Camp John Mensinger Patch Segments
Toloma Lodge, Order of the Arrow Nights of Camping
Greater Yosemite Council Camp Service Patch
San Francisco Bay Area Council Rim of the Bay
Historic 49'er Trail Gold Rush

The patches listed above are awarded by the organizations, usually Scouting organizations, after completing the prescribed requirements for each patch. The unit leader needs to fill out the appropriate form and send it to the awarding organization along with the listed fees. forms for most of these patches are available on this web site by clicking on the form title in the text. They should be within reasonable driving distance.

For each year of attendance at Camp Mensinger, Boy Scouts and leaders will receive a Camp Mensinger patch segment named after historical lumbering terms. To earn the Camp Mensinger patch segments you must spend the entire week in camp and complete the following requirements.

Camp Mensinger Patch is earned when you spend the entire week in camp in your first year.

Whistle Punk (first-year award):

1. Learn the Camp Mensinger song.
2. Participate in the Woodsman Program and earn 1 merit badge, or earn 2 merit badges.
3. Participate in 1 organized troop or camp hike.
4. Identify three constellations.
5. Participate in a troop or camp wide flag ceremony.
6. Contribute 1 hour to a camp-approved service project. Cannot be used for a merit badge.

Logger (second year-award):

1. Learn the Camp Mensinger song.
2. Earn 2 merit badges.
3. Participate in 2 organized Troop or camp hikes, or participate in 1 organized Troop hike and one camp hike.
4. Identify five constellations.
5. Participate in a troop or camp wide flag ceremony.
6. Contribute 1 hour to a camp-approved service project. Cannot be used for a merit badge.

High Climber (third-year award):

1. Learn the Camp Mensinger song.
2. Earn at least 3 merit badges or 2 merit badges and Paul Bunyan Woodsman.
3. Participate in 2 organized Troop or camp hikes, or participate in 1 organized Troop or camp hike and one Soap Creek Pass High Adventure event: i.e. COPE or overnighter (must be at least 13 and First Class).
4. Contribute 2 hours to a camp-approved service project. Cannot be used for a merit badge.

Bull of the Woods (fourth-year award):

1. Learn the Camp Mensinger song.
2. Earn at least 3 merit badges or BSA Lifeguard.
3. Organize and lead a Troop hike, Troop campfire, Logger’s Breakfast, or other activity approved by your Scoutmaster.
4. Participate in at least one Soap Creek Pass High Adventure activity, (i.e. Canoe Trip, Overnight, etc.)
5. Teach at least one Tenderfoot to First Class skill to Scouts in your troop or help at least one hour in the Woodsman Program.
6. Lead and supervise at least 2 other Scouts in your troop for 2 hours in a camp-approved service project.

Awarded by the Toloma Lodge 64, Order of the Arrow, Greater Yosemite Council.

The center patch ($10.00 each) may be purchased by anyone through the Greater Yosemite Council Service Center and has no requirements. Rocker patches that can surround the center patch have requirements and must be purchased by the unit leader after filling out the proper form. There are two types of rockers, camp patches and nights of camping patches. Camp patches are earned by spending the required nights camping at each of the camps owned by the Greater Yosemite Council. These camps are Camp Mensinger (5 nights), Camp McConnell (2 nights), and Camp Isom (2 nights). Required nights must be during one visit to the camp. Scouts and Scouters can earn Nights of Camping rockers (25, 50, 75, and 100 nights) by camping that number of nights with the Scout unit. To purchase the rocker patches ($1.00 each) the unit leader must fill out the Nights of Camping Form and mail it to the Greater Yosemite Council Service Center at the address shown on the form.

Awarded by the Greater Yosemite Council.

The Greater Yosemite Council, BSA, has available a Camp Service Patch that registered youth and adults can earn. The patch can be earned by doing a total of three hours service at any of our camps or combination of camps. The patch is designed for a unit to earn as part of a short-term campout or week-end, or at a District/Council sponsored work day. There are four camps to choose from: Camp John Mensinger (located 25 miles east of Strawberry - projects can only be done May through October), Camp McConnell (located east of Livingston - projects may be done year round), and Camp Isom (located west of Patterson - projects can only be done in dry weather when the road is passable). To order use the Camp Service Patch form. You must contact the Boy Scout Service Center at 209-545-6320 to obtain prior approval and tour permit for the service project. Some projects require materials to be on hand. The cost of the patch is $1.00 each. The patch is worn in the temporary patch position, which is the right uniform shirt pocket.

The purpose of the RIM OF THE BAY patch program is to encourage hiking and to bring into the lives of our Scouts a "mountain top" experience. There are six Mountains that surround our area that you hike up. When you finish the first mountain you get a patch and a "rocker" with the name of the mountain. Rockers are awarded for each additional hike completed. All of these trips can be accomplished in a single day. There are camping sites at or near most if your plans include an overnight camp experience. For Boy Scouts, this activity can contribute to the Tenderfoot Rank, the Backpacking, Camping, and Hiking Merit Badges; and Forester, Geologist, Outdoorsman, and Traveler for Webelos. These hikes are not approved for Cub Scout use.

The California Gold Rush Historic 49'er Trail has been nationally approved by the B.S.A. for Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers, and family campers. Following are the requirements to earn the California Gold Rush Historic 49'er Trail patch

Visit Columbia State Historic Park and find the answers to the following questions:
(a) What sound does a good anvil make?
(b) What is the name Columbia's first fire engine?
(c) Where did fire engines get their water?
(d) How many years was Columbia's school used?
(e) Why did they have to stop using the school?

Visit any two of the following museums and answer the corresponding question. These museums are small, one requires an admission fee, the rest request donations, and all would like advance notice for large groups.

Amador County Museum
225 Church St., Jackson, CA 209-889-6386
10 am - 4 pm Wed. - Sun., closed Mon. & Tues.
Note: Working scale model of Kennedy mine runs on the half hour on weekends, by appointment weekdays.
(a) Whose diary documents the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill?

Calaveras County Historical Complex
Historic Main St., San Andreas, CA 209-754-1058
10 am - 4 pm daily
(b) What infamous criminal was jailed here?

Angels Camp Museum
753 S. Main St., Angels Camp, CA 209-736-2963
10 am to 4 pm daily March thru November
10 am to 4 pm weekends, January & February (closed December)
Entry fee reduced to 50 cents/ea. for Scouts
Note: Includes working scale model of Carson Hill stamp mill and many horse buggies
(c) How many stamps are in the model of the Carson Hill mine?

Tuolumne Company Museum and History Center
158 W. Bradford Ave., Sonora, CA 209-532-1317
10 am to 4 pm Sun. - Fri., 10:30 am to 3:30 pm Saturday
(d) What is the nickname for extremely high grade ore?

Northern Mariposa County Museum
10301 Highway 49, Coulterville, CA 209-878-3015
10 am to 4 pm Wed.-Sun., Mon. & Tue. by appointment
(e) What was the claim to fame of the rail line used by Whistling Billy?

Mariposa Museum and History Center
5119 Jesse St., Mariposa, CA 209-966-2924
10 am to 4:30 pm daily March thru October
10 am to 4 pm weekends November thru February
Note: A full size working stamp mill is on display. If you want to see it work, advanced reservations and a $30 fee are required.
(f) Name the process of using mercury to capture extremely fine gold.

Historic markers are located on roadsides, in parks or on buildings. They document cities, some long gone, historic buildings, and gold rush personalities. Read 5 and list their titles.

Name the 2 main methods of mining gold.

Do one hour of service at Columbia SHP, a museum you visit or somewhere in the Mother Lode (this should be pre-arranged).

Camp at least one night in the Mother Lode. (Cub Scouts may skip this requirement)