Some council camps boast more than a century in operation, a few dating back to the 1910s, just a few years after Scouting America incorporated. This week, Camp Tahquitz, a Long Beach Area Council camp, adds its name to that list of camps that have hit the 100-year mark. The camp’s all-volunteer staff, nicknamed the “Tahquitz Community,” will also celebrate its centennial anniversary.
The council will celebrate with an anniversary event on June 28, capping off the first week of summer camp. Organizers have planned a barbecue dinner, a campfire and open program areas so visitors can check out everything the camp has to offer, including equestrian trail rides, shooting sports and Scoutcraft. The event is open to the public.
Camp’s history
On May 21, 1925, five acres were donated to the Long Beach Council to create a mountain camp in Idyllwild, Calif., in the San Jacinto Mountains. That December, the first winter camp was held, and the next year, campers arrived for the first summer camp.
Over time, small parcels of land were added so that by 1944, the camp property had grown to 92 acres. The demand called for even greater expansion. So, in 1957, the Long Beach Area Council purchased 640 acres farther north in the San Bernardino Mountains and moved the camp there a couple of years later. During the 1960s, Camp Tahquitz had eight weeks of summer camp, accommodating about 2,000 Scouts each summer.
The camp added a climbing tower in 1972, becoming one of the first camps nationally to offer one. Tahquitz added a wrangler program in 1992.
Some of the log cabins on-site date back to the 1880s, all of which are still used today. One of them is the trading post cabin, which was completely renovated in 2019.
Today, many troops from Central and Southern California, Nevada and Arizona frequent Camp Tahquitz, most of which come from out-of-council units. In addition to summer camp, Tahquitz is home to a spring camporee, Cub Scout campouts and plenty of weekend camping by local Scout troops throughout the year.
The community
On Dec. 20, the Long Beach Area Council will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the inception of the camp’s staff. Originally called the “Tribe of Tahquitz,” the staff has always been volunteers. Some of the alumni have spanned generations from the same family.
The tribe began at the first winter camp as 15 honor campers worked to promote and staff the camp. Since then, thousands of staff members have served at Camp Tahquitz.
In 2020, the tribe was renamed the “Tahquitz Community.” The group has served as an honor society for the local council, deeply connected in service of the camp.
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