Tichora Lodge #146 was the historical Order of the Arrow (OA) lodge serving the Four Lakes Council in the Madison, Wisconsin area from 1939 to 2006.

Key Details & History

• Merger: In 2006, Tichora Lodge merged with Chemokemon Lodge (Sinnissippi Council) following the consolidation of their respective councils into the Glacier's Edge Council.

• Successor: The current active OA lodge for the Madison area is Bigfoot Lodge #620.

• Camps: The lodge primarily operated out of Camp Tichora (Green Lake, WI) and Camp Castle Rock (Mauston, WI).

Camp Tichora located on the northern shore of Green Lake, Wisconsin, has a rich history spanning over a century, evolving from a Boy Scout retreat to a religious camp and finally a public nature conservancy.

Historical Timeline

• 1920s – 1958: Boy Scout Era. Originally established as a camp for the Boy Scouts of America, it served as a summer destination for scouts in the Four Lakes Council. During this period, scouts literally "drenched out" access to the water by hand to create rowing paths.

• 1959 – 2017: Camp Grow. After the scouts sold the land in 1959, it became Camp Grow, a religious summer camp owned by the American Baptist Church of Metro Chicago. For nearly 60 years, it hosted generations of youth for church-affiliated retreats and outdoor activities.

• 2017 – Present: Tichora Conservancy. When the land was put up for sale in 2017, there was significant local concern about residential development. The Green Lake Conservancy raised over $2 million in just four months to purchase the property, supported by a matching $1.8 million grant from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

Legacy and Name

• Etymology: The name "Tichora" is believed to be derived from the Ho-Chunk or Native American word "Tee-charrah" (or Day-chee-ra), meaning "lodge or dwelling of the lake".

• Current Use: Today, the site is known as the Tichora Conservancy. Most camp buildings have been removed to restore the land to its natural state, providing public access for hiking, bird watching, and snowshoeing.

Camp Castle Rock, now known as the Ed Bryant Scout Reservation is located on the Castle Rock Flowage near Mauston, Wisconsin, and has served as a Four Lakes Council Scouting hub since at least 1959. The site was developed in the late 1950s for $50,000, including a 214-acre plot with a workshop, storage, and specialized camping facilities.

Key historical points include:

• Establishment: The Four Lakes Council, headquartered in Madison, began building the camp in 1959.

• Activities: The site was used for summer camps in the 1960s, where scouts, including Troop 34 from Madison, earned the Order of the Arrow.

• Modern Era: It is now known as the Ed Bryant Scout Reservation and remains a key facility for Scouting America in Wisconsin.

• Location: Situated on the Castle Rock Flowage, it is separate from the geological "Castle Rock" landmark in Grant County.

Source = Google