yawgoog Celebrates 100 Years of Scouting

Camp Yawgoog was founded in 1916 as “A Scout Adventureland, Forever.” One hundred years may not quite be forever, but it’s certainly a long time that’s worth recognizing. This summer, Yawgoog, the country’s second oldest continuously run Boy Scout camp, celebrates its 100th consecutive season.

“Not many institutions last 100 years,” says Congressman Jim R. Langevin (D-RI), who visited Yawgoog in Rockville last month. “It’s great to know that scouting still has such a positive impact on young people and teaches them to be responsible, independent and involved members of the community.”

Not surprisingly, a lot has changed at Yawgoog over the last century. In its first season, 250 scouts attended the camp situated on the 130-acre Palmer Farm. This summer however, Yawgoog’s 200-person staff hosted around 6,000 scouts on its 1,800.acre reservation. Yawgoog originally began as one camp – Three Point – but added two more camps – Medicine Bow and Sandy Beach – as its popularity grew.

“The camp has really passed the test of time,” says John Mosby, Executive/CEO of the Narragansett Council, to which Yawgoog belongs.

Yawgoog has thrived because of its commitment to the timeless elements of scouting, said David Preston, a spokesman for the Narragansett Council, but it must continue to evolve.

“You’ve kind of got to take the best of the old and adapt it with new technology and put it together with something that’s relevant for the boys but is also timeless,” David says. For example, Yawgoog added a merit badge on robotics this year and will look into adding a merit badge on drones.

Any great Boy Scout camp needs great rangers to keep the camp in tip-top shape, and Yawgoog, no surprise, has had its fair share. “For people to have the sight to continue with the camp and to keep buying land… is remarkable,” says Paul Forbes, who became Yawgoog’s ranger in 1996 and still works with the camp. “The right people have always been there to keep the camp on the right path.”

Albert Gunther, who worked for Yawgoog for more than 36 years, was one of these great rangers who helped build and maintain the camp. In 1962, three years after Albert had been hired as ranger, Red Sox legend Ted Williams visited the camp and was immensely impressed; he was so impressed, in fact, that he offered Albert a job to work with him. Luckily for Yawgoog, Albert declined.

The camp has also produced several famous alumni, including Governor Bruce Sundlun and Senator John Chafee who shared a special relationship thanks to a near-death experience Sundlun faced at camp in the 1930s.

“Governor Sundlun fell through the ice and Senator Chafee saved him with a hockey stick,” David explains. “The governor always said that the reason why Senator Chafee was able to save him was that he had paid attention to the life saving classes and knew exactly what to do.”

Although the camp will celebrate its accomplishments this summer and will continue to do so next summer, the children attending Yawgoog has been the camp’s primary focus.

“The camp is just trying to provide the best possible experience for the boys that come through every week,” David says.