Firecrafter - Firecrafter Ritual

Firecrafter Ritual

The Ritual is, simply put, a period of testing, a period of reflection, and a period of induction. In keeping with the standards of the Boy Scouts of America, the Ritual is safeguarded and not secret, and there is nothing contained therein that would challenge a young man's ideas or place him in danger or harm. Hazing is not permitted or tolerated during any part of Firecrafter's program.

After the creation of the Council Committee in the early 1960s, it has become tradition to hold two rituals every summer; The Mid-Summer Ritual which usually lands in July and the Grand Ritual which is held in mid to late August. The Ritual locations rotate between the six Council camps (Krietenstein, Bear Creek, Belzer, Kikthawenund, Ransburg and Red Wing). A formal rotation is no longer in existence because of the introduction of the Wabash Valley Council, service needs at certain camps, size of camps and scheduling conflicts with other groups. There are some general rules that have developed though. Belzer is the site for the Grand every 5 years on the significant Anniversaries. In the past, Red Wing and Bear Creek have served as primary locations for the Mid-Summer Ritual because they do not interfere with summer camp activities at the camp, though Belzer was the site for the Mid-Summer Ritual in 2010. Should the Council Committee decide to host the Mid-Summer Ritual at one of the operating summer camps, portions of the Ritual are held in a part of camp widely secluded from campers that weekend.

The Mid-Summer Ritual is generally the "dress run" for the larger Grand Ritual in August. Usually less than seventy-five candidates participate in the Mid-Summer Ritual, with the bulk of candidates (sometimes well over a hundred and eighty) participating at the Grand Ritual.

Officers are also elected at the Grand Ritual. Adult Alumni Association officers are elected on Friday night at the Alumni meeting, with youth officers elected on Sunday morning at the Council Committee meeting.