Wolfeboro Pioneers Patches

The Camp Wolfeboro Pioneers honor society was founded in 1929 and the group continues today at Camp Wolfeboro in the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council.  Youth members are elected by scouts in camp and Adults/staff candidates are elected by society members. Methods of elections have changed through the years. Youth must be at least First Class, have spent one week in camp the previous year and have held a unit leadership position. Candidates are called out on Friday night then undergo an overnight induction process. There are no ranks or levels within the group but officers are elected.  The Camp Wolfeboro Pioneers coexist with The Order of the Arrow. The Pioneers focus on Camp Wolfeboro and the OA looks over the other three council camps. 

Before camp opened in 1929 the Camp Director Fred A. Flanders called a meeting with all the members of the 1928 summer camp present.  A discussion took place regarding the ways and means of impressing the new scouts with certain ideals and standards of camping.  Consequently, the Wolfboro Pioneers were established at this meeting.  During the 1929 season, only those scouts who attended the first camp in 1928 could become members of the Pioneers.  No others were initiated into the organization.  In the first year of this organization, the focus of the Pioneers was service projects to improve Camp Wolfboro.  The big project for the Pioneers during 1929 was laying out camp trails.  Under the direction of staff member Dick Leonard (Hike Master), many of Wolfboro's original trails were laid out (on the North side of the Stanislaus River, the reader will be reminded of, because Camp Baxter still operated on the South bank at that time).

At the first Wolfboro Pioneers meeting in 1930, the members realized that some steps would have to be taken regarding membership if the organization was to continue.  Only a few scouts from 1928 were present but they worked out the requirements for membership in the Wolfboro Pioneers.

1. The scout must have been at Wolfboro for at least two weeks of a previous year.

2. The scout must have demonstrated some form of leadership.

3. The scout must be ready to help lesser informed scouts.

4. The Scout must have done an act of service to make Wolfboro a better camp.

Two thoughts seemed to run through the discussion of membership requirement.  First, all Pioneers should work to make Wolfboro a better camp; and second, the Wolfeboro Pioneers should inspire new scouts to want to come to camp again.

During the summer of 1930 Pioneers built an entrance and gate to the camp grounds, and Mr. S.J. "Sim" Leland, Scoutmaster of Troop 28 (Berkeley) and two Pioneer scouts constructed the first sundial atop Pioneer Rock, and dedicated it to the the eight people who served as the first camp staff of 1928.  A new sundial on permanent mounting was added in 1935.

At a 1938 meeting of the Wolfboro Pioneers it was suggested that the organization's rules and regulations be revised.  Through the leadership and efforts of Pioneer President Bob Read, the Purpose and Creed were drafted and approved by the membership.  They have stayed virtually unchanged, and currently are as follows:

 The Purpose of the Wolfeboro Pioneers

It is the purpose of the Wolfeboro Pioneers to:

1. Perpetuate high standards of camping and Scouting at Camp Wolfeboro.

2. Advise and assist new Scouts and make their stay at Wolfeboro a happy one.

3. Promote good fellowship and good sportsmanship in all activities.

4. Initiate and complete such projects as will make Wolfeboro a better camp (with camp director approval).

5. Assist in receiving and conducting visitors about camp.

6. Encourage camping at Wolfeboro when at home and especially in my own troop.

Wolfboro Pioneers Lone Tree, c.1944 - 1947

There is no mention of starting the Pioneer patch.  However evidence points to the use of this design for the Wolfboro Pioneers before it was used as the regular attendance camper patch, perhaps as early as 1944 when the first embroidered Camp Wolfboro patches were available for attendees.

In 1948 the spelling of Wolfboro was changed to Wolfeboro to honor Mr. Charles De Wolf of Richmond, CA for his contributions and organizing construction of the new Mess Hall at Camp Wolfboro in 1935 - 1938, and acquisition of new council camp properties elsewhere.  Mr. Charles De Wolf was a long time Scout Commissioner in the Berkeley - Albany area, and was an early enthusiastic supporter and work party organizer at Camp Wolfboro.  Therefore the patches were redesigned for the summer of 1948, and the shape of the tree changed for the first time (of many to come).

This patch features a granite outcropping on the north wall of the valley that contains Camp Wolfeboro known as Pioneer Point.  In the foreground is a tall evergreen tree.  It is the opinion of Tom Parsons and Sean Martin that the view was from the location of the original bathroom named  "Twin Six", of which only the concrete steps remain.

The author of this web site would like more information on who designed this patch.

The Type 1 dome has a flat top and the horizon to the right to the tree is a smooth slope.

The Type 2 dome has a knob on top and the horizon to the right to the tree has two distinct knobs.

The Type 3 dome has a knob on top and the blue horizon to the right of the tree is rounded. The border around lettering is very narrow, and the merrowing is very light blue.

Type 4 adds the BSA Fleur-de-Lis in black on both sides.

With the addition of "Silverado" in 1992, the Fleur-de-lis became red.  The dome two equal humps, and the right horizon is smooth.

The red Fleur-de-lis and lettering are reduced in size.  The dome's two equal humps are now pointed peaks, and the right horizon is concave.  The tree is also significantly updated with simplified branches.

In May 2021 the author designed three different Wolfeboro Pioneers patches.  This was needed to reflect the new name of Golden Gate Area Council. 

Pioneers 75th (1929 - 2004)

Pioneers 90th (1929 - 2019)

Given to all campers as the official camp patch for 2019 and merrowed in Wolfeboro Pioneers blue.

Wolfeboro Pioneers GGAC Sign Project (2021)

In 2021 the author painted the new round Wolfeboro Pioneers sign for the entrance to camp.  This was needed to reflect the new name of Golden Gate Area Council.
To see a photo album of this project, visit the Camp Wolfeboro Site on Shutterfly.