By Eric Summerlin
In 1994, the Chickasaw and Delta Councils merged into one council. During a joint fall fellowship between the two councils’ lodges (Chickasah and Koi Hatachie), Ahoalan-Nachpikin Lodge was formed. During the fellowship, the two lodges elected their lodge executive committee (LEC), and later the LEC began developing the new lodge at the Chickasaw Council Office.
After proposing multiple names, the newly elected LEC decided to name their lodge Ahoalan-Nachpikin – this means “We Who Love the Outdoors.” These Arrowmen are not outdoorsmen in name only. Ahoalan-Nachpikin has completed several service projects related to outdoor locations. Some of these projects include: construction of tents and campsites at their council camps (Kia Kima, Currier, Tallaha and Sardis), making a new fire ring at Kia Kima, conducting road maintenance at Currier and preparing campsites at Sardis. These service projects occur throughout the year, but the lodge is very active at camp in the summertime. During the summer, Ahoalan-Nachpikin Lodge conducts fellowships, calling-out ceremonies, and Brotherhood Ceremonies at Camps Tallaha and Kia Kima.
This commitment to service at their council camps stems from a history of the same. Koi Hatachie Lodge, Ahoalan-Nachpikin’s predecessor, had been a constant source of cheerful service at Camp Tallaha since 1925. The lodge built a bridge between the dining hall and conference center, docks at the waterfront and even the Chief’s Lodge at Camp Tallaha. Chickasah Lodge, Ahoalan-Nachpikin’s other predecessor, also upheld this tradition of service at Camps Currier and Kia Kima. Some of its projects include the 1989 reconstruction of the campfire arena at Kia Kima and the provision of 12 canoes and 6 rowboats for the camp’s waterfront program.
Another outstanding example of Ahoalan-Nachpikin’s commitment to the outdoors is its inventive camp promotions program. The lodge has several camp promotion efforts, including a Where-To-Go-Camping Guidebook for troops, planned camp promotion visits to every troop in the council and sponsoring promotional brochures for Camps Tallaha and Kia Kima. Additionally, its annual Scoutmaster camp promotion planning dinner is especially outstanding. The lodge hosts a dinner for all of the council Scoutmasters to kick off the camp promotion effort each year.
For their lodge’s totem, the Ahoalan-Nachpikin LEC decided on the black bear. The bear is featured on lodge flaps Ahoalan-Nachpikin Lodge has created for several different occasions, including NOAC, the 2013 National Scout Jamboree, and conclave contingents. The lodge has many other memorabilia items as well, including summer camp patches, fellowship patches and mini-sashes. Some of their miscellaneous items include lodge stickers, pens, key chains, mouse pads, lanyards, coffee mugs and drinking jars. These items help to ingrain the spirit of the lodge in the daily life of their Arrowmen.
For the coming century, Ahoalan-Nachpikin Lodge’s Arrowmen look forward to continuing to give service to their council and community. These Arrowmen truly love the outdoors, and plan on continuing their legacy by spreading their camping promotion efforts and providing service to their camps over the course of the OA’s second century of service!