Shawnee Lodge 109
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Shawnee Lodge 109 was formed in 1938, just two years after the formation of Katinonkwat Lodge in the Central Ohio Council. There can be little doubt that it was a close connection between the two councils, including scouts from Scioto Area Council attending summer camp at Camp Lazarus, which led to the rapid spread. The first induction was performed in July 1938 at Camp Oyo by members of Katinonkwat Lodge.
Like its northern neighbor, many of the initial members of Shawnee Lodge had already been inducted into the Order of the White Swastika at Camp Oyo or Camp Lazarus. They, together with those scouts inducted in 1938, formed the original nucleus of the lodge.
Shawnee Lodge was named for the Shawnee tribe of Indians who once lived in the area. Its totem was a deer, though often only the head was used on their patches and other designs. Throughout its history, the lodge has been an integral part of Camp Oyo, which has remained continuously open for nearly a century now.
From 1938 to 1944, Shawnee Lodge also maintained a chapter based out of Camp Mingo, located west of Chillicothe. In 1944, that area split away from the Scioto Area Council to form the Chief Logan Area Council. Two years later, with the assistance of their Brothers from Shawnee, a new lodge was formed at Camp Mingo: Maka-Ina Lodge 350.
In addition to the Order of the Arrow, Camp Oyo continued to use another honor camper system that had been in place for years, the Motawk. The Motawk program was aimed primarily at younger campers, and for several years earning Motawk recognition was a prerequisite to be considered for the OA in Shawnee Lodge.
Shawnee inducted its first Vigil Honor member, Dave West, in 1955.
Patrick Leonard served as the Area 4-C Chief in 1963.
Shawnee hosted the Area 4-G Conclave in 1972 and EC-6A Section Conclave in 1977 and 1987, all at Camp Oyo.
Shawnee Lodge merged with Katinonkwat and Maka-Ina on January 1, 1996, to form Tecumseh Lodge.
Last updated 20 April 2021