Scouting started in the Potawatomi Area Council area in about 1926. At that time, local Boy Scout troops were part of Indian Trails Council, based in Janesville, Wisconsin. In 1929 the Potawatomi Area Council was formed with headquarters based in Waukesha. The first summer camp was held at Moose Lake and had a camp period of four weeks. It was at this camp that service became an important part of the Scouting program. During this time, scouts were given a patch that recognized for their extra effort and service toward the camp and its program. The honor camper society at that time was called the “Order of the Links.” At the end of each camp period, members were selected by their peers to enter into the society and had to go through an initiation ceremony. When membership was attained, members wore a single chain link on their scout uniform showing their membership to the society. With the coming of the early 1930’s, and a lack of knowledge on the part of the council regarding Ku-Ni-Eh, Ku-Ni-Eh gradually took over as the honor camper society. Ku-Ni-Eh offered more secret rituals, local clans, dedication to the Scouting program, promotion of camping, and an embroidered patch worn on the right sleeve of the Scout uniform. Ku-Ni-Eh was a very widespread honor camper society that was created by the Cincinnati Area Council in Ohio. The Potawatomi Area Council, however, removed themself from the Ku-Ni-Eh prior to 1945. Because of this, the council decided to develop their own Lodge in the Order of the Arrow, even though Ku-Ni-Eh had far greater membership than the Order of the Arrow at the time. The National BSA Council finally banned the Ku-Ni-Eh in 1948. In late 1943 and early 1944 Charles W. Woodson, Potawatomi Area Council Executive, submitted an application for a lodge charter and it was approved by the National OA Council on October 21, 1944, with the number 280 being designated for the Potawatomi Area Lodge. National Council expressed concern over the name Potawatomi Area Lodge because of the similarity between the spelling of the Potawatome Lodge #63 of Bloomington, Illinois and the Potawattomi Lodge #122 of Chicago Heights, Illinois. Dr. Vince Batha, a faculty member of Carroll College, suggested the name “Wag-O-Shag”, which was derived from the word “Waugooshance”. Waugooshance, in the tongue of the Potawatomi Indians 2 meant “little foxes”. At that time, early 1800’s, many foxes inhabited the area. They served as the totem of the local Indian tribe known as the Fox Indians. Waugooshance was also a favorite name with the native Indians for crooked rivers, whose winding resembled the eccentric trail of the cunning animals whose name they bore. Also fitting was that the new lodge would share it’s name with, the Fox River, a large river that runs through Waukesha. Wag-O-Shag lodge participated with Mikano Lodge 231 until it became fully operational. The first lodge tapout took place during summer camp periods in 1945 at Indian Mound Reservation. Indian Mound Reservation was located in Potawatomi council’s territory in Oconomowoc and used by Milwaukee County council and Potawatomi Area council. During that summer, twelve senior scouts and adults were tapped out. Their Ordeal was then completed while still in camp. The following year, Potawatomi council purchased a chunk of farmland in Fond du Lac County. In 1946, this new property, named Camp Long Lake, held its first summer camp program and, from there on, all Wag-O-Shag ceremonies were held there. At that first callout, all current Ku-Ni-Eh members were officially made Wag-O-Shag members. At that time, all Order of the Arrow ceremonies were held at its secret campfire location off the camp property. This campfire location was eventually completed with a concrete altar. In November 1948, a large chunk of Waukesha limestone with Wag-O-Shag blasted thereon was sent to the Vermont home of E. Urner Goodman. The stone was used along with those from other lodges to build a fireplace in the home of Mr. Goodman, who had founded the Order of the Arrow in 1915. The stone is still on the fireplace which is on display in the home.

The Potawatomi Area Council (headquartered in Waukesha, WI) primarily uses Camp Long Lake Scout Reservation (St. Cloud, WI), which they have owned and operated since 1946 for summer camps and year-round activities. Historically, the council also utilized Indian Mound Scout Reservation (Summit, WI) until its sale in 2023.

Primary Camp

• Camp Long Lake Scout Reservation: Located in the Kettle Moraine State Forest near Campbellsport/St. Cloud, this 200+ acre site offers shooting sports, watercraft, climbing, and Scout craft.

Former/Historic Camps

• Indian Mound Scout Reservation: A 200+ acre property that operated for over a century, offering camping on the southern shore of Silver Lake.

• Spirit Isle/Treasure House Cabin: Historical records indicate early use of a cabin on an island in "Scout Lake" (formerly Weyker's Lake)

Sources:

Wag-O-Shag Lodge #280 History Book
Google