Two area Boy Scouts advance in rank
Life Scout Matthew Steinkamp and Star Scout Daniel Nagel, two Boy Scouts from Troop 260 in Centralia, advanced into the Rank of Minisimo in the Rock River Ember of the Southern Illinois Firecrafter Organization at the 2022 Fall Ritual held Nov. 4–6, 2022 at the Pine Ridge Scout Reservation in Makanda, Illinois.
Minisino is a Miami Indian word for “tried and proven” and is a rank that is earned by demonstrating the qualities of friendship, leadership, and service to Firecrafter and Scouting.
Firecrafter is a service organization that serves Scouting in the Crossroads of America Council. The roots of Firecrafter now extend a full century into the fertile soil of the Scouting movement in the Midwest. Firecrafter predates the Order of the Arrow. Firecrafter started in the Crossroads of America Council of Indianapolis in 1920 and came west to Illinois in 1935 in the Lincoln Trails Council of Decatur. Firecrafter came to southern Illinois and established Rock River Ember in the Black Gold District of the Okaw Valley Council in the 1960s and has remained the regional standard bearer for honor camping societies since. At present six Troops in Black Gold District maintain membership ties to Rock River Ember and Southern Illinois Firecrafter.
Southern Illinois Firecrafter is a merit-based organization that accepts all Scouting candidates for ritual who meet requirements. Southern Illinois Firecrafter is growing with the expansion of Greater St. Louis Area Council by promoting 21st century outdoor skills in accordance with the National Outdoor Awards. As such, Southern Illinois Firecrafter is establishing itself as a training clearinghouse for “Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics” and “Wilderness and Remote First Aid.”
The purpose of Firecrafter is to build on the principles of friendship, leadership and service in support of Scouting. In direct pursuit of the principles and ideals of Scouting, Firecrafter was created for and dedicated to service to all phases of that movement. Firecrafter and each individual Firecrafter is to be directed toward the observance of the following creed: They believe that leadership ought to be fostered and its high trusts and responsibilities cultivated; they believe that a Scout becomes a better Scout when he/she exhibits unselfish friendship to others; they believe that Firecrafter’s service to Scouting aids both the Firecrafter and every scout in building better character and citizenship.
Southern Illinois Firecrafter has four ranks: Camper, Woodsman, Firecrafter, and Minisino. Camper and Woodsman emphasize the outdoor skills and leadership required of Scouts through Second Class Scouts. Firecrafter is the culmination of Scouts mastery of the skills required of a First Class Scout, with the cap stone experience of the Firecrafter Ritual. Minisino is a Miami Indian word for “tried and proven” and is a rank that is earned by demonstrating the qualities of friendship, leadership, and service to Firecrafter and Scouting. Finally, Southern Illinois Firecrafter has an honorarium for veteran Minisino dubbed The Royal Order of Hi-Bark.
Pictured above is Daniel Nagel and Matthew Steinkamp
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