White Stag History Since 1933

From Gödöllõ, Hungary to Monterey, California

1907 1933 1941 1946 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1985 1987 1990 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

1907 | top

Baden-Powell chose Brownsea Island as the location to test his idea of "Scouting for Boys". Four patrols of boys were recruited from Boys Brigade of Winton, Poole and Bournemouth and the sons of his own friends.

1933 | top

Chief Scout of Hungary. Chief Scout of Hungary and the Chief of Staff for the jamboree Pal Teleki speaking at the 1933 World Jamboree held in Godollo, Hungary. He was Prime Minister twice, from 1919-1921 and 1939-1941.	Jamboree patch. Official patch of the Fourth World Jamboree held in Gödöllõ, Hungary. Four Scouters who would later play pivotal roles in founding White Stag attended, three from Hungry, and one from the U.S.
4th World Jamboree. Baden-Powell, founder of Scouting is on the left horse, and Graf (Count) Pal Teleki, the Chief Scout of Hungary and the Chief of Staff for the jamboree, is on the second horse from the right.
American contingent. Scouts from the Boy Scouts of America moving to a presentation of colors during the 4th World Jamboree.

The Fourth World Jamboree was held in Gödöllõ, Hungary. There were 25,792 Scouts in camp.

A young Scout was kneeling by his campfire when three uniformed men rode up on horseback: Count Pal Teleki, the Chief Scout of Hungary and the Chief of Staff for the jamboree; General Kisbarnaki Ferenc Farkas, a general staff officer of the Hungarian Royal Army; and Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the British hero of the Boer War and Chief Scout of the World. The men introduced themselves to the Scout and inspected his camp. They complimented him on a job well done and rode on. Later on, that Scout heard the closing address from the Chief Scout of the World, General Lord Robert Baden Powell.

The Scout was impressed by the caliber and bearing of the three officers and resolved that he too would one day serve as a leader in the military. The young man's name was Béla Bánáthy.

The daily Jamboree paper was printed in Hungarian, English, French and German with contributions in other languages. The Jamboree badge: the "Miraculous Stag" of Hungary.

At the conclusion of the Jamboree, Baden-Powell speaks to the assembled Scouts:

"Each one of you wears the badge of the White Stag...I want you to treasure that badge when you go from here and remember that it has its message and meaning for you.

"Hunters of old pursued the miraculous stag, not because they expected to kill it, but because it led them on in the joy of the chase to new trials and fresh adventures, and to capture happiness. You may look on that White Stag as the pure spirit of Scouting, springing forward and upward, ever leading you onward and upward to leap over difficulties, to face new adventures in your active pursuit of the higher aims of Scouting--aims which bring you happiness.

"These aims are to do you duty to God, to your country, and to your fellow man by carrying out the Scout Law In that way, each of you will help to bring about God's Kingdom upon earth--the reign of peace and good will." [3]

Paul Ferenc Sujan, Béla Bánáthy, and Joseph Szentkiralyi (later Anglicized as St. Clair), three Scouts from Hungary, and R. Maurice Tripp, from the United States, were in attendance. Béla and Joe briefly met.

His troop spent many weeks carving a massive, intricate gateway to their sub-camp. He looked forward to meeting, he hoped upon hope, the Chief Scout, Lord Robert Baden-Powell, himself. Béla reports:

The highlight of the Jamboree for me was meeting Baden-Powell, the Chief Scout of the World. One day, he visited our camp with the Chief Scout of Hungary, Count Paul Teleki (who later became our Prime Minister), and the chief of the camp staff, 'Vitez'[4] Kisbarnaki Ferenc Farkas, a general staff officer of the Hungarian Royal Army. A few years later he became the commander of the Royal Ludovika Akademia (when I was a student there). In the 1940s, he became the Chief Scout of Hungary. (I was serving on his staff as head of national junior leadership training.)

Baden-Powell also tastes some of Paul Sujan's stew. All four — Paul Sujan, Béla Bánáthy, Joe St. Clair, and R. Maurice Tripp — will much later meet and play key roles in what will be called "White Stag Youth Leadership Development."

1941-44 | top

Six years after the Jamboree, the United States entered the Second World War on December 8. 1941. Hungarian Joseph Szentkiralyi (who later Anglicized his name as St. Clair) and his family had arrived in the United States during 1939. From 1939-1941, Joe was a Reference Librarian in the Hungarian Reference Library in New York City. With the declaration of war, the family was deported on May 7th, 1942 back to Hungary as undesirable aliens. Arriving home, Joe found Hungary was not yet officially at war and striving to maintain its independence from Germany.

Béla Bánáthy was accepted as a candidate officer in the Hungarian Army. During two tours to the Russian front as an armored infantry officer, he was severely wounded. In late 1942 he returned to his bride of one year, Eva, and to the military officers academy, Royal Ludovika Akademia, now led by Commandant General Farkas. The General called for volunteers to organize a Scout Troop for the young men, 19 years and older, and Béla responded. The General and Béla renewed their acquaintance, and Béla found a passion in training the young men in officer's leadership skills. Béla became Director of Leadership Development at the Academy of the Hungarian Boy Scout Association. After the Germans entered Hungary and the related suicide of the Hungarian Prime Minister Pal Teleki, General Farkas became Chief Scout of Hungary.

Joseph Szentkiralyi, as a civilian English and history instructor, endured difficult times. In March 1943 the United States began strategic bombing operations in Europe. Because he spoke English, Joe was assigned to monitor the young American crew members of the first B-17 bomber to crash land intact inside Hungary. He refused, under the Geneva Convention, to reveal sensitive information the crew disclosed to him. This so angered the military authorities that they initiated Court Martial proceedings against him. He escaped and hid from the authorities at times in the very hazardous upper floors of apartment buildings during a period of frequent bombing raids, knowing that they would be looking for him in the bomb shelters, where everyone else stayed. During one raid, a 500 pound bomb crashed through the building he was hiding in, landing on the floor above Joe, but did not explode.

1943 | top

On October 17, 1943, a statue of a Boy Scout was erected in Gödöllõ, Hungary on the tenth anniversary of the 1933 World Jamboree. The work of the sculptor Lõrinc Siklôdy was located across from the Guard Barracks.

1944-56 | top

In late 1944, the Russians advanced through eastern Hungary towards Budapest. As an Hungarian officer, Bánáthy knew the reputations of the ruthless Russiand and that he would likely be executed if captured. Bánáthy's mentor General Kisbarnaki Ferenc Farkas had been Commander of the Hungarian VI Army Corps. From 26 July - 1 Aug. 1944, he was temporarily commander of the reconstituted but extremely weak Hungarian First Army. In October 13, 1944 General Farkas was named commander of the Pest bridgehead and then Government Commissioner for Evacuation. Béla was able to get his wife Eva, one year old son Béla and two-week old son Laszlo out of Budapest. Bánáthy's family, along with General Farkas and other officers and their families, found shelter at first in farmhouses, and later in bunkers, caves, and trenches.

Joseph Szentkiralyi and his family were not as fortunate. After ongoing U.S. bombing, Budapest was encircled by the Russians on December 29, 1944. During the next 45 days, 80 percent of Budapest's buildings were destroyed or damaged. About 40,000 civilians were killed. Joe cared for his family and friends who sought refuge in his apartment building's bomb shelter during the terrible six-week long Soviet Siege of Budapest. Joe, along with others, risked their lives by leaving the bomb shelters to butcher frozen horse carcasses in the streets in order to prevent starvation — one of many challenges they faced in order to help keep their families alive. At the end, daily rations were comprised of melted snow, horsemeat, and 150 grams of bread.

Once the Germans were defeated, Russian forces occupied Hungary and Budapest. The Russian soldiers stole virtually everthing that wasn't nailed down, raped tens of thousands of women, and executed more than 40,000 civilians. Joe St. Clair, who spoke Hungarian, German, and English, was later employed as a translator and information officer by the American Legation in Budapest, read the news bulletins that came to the American press attaché and knew that the western nations were slowly giving up Central Europe to the Soviets. He knew that this would not bode well for him or anyone else having links with the United States. Joe once again found himself a wanted man — this time by the Communists. People began disappearing and his suspicions grew when a friend at the Embassy failed to show up for work one day. Shortly thereafter, he found a note on his desk that read, "You are next." With the help of the Americans, Joe immediately fled Hungary. His family followed him to Switzerland a short time later, and in 1948 they arrived in the U.S.

In Austria, Béla and his wife had sons Robert and Tibor. In 1947, with food very scarce, Eva's twin sister traveled from Budapest to take 2 year old Béla and 4 year old Lazslo to live with Eva's older sister in Budapest. The Pallendall family owned a shop and had more money than most, and could afford more food in the scarce post-WWII economy. They intended to return the two boys the next year. Béla, Eva and their two younger sons lived for five years in a 6'x10' room in a barracks, subsisting on 600-calories per person per day. Béla traded for milk to give his boys enough protein.

During 1947, Bánáthy was named the Hungarian Scout Commissioner for Austria and led the first Hungarian Scoutmasters Training Camp. He worked closely with his former commanding officer, Kisbarnaki Ferenc Farkas. They were eventually able to move to another camp, near a Marshall Plan warehouse, where Béla began unloading sacks of wheat from railroad cars. Bánáthy later worked in the statistical office of the warehouse. He gradually assumed more responsibility until he was ordained by the World Council of Churches and became minister for youth among Hungarian refugees. He was also selected as the President of the Collegium Hungaricum, a school for refugees, at Zell am See near Saalfelden, Austria.

In 1948 the Communist forces completed their political takeover of Hungary and suppressed Scouting. The statue of the Boy Scout at Gödöllõ commemorating the Fourth World Jamboree was removed. With the advent of the Cold War, the Communist Hungarian government closed the Hungarian-Austrian border. Robert and Tibor Bánáthy remained in Hungary for nine more years.

In 1951, Ben Petersen of Chular supervised construction of a road into what would become Pico Blanco Scout Reservation, the future home of White Stag. Upon arrival at the end of the nearly completed road, at what is now the current location of the old ranger's home and warehouse area, stepped from his truck into a wasp nest. He was stung so badly it took him three days before he could drive out for assistance. Fran would later play an important role in White Stag's growth.

In January 1951, the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago sponsored Béla and the family as immigrants to the United States. Leaving their sons in Hungary, Béla worked nights, 60 hours a week, shoveling coal into a furnace in the cellar of a dormitory, studying English from a book. His wife Eva found a job in a factory.

Meanwhile General Farkas visited the United States and his former adversaries, the United States Army. He recommended that they look up a young man named Béla Bánáthy as a Hungarian language instructor. Béla was invited to teach at the U.S. government's Army Language School in Monterey, California. Béla accepted the job at the Army Language School, moving to Monterey in June 1951.

In Monterey, Béla met the founder of the Hungarian Department, Joseph Szentkiralyi (Americanized as St. Clair), and they renewed their acquaintance from the 1933 World Jamboree. Coincidentally, Béla's and Joe's wives rediscovered a girlhood friendship from Budapest.

In 1956, having gained American citizenship, Béla uses the offices of his senator, the U.S. Legation in Hungary, and the influence of the World Council of Churches to finally bring sons Béla and Laszlo from Hungary, behind the Iron Curtain, to America.

In that same year Paul Ferenc Sujan joined the faculty of the Army Language School. As the three immigrant men become involved in American Scouting, they meet Maury Tripp and a fifth Scouter, Fran Petersen.

1957-58 | top

Béla Bánáthy continues his interest in leadership development and organizes an experimental troop consisting of two patrols for the purpose of trying out a leadership development program conceived by him. Béla takes one patrol to camp in 1957 and tested his idea that would become White Stag with two patrols and John Chiorini as SPL in 1958. He was Chairman of the Leadership Training Committee of the Monterey Bay Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. This initial experiment takes place at the Pico Blanco Boy Scout Reservation, in summer 1958, which will remain the site of the program through 1978. The "White Stag" is chosen by Béla as the symbol of the program.

1959 | top

Encouraged by the success of this experiment and because of the lack of adequate official intensive and long-range junior leader training program, the Monterey Bay Area Council decides to use Béla's design as a council-wide program. On June 8, 1956, the program was christened "White Stag" and formally organized. The first full-scale program takes place in the summer of 1959 with Béla as Scoutmaster, Fran Petersen as Assistant Scoutmaster (Training), an adult staff of eight and a youth staff of 13, with John Chiorini as the Senior Patrol Leader. The Troop consists of 39 trainees from 24 troops. In the first two years of the program, the training of Patrol Leaders was stressed.

Also during the second year, Béla's research efforts reveal an interest in leadership development by the U.S. Army's Human Resources Research Office (HumRRO). Béla initiates contact with Paul Hood, a research psychologist and Task Leader of Task NCO for  HumRRO. A research team which Hood was heading publishes A Guide for the Infantry Squad Leader—What the Beginning Squad Leader Should Know About Human Relations (1959). This publication contributes greatly to elaboration of the leadership tasks, as Béla finds its conceptual basis fully complimentary with his program. By this time Béla focuses his research on leadership development and formalizes his efforts in his Master's Thesis at San Jose State University.

Bob Perin, Assistant National Director, Volunteer Training Service, Boy Scouts of America, a friend of Béla's, provides guidance and acts as a liaison to the National Council. Béla was continually aided and supported by Fran Petersen, who was active on both the local and national levels.

Béla continues as Program Director through 1964.

1960 | top

At the end of the 1959 intensive summer camp event, it was announced that in the following year a two-phase program will be offered: one for the 12-14 year age group, with the objective of training Patrol Leaders in the patrol method; and another for the 14-17 year age group to train "junior trainers and impart leadership skills."

Seventeen year old John Chorini, who had been the Senior Patrol Leader during the first full year of camp in 1959, was recognized with the first Silver Stag Award at the end of summer camp. All youth staff were required to have obtained the Eagle Scout rank.

1961-65 | top

During this period of time, the present three phase/three-level plan emerges in which Phase I imparts Patrol Membership skills, Phase II Patrol Leader skills, and Phase III Troop Leader skills. Each phase has a candidate (learner or trainee) level, a youth staff level, and an adult staff level.

1962 | top

A staff training conference was held at Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove in March 6, 1962. Bob Perin, Assistant National Director of Training, was among the attendees Thirty adults were certified to staff a regional Wood Badge course set for Pico Blanco Scout Reservation on June 2-10. They included White Stag leaders Joe McConnell (Supervisor, Aeronautical Lab, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School), Alex Szaszy (Hungarian Instructor, Army Language School), Tiz Urbani (furniture salesman and Scouter from San Lorenzo Valley, Santa Cruz), Joe St. Clair (Hungarian Instructor, Army Language School), William Sutcliffe, Bob Bowman, Tom Moore (Monterey Bay Area Council Scout Executive), and Béla Bánáthy (Hungarian Instructor, Army Language School).

Asilomar Wood Badge Conference. L-R seated: Joe McConnell (Supervisor, Aeronautical Lab, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School), Alex Szaszy (Hungarian Instructor, Army Language School), Tiz Urbani (furniture salesman and Scouter from San Lorenzo Valley, Santa Cruz); L-R standing: Joe St. Clair (Hungarian Instructor, Army Language School), William Sutcliffe, Bob Bowman, Tom Moore (Monterey Bay Area Council Scout Executive), Béla Bánáthy (Hungarian Instructor, Army Language School).

An advisory board of educators, psychologists, management specialists and members of the Scout professional staff was formed, chaired by Dr. R. Maurice Tripp. Dr. Tripp was a research scientist and member of the National Council, BSA. As a member of the National Training Committee, he was key in attracting the interest of the National Council. (Dr. Tripp was a lifelong inventor, academic, and scientist. He had a lifelong devotion to the Boy Scouts of America. He served the Scouting movement at all levels, from local adult leader to member of the National Council.)

Founders (L-R) Joe St. Clair, Fran Petersen, Maury Tripp, and Béla Bánáthy at the White Stag Indaba held at Fort Ord during December, 1962. Joe, Maury, and Béla all attended the 4th World Jamboree in Hungary. Missing from the picture is Paul Sujan.

Explorer Post 122 was established, in which young men conduct research on leadership development. Béla was advisor, Ted Minnis was Committee Chairman, and Markham Johnston was Institutional Representative.

1963 | top

The Monterey Bay Area Council published an expanded version of Béla's masters thesis as A Design for Leadership Development in Scouting. This book becomes the main source of information and guidance for the program. In developing his ideas on leadership development, Béla receives continued scientific support from Hood, then stationed at the Presidio of Monterey.

Dr. Tripp presents a paper entitled, "Development of Leadership in Boy Leaders of Boys" at the Fifty-Third Annual Meeting of the National Council, BSA. He advocates leadership development by design in Scouting, based on the leadership competencies of White Stag.

A patrol of Scouts from the San Mateo County Council and a few boys from the Circle Ten Council in Dallas attend White Stag summer camp. The boys from Dallas were part of an experimental pilot program to take the White Stag program nationwide.

1964 | top

Through the efforts of Maury Tripp, Bob Perin, and Fran Petersen, the National Council took an early interest in Béla's ideas. In January of 1964 a number of key individuals assemble at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, California. The purpose was to acquaint the national council with the new design and plan for effective teaching of the skills of leadership within the design of Scouting, in a manner "similar to the way we teach Scoutcraft skills."

In attendance from National were Ken Wells; Walt Whidden (Region 12 Executive); Bill Lawrence (National Director of Volunteer Training); Marshall Monroe (Assistant National Scout Executive); Herold C. Hunt (Vice President of the National Council and Professor of Education at Harvard); Ellsworth Augustus (National Council President); Jack Rhey (National Director of Professional Training); and Bob Perin (National Training Representative).

Attending from the local council were Fran Petersen, (member of the White Stag Advisory Board, Scoutmaster in Chular, and member of the National Engineering Service); Ralph Herring (member of the White Stag Committee); Ferris Bagley (a retired businessman with an interest in leadership development); Béla Bánáthy (Director of White Stag and Director of the East Europe and Middle East Division of the Army Language School); Tom Moore (Monterey Bay Area Council Executive); Dale Hirt (President of the Monterey Bay Area Council); Paul Hood (Research Scientist at HumRRO); John Barr (Chairman of the Department of Education at San Jose State University); Joe St. Clair, (Chairman, Hungarian Department at the Army Language School on the Presidio and MBAC Training Committee Chairman); Judson Stull; R. Maurice Tripp (Chairman, White Stag Advisory Committee; member, Boy Scout Committee, National Council, and organizer of this conference); and a few Scouts from the local council who provide personal testimony about the program.

Most of the National Council did not see the merit in Bela's ideas. "A lot of them were snowed under by his language," John Larson said in an in interview during 2008. "They didn't get what he was talking about." But one board member Herold C. Hunt—the Charles W. Eliot Professor of Education at Harvard—persuaded the remainder to take a longer look at the White Stag program.

The National Council's Research Service was tasked with the responsibility for taking a closer look at White Stag program to determine the value of this approach to adult and boy leader growth. John Larson (Staff Researcher) and Bob Perin (National Training Representative) worked closely together for the next six months. They conducted a thorough study, interviewing participants, parents, and leaders. They distributed questionnaires to program participants, reviewed the White Stag literature, and observed the program in action. They also conducted a statistical analysis of troops taking part in White Stag and compared them to non-participating units. During the next summer, Larson and Perin spent the week in camp.

That summer the National Council's Research Service sent two observers to Pico Blanco: Ken Wells (Director of Research Service) and John Larson (Staff Researcher). By this point about 400 Scouts had attended White Stag.

John Larson spent the next 10 years flying in and out of Monterey. The San Mateo County Council joined the program, and a total of 80 Scouts participated. The 1964-65 director was Fran Petersen.

At the end of the August 1964 summer camp, Béla Bánáthy and Fran Petersen announced that White Stag would begin in 1965 to offer a third phase of leadership development for boys age 11-13, called "Patrol Member Development." This was a revolutionary step, for it made it possible for all boys 11-17 years old to learn leadership skills appropriate to their maturity, capabilities, and needs, and as they grew to re-cycle through the program in another phase and acquire increased skills.

1965 | top

In December 1965, Chief Scout Executive Joseph Brunton Jr. received a "blueprint for action", the White Stag Report, from John Larson. It stated that offering leadership development to youth was a unique opportunity for Scouting to provide a practical benefit to youth and would add substantial support to Scouting's character development goals. It recommended that Wood Badge should be used to experiment with the leadership development principles of White Stag.

The National Council leadership approved adapting the White Stag leadership competencies for nationwide use. Dr. John W. Larson, by now Director of Boy Scout Leader Training for the National Council, adapted the White Stag leadership development competencies and wrote the first syllabus for the adult Wood Badge program. Shifting from teaching primarily Scoutcraft skills to leadership competencies was a paradigm shift, changing the assumptions, concepts, practices, and values underlying how adults were trained in the skills of Scouting.

Some members were very resistant to the idea of changing the focus of Wood Badge from training leaders in Scout craft to leadership skills. Among them was Bill Hillcourt, who had been the first United States Wood Badge Course Director in 1948. Although he had officially retired on August 1, 1965, his opinion was still sought after and respected.

Larson later reported, " He fought us all the way... He had a vested interest in what had been and resisted every change. I just told him to settle down, everything was going to be all right." Hillcourt presented an alternative to Larson's plan to incorporate leadership into Wood Badge. Chief Scout Brunton asked Larson to look at Hillcourt's plan, and Larson reported back that it was the same stuff, just reordered and rewritten. Larson's plan for Wood Badge was approved and he moved ahead to begin testing the proposed changes. The program was designed and written by Bánáthy, Perin, and Larson.

The National Council selected the training of Scoutmasters in Wood Badge as the first area of national application of the White Stag Leadership Development design. The application was designed by Bánáthy, Perin and Larson.

George Toole became Director for the years 1965-67.

1966 | top

High school senior Bill Roberts, a White Stag youth staff member, also served on staff at Pico Blanco Boy Scout Reservation. He and two other Eagle Scouts, Martin Woodward and Terry Trouter, were given the challenge during a slow week of summer camp to scout a 50 mile trek from Bottcher's Gap around the Ventana Doublecone to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and back to camp. Bill borrowed a measuring wheel to fix the distance between camps and Terry, the naturalist, catalogued all of the plants along with way while Woodward noted all of the camp site amenities. They named the hike The Double Cone Trek, as this was the peak the continually dominated their views along the hike.

1967 | top

The Wood Badge program was laboratory tested in June at the Schiff Scout Reservation in New Jersey and at the Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico. Rex Hatch from the Indianapolis Council likes what he sees at Philmont and returns to Ohio to found a junior leader training program based on the White Stag principles.

Fran Petersen returns as co-director, along with Judson Stull, for 1967-69.

White Stag youth staff leader George St.Clair led the first troop over the newly established Double Cone Trek.

1967-77 | top

Leaders of the Mexican Scout movement ask Béla to guide them in the adaptation of the White Stag program concept. In 1968, Salvador Fernández Beltrán, Deputy Secretary of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, visits the White Stag Camp at Pico Blanco. Appointed to the subcommittee of the Interamerican Scout Committee, Bánáthy participates in three Interamerican Train the Trainer events in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Venezuela. He assists their national training teams in designing leadership development by design programs.

Nationally, the White Stag program was the basis for further experimentation at the National level. From the 1974 TLD Staff Guide:

The first [summer camp] experience was conducted at the Schiff Scout Reservation in June 1967, using the Wood Badge as a vehicle to transmit this information and concept to participants selected from nine councils across the country. This first experience, although very crude, produced enthusiastic participants, and it was not long before five of these councils were selected to conduct experimental Wood Badge sessions using a careful monitoring and evaluating plan to develop further input into this leadership development concept.

1968 | top

Opening ceremony. Phase 3 conducting an opening ceremony circa 1968.

Teach and Learn Session. A patrol counselor leads Phase 2 candidates in a session on map and compass at Pico Blanco Scout Reservation.

The National Leadership Development Project was formally established for the purpose of continuing experimentation and developing a program suitable for nation-wide application. Following its revision it was field tested in five councils. The experimental national leadership program was field tested in five councils. The testing was implemented by John Larson, advised by a committee chaired by Béla Bánáthy. They also establish the goal of infusing the principles inherent in White Stag, including that of "leadership development by design," into the national Wood Badge and junior leader training programs.

An experimental Wood Badge course (#25-2, Fort Ord, California, January and February, 1968) was conducted by the Monterey Bay Area Council. The course director was Joe St. Clair; the course evaluator, R. Maurice Tripp. It was one of five councils selected by National BSA Council for field testing of the revised Wood Badge program.

The two new co-directors were Frank Masamori and Darrel Minten, who served for 1969-70.

1969 | top

The Boy Scout World Bureau (Geneva, Switzerland) publishes a paper by Béla Bánáthy under the title, "Leadership Development," Scout Reference Paper #1. This paper (reproduced in "World Scouting Reference Paper No. 1--Leadership Development") was instrumental in spreading the philosophy of White Stag to Scout organizations outside the United States. Bánáthy makes a presentation of "Leadership Development by Design" at the Helsinki, Finland conference of the worldwide Scout movement.

By 1969 the National Council decided to expand leadership development to junior leader training in five local councils. It proved to be successful, but the experimentation did not stop here. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund was approached to underwrite continued experimentation and evaluation at the two national junior leader instructor training areas located at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and the Schiff Scout Reservation in New Jersey.

In the meantime, the "Monterey Bay experiment" attracts interested observers and participants from councils in California and other states. This marks the beginning of long and fruitful cooperation with many Scouts and Scouters from outside the Monterey Bay Area Council.

According to the 1974 TLD Staff Guide,

By 1969 it was determined to expand leadership development to junior leader training in ... five local councils. It proved to be successful, but the experimentation did not stop here. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund was approached to underwrite continued experimentation and evaluation at the two national junior leader instructor training areas located at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and the Schiff Scout Reservation in New Jersey.

1970 | top

This year was a milestone in the history of White Stag. Three young adults, Jim Said, Bill Roberts, and George St. Clair, who serve as Scoutmasters in the Troop Leadership Development program (Phase III) this year have come up through the ranks. Each completed the candidate levels first before serving as adult leaders. In subsequent years, many more will follow in their footsteps.

Frank Masamori continues as sole Director for 1970, '71 and '72.

1971 | top

According to the 1974 TLD Staff Guide,

In 1971 more than 800 young men aged 13-17 experienced the leadership development idea at Philmont. This was evaluated by volunteers during a five-day conference held at the Rayado site on the Philmont Ranch. The unanimous decision of this group was to move ahead with leadership development.

The National Council commits to a national program.

1972 | top

The leadership development by design concept and the competencies are fully integrated into the national Wood Badge curriculum and was represented in every course conducted that year.

During 1972, Salvador Fernández Beltrán, Deputy Secretary of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, visits the program during the summer program at Pico Blanco Scout Reservation.

The program implemented by the National Council was evaluated by an outside source. The 1974 TLD Staff Guide reports that:

In the summer of 1972 the people associated with the Rockefeller Foundation requested that this program be evaluated by an outside source; hence the Management Analysis Center of Cambridge, Mass., was contracted to make an independent analysis of this experience by interviewing participants, staff members, and parents to determine Scouts' attitudes toward understanding the different aspects of leadership before and after they had completed this program.

In their report, the Management Analysis Center indicated that the educational methods being used in leadership development are consistent with both the current state of knowledge concerning the conditions under which people learn most effectively and within the current practice in the best leadership development programs available to managers in both public and private organizations.

1973 | top

This was the first year a young man who started as a candidate will serve as Director: Jim Said. In the same year, two of three Phase Scoutmasters (Paul Davis and Larry Challis) have participated in the program as trainees.

1974 | top

Adult staff development. (back row L-R) Willard "Bill" Ray, John Espinoza, Myron Haas; (middle row L-R) Diedre Morgan, John Hudson, ; (front row L-R) Peggy Hudson, Joe St. Clair, Margarete Sujan, Rick Ellis, and Mildred Voelker at Pico Blanco Scout Reservation.

The National Council publishes the Troop Leader Development Staff Guide (1974), #6544, which credits White Stag with its origins (pages 91-92):

Back in the 1950's the armed forces of the United States became concerned about the quality of leadership among noncommissioned officers. Experiments were carried out in noncommissioned officer schools at Fort Hood in California. Several Scouters from the Monterey Bay Area Council learned of this program and designed a junior leadership training experience using some of the competencies or skills of leadership identified in this Army training, and it was known as the "White Stag" program. [Fort Hood is in Texas. The correct location was Fort Ord, California. While this paragraph implies the Army research was the genesis for White Stag, Béla in fact leaned extensively on their research into leadership competencies. —Editor]

In 1971 more than 800 young men aged 13-17 experienced the leadership development idea at Philmont. This was evaluated by volunteers during a five-day conference held at the Rayado site on the Philmont Ranch. The unanimous decision of this group was to move ahead with leadership development.

This program was now mandated for use by every council in the United States.

Jean Petersen, Jackie Espinoza, and Terry Masamori are the first women to receive a support staff neckerchief.

The program once again welcomes Fran Petersen as Director, and he serves for 1974, '75 and '76.

1975 | top

Women have played an important and significant role in White Stag from its very beginnings. Up to this time, however, they served only on the Steering Committee, the highest policy-making body in the program. For the first time, Troop Leadership Development Scoutmaster Bill Roberts invites young women into the program on the trainee and staff levels. A professional Girl Scout executive volunteers to work on adult staff, and four girls are invited to take part as candidates: Rachel McMillan, Mary Helen Gale and two others.

1976 | top

The Phase I Patrol Member Development Scoutmaster Wynne Hutchings, was also Senior Patrol Leader of the Monterey Bay Area Council Brownsea II course.

1976-77 | top

Eighteen White Stag leaders attend the Wood Badge adult leadership training program which incorporated the White Stag leadership competencies and methods. In 1976, Myron Haas, Foster Thompson, Rob Eidsen, John Espinoza, Paul Davis and Bill Ray attended. On staff were Holiday Neafus, Wynne Hutchings, and Bob Moger. In 1977 (WE-3-25-8), other attendees were Margarete Davis, Rodger Hudson, Brian Phelps, Leonard and Mary Williams, Ron Anderson, Jody Stearns. On staff were Kris Anderson (Coach Counselor) and Bob Moger (the Course Director).

The Monterey Peninsula Herald publishes an article about the program in its Weekend Edition magazine section.

1977 | top

Three people shared the responsibilities of Director that year: Paul Davis, Wynne Hutchings and Jean Kochems. Woman had served unofficially in leadership roles on support staff for a number of years, but for the first time a woman served on adult program staff.

1978 | top

The Monterey Bay Area Council decides to discontinue White Stag as part of its official council training program, substituting in its place the Troop Leader Development plan. At the end of the same year, the White Stag Steering Committee decides to organize the adult leaders of White Stag and their friends into the White Stag Association. At the same time, the youth staff form White Stag Youth Leadership Development Explorer Post 258. The Association was sponsor. The Post was officially chartered the same year.

Paul Davis solos as Director during the 1977-79 program years.

1979 | top

For the first time in the history of White Stag, the intensive summer camp event was held outside Pico Blanco Scout Reservation at the Skylark Girl Scout Ranch in the Santa Cruz mountains. Later in the year, the 1979 Indaba was held at Cutter Scout Reservation, the site of the summer camp for the next several years.

The year was marked by intensive efforts to tighten the organizational framework of the program, including the White Stag Association and friends of the program. The publication of the White Stag Challenge is resumed. In an effort to revive old traditions, the Explorer Post asks for and receives permission to change its numerical designation to 122, the number under which the original White Stag Post functioned in the early 1960's (focusing on research for leadership development). The Post Advisor then was Béla Bánáthy; Ted Minnis was Committee Chairman; and Markham Johnston was the Institutional Representative. Ted was Institutional Representative this year, and Markham was a member of the Post 122 committee; Béla joins the Association.

The national council publishes Troop Leader Training Conference Staff Guide (1979), #6535, to replace the TLD Staff Guide and "also provide the Scoutcraft skills experiences of Brownsea Double Two." This revision dilutes the previous emphasis on the leadership competency curriculum and on the training troop experience.

1980 | top

The first woman, Margarete Sujan, was Advisor (what had been called Scoutmaster) of Phase II, Patrol Leader Development. The Post Committee commits to a concept of total youth involvement in all phases of post operation. Paul (Uncle Paul) Sujan, Quartermaster since the program's inception, supervises the equipment section; Peggy Hudson, in her third year as commissary director, has several youth assisting her; youth members from each phase assist in registration and finance.

The fiftieth Silver Stag awards were presented to youth and adult staff members, recognized by their peers for their outstanding contributions and qualities of leadership, spirit and service to the program.

Long-time Morgan Hill Troop 799 Scoutmaster Mr. E (John Espinoza) was Director for 1979-80.

1980-82 | top

A man who has not been active in White Stag for many years was invited back, upon his "retirement," to assume leadership in a difficult transition period: Wayne Rosenoff was Director for two critical years as the program adjusts to operating without the support of the local council.

1982 | top

Post President Deirdre Morgan becomes the (Northern California) Area III Explorer Chairwoman. She receives the National Exploring Leadership Award at the Area III Explorer President's Congress. It was presented by the Monterey Bay Area Council in recognition of her contributions to the Council Exploring Presidents Association (EPA). Post member Iain Morgan was the Monterey Bay Area Council representative to the Western Region EPA.

The Explorer Post 122 White Stag Youth Leadership Development was re-chartered to the White Stag Youth Leadership Development Association, now incorporated as a tax-exempt (501(C)3) organization. Seven board members were elected: Peggy Hudson, Chairman and President; Brian Phelps, First Vice-President; Foster Thompson, Second Vice-President; Paul Davis, Third Vice-President; Susan Morgan, Secretary; Sheila Hutchings, Treasurer; and Joe St. Clair, member-at-large. Peggy Hudson declines to serve, as her family was leaving the Monterey Bay Area. Joe St. Clair was next asked to serve as President; he accepted, and Ian Morgan was elected to serve as the seventh member of the board.

John Chiorini, the White Stag program's first Senior Patrol Leader, now Vice President, Training and Development, of Mellonics (Litton Industries), in Sunnyvale, accepted chairmanship of the Twenty-Fifth Reunion Celebration. A database of all past members was begun and over 2000 people were initially mailed invitations.

Brian Phelps was the new 1982-84 Director.

1983 | top

Anniversary patch. The 40th anniversary patch in 1983.

4th Jamboree anniversary patch. The official patch observing the 40th anniversary of the 1933 World Jamboree.

Post President Barbara Clough was selected by the Monterey Bay Area Council to attend the National Explorer's Congress in Dallas, Texas in April. The Post elects to organize a Campfire group for its members less than the minimum age (14) for Post membership. The President of the Monterey Bay Area Council Explorer President's Association was Post 122 Vice-President Tim Tuscany.

Paul Davis was elected Association Board President.

Over 150 people attend the 25th Anniversary Indaba held at Grant Ranch near Morgan Hill. An informal group meets and begins to talk about the next twenty-five years: What will White Stag Leadership Development do to meet this challenge?

In a closing address, former Director Jim Said offers a challenge:

The doubling time for information has gone from 100 years to a mere five years. In the next 25 years this time will shorten at an ever-increasing rate... Those who will secure the future of White Stag must make themselves known... The task before us was not an easy one. Some of you will succeed and impart that which you have learned effectively to others. I challenge you, when the cry "Follow me" rings out, answer it.

A subcommittee was formed to begin analyzing strategies and alternatives.

1985-86 | top

Dave Stein assumed the role of Program Director. Camp was held at Cutter Scout Reservation for the next five years.

1987-89 | top

Scott Weylan becomes Program Director for 1987-89. Scouting was once again legalized in Hungary.

1990-91 | top

Bill Southam, himself a Scout in White Stag participant and youth staff leader in the 1960s, accepted the challenge and became Program Director for 1990-92.

Camp Cutter was unavailable and the program returned to Skylark Girl Scout Camp on the San Mateo coast while a more suitable site was scouted out.

Béla Bánáthy,a long-standing member of the Hungarian Scout Association Abroad (Külföldi Magyar Cserkészszövetség), returns to Hungary following its renewed freedom. He helps restart the Hungarian Scout Association (Magyar Cserkészszövetség). Hungary was the first formerly Soviet block country to win readmission to the World Scout Conference.

1992 | top

Camp Marin Sierra, off Highway 80 near Nevada City, was secured as the site of the summer program. Fees were set at $150, or $135 for early registration.

1993-94 | top

Phil Smith, a veteran of 17 years of continuous activity in White Stag, was named Program Director for 1993-94. Eighty-eight candidates attend camp at Marin Sierra.

1994 | top

The Boy Scout. The recreated statue of a Boy Scout honoring the 1933 Jamboree in Gödöllõ.

Democracy was reestablished in Hungary. The idea emerges of setting the statue of a Boy Scout, once across from the Guard Barracks in Gödöllõ back in its place. After a long search, it was established that the original statue by Lõrinc Siklôdy cannot be found. A committee established for erecting the statue decides to have Zsigmond Kisfaludy Strobl's statuette entitled The Boy Scout enlarged. The enlargement of the 50 cm high statuette was completed by a student of Kisfaludy Strobl, Istvân Paâl. The new statue of a Boy Scout standing on the original pedestal was unveiled on April 23, 1994, commemorating once again the 1933 World Jamboree.

Back in the United States, the leadership of Patrol Member Development commit to two complete troops for the next program year. Camp was set for August 14-20 at Camp Marin Sierra. In the end, two Patrol Leader Development troops along with a single Patrol Member Development troop and a single Troop Leader Development troop were trained.

To the south, the Monterey Bay Area Council invites local White Stag alumni to provide the council's Troop Leader Training program using the White Stag method. The alumni set June 14-20 as the date for a second camp to be held at Camp Pico Blanco. A new generation of youth staff were trained in the White Stag method. Later that summer 87 candidates once again attend White Stag Leadership Development at Camp Pico Blanco led by Program Director Steve Cardinalli. The adult staff once again stand at The Rock to receive their neckerchiefs.

Dedication. Founders Paul Sujan, Joe St. Clair, and Béla Bánáthy, at the commemoration of the founding of White Stag at Pico Blanco Scout Reservation. Fran Petersen was ill and could not attend.

Scout Lodge. The Presidio of Monterey Scout Lodge, dedicated to Uncle Paul Sujan.

The Monterey Bay Area Council celebrated the 50th anniversary of Pico Blanco Scout Reservation. They issued a series of commemorative patches that featured the White Stag symbol, acknowledging White Stag's key presence at Pico Blanco camp since 1958.

1995 | top

A White Stag was engraved in a six-foot redwood log and a plaque are dedicated at Camp Pico Blanco commemorating the founding of White Stag by Béla Bánáthy, Joe St. Clair, Paul Sujan, and Fran Petersen.

Steve Cardinalli continues to serve as Program Director for the Pico camp through 1997.

1996 | top

Two camps were again held, one in June at Pico and the second in August in the Sierra Nevada. Over 300 individuals receive training in the White Stag program that summer.

The eleven leadership competencies continue to be taught to thousands of participants in the Wood Badge training program each year.

1997 | top

Three of the founding fathers of the White Stag program gather at a reunion and a dedication of the plaque at Pico Blanco Scout Reservation. Béla Bánáthy, Joe St. Clair, and Uncle Paul Sujan were present--only ill health keeps Fran Petersen away. The leaders from both summer camp programs were present. Bánáthy issues a ten point challenge to a new generation of What Stag leaders outlining a future vision for the program.

Inquiries were received from individuals and groups in distant locations in California requesting assistance in creating a White Stag program in their local area.

In early fall, a group of past and present program leaders gather at the Presidio of Monterey to chart the future of the White Stag program.

1998 | top

Nearly 140 candidates attend the summer camp program in Pico Blanco and 80 youth attend camp at Camp Marin Sierra. Eight youth from the Redding area participate on staff as they move towards launching the new White Stag program in the northern reaches of California.

Two books—Follow the White Stag and Resources for Leadership—were republished, detailing the program and the leadership competencies. These help to make the ideals and ideas of White Stag Leadership Development and the competencies available to future generations.

1999 | top

Summer camp at Pico Blanco sells out for the first time in several years. Over 176 candidates were pre-registered.

2000 | top

The council in Chico, California, commits to a Junior Leader Training program incorporating the White Stag methods. The first camp was held in summer 2001. Jon Wren was Program Director. This becomes the third location that the White Stag methods were officially implemented, the second where the program was incorporated directly into the Council's JLT program.

The National Council began to look at how JLT might more follow closely follow the Wood Badge program. White Stag Director Steve Cardinalli serves on the JLT Task Force who were given the charge of revising junior leader training.

2001 | top

For the first time ever, camp was cancelled part way through the week when a wildfire sweeps through Tahoe National Forest. Scouts were evacuated to a school in Truckee and everyone was reunited with their parents and families without incident.

Of 29 participants who attend Junior Leader Training in Chico, 25 sign up for staff for the next year.

2002 | top

Co-founder Fran Petersen passed away. In 1959, during the second year of the program, Fran Petersen had been Assistant Scoutmaster (Training) for White Stag. He remained with the program for another 15 years, serving in various capacities, and returned again later on. Fran has been instrumental in attracting the attention of the National BSA Council Training Committee to White Stag. The National BSA later adapted the White Stag model as a nation-wide model for junior leader training.

2003 | top

The program lost two great leaders. Béla H. Bánáthy, educator, researcher and author, had a lifelong involvement with the Boy Scouts. The genesis was the 1933 Boy Scout World Jamboree in Hungary. At that Jamboree, Lord Baden Powell, the chief of the Boy Scout Movement, inspired him through his message of forever seeking and following the ideal.

Another long-time friend was lost when Paul Sujan died. Paul was a young Sea Scout attending the 1933 World Jamboree when Boy Scout founder, Lord Robert Baden-Powell, rode into his camp and tasted his stew. Paul served as Quartermaster during White Stag Leadership Development camp every summer from 1957 to 1996.

During 2004, the Monterey Bay Area Council issued commemorative patches acknowledging White Stag's key presence at Pico Blanco over the past 50 years.

2004 | top

Leaders from the MBAC White Stag course ran an additional White Stag program.  This program was open to girls only, sponsored by the Girl Scouts of Monterey but conducted by Crew 122. Open to ages 11-18 and was held at Cutter.  Steve Cardinalli was Director, Gary Casper Phase 1 Scoutmaster, Carmen Gonzalez was Phase 2 Scoutmaster, and John Donnelly was the Phase 3 Scoutmaster. This course ran as a Girl Scout-based “White Stag” training for 2004 and 2005.

The Pico White Stag course ran concurrently under the Directorship of Jeff Harber.

White Stag Director Steve Cardinalli was asked to serve on the National Task Force that was charged with updating the junior leader training program.

The Monterey Bay Area Council celebrated the 50th anniversary of Pico Blanco Scout Reservation. They issued a series of commemorative patches that display the White Stag logo, acknowledging the key role the program has played at Pico Blanco during the past 50 years.

2006 | top

Once again, the garrison flag flew over the lake at Cutter: Steve Cardinalli was Director, Wynn Kagamaya led Phase 1, Craig Kennedy led Phase 2 and Tim Pecka led Phase 3.

The Girl Scouts of Monterey adapted the White Stag program and called it Artimus.  It was the first leadership training course opportunity for Monterey Bay Area Girl Scouts.

White Stag at Cutter had 70 candidate participants.

The Monterey Bay Area Council planned to run the national youth training NYLT in 2006 but cancelled the course and sent their three boys to the Pacific Skyline Council NYLT training course.

2007 | top

To satisfy local council needs, White Stag studied how to offer NYLT as an adjunct to the rest of its program. Concluding they could not support both White Stag and an NYLT program, the leadership put aside any plan of presenting NYLT in parallel to White Stag.

2008 | top

The White Stag Leadership Development Academy in Monterey attracts 133 candidates to Cutter Scout Reservation including 9 from Los Angeles, and 53 attend the program at Camp Mensinger in the Sierras. In August, the Academy commits to a vision of 10,000 youth learning leadership in one year. They agree to begin the long-term process of seeking funding for and acquiring their own camp. Fifty-three youth and adults agree to serve on adult and youth staff. They commit to providing a summer camp program for 200 candidates in 2009. The explore how to add a second week of summer camp for youth from other areas. To support the increased number of candidates and adopt a schedule that fits within the shorter summer breaks from school, they rent Camp Alegre in Santa Barbara Council.

The 50th anniversary of the program was observed in August, 2008. White Stag alumni attended the northern California contingent's expanded Indaba. They discussed how to raise the number of candidates attending from the 53 who attended in 2007. A symposium was held looking forward to the next 50 years. White Stag leaders estimated that over 20,000 youth had attended White Stag since its inception in 1958.

Tony LaMarque is Program Directors in Monterey and Liz Nunn-Gage is Program Director for the second year in Concord.

White Stag Goes International
Henry Chen	Julian Pagnac
For the first time in our history, White Stag had two candidate participants from abroad. Henry Chen from Taiwan and Julian Pagnac from France attended Session 1 during the summer of 2009.

2009 | top

Brian Phelps and Tony LaMarque are co-Program Directors in Monterey. Liz Nunn-Gage is Program Director for the third year in Concord.

For the first time, the Monterey-based White Stag Leadership Development Academy board commited to two week-long summer camps: one at Camp Lindblad in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and a second at Camp Tamarancho in Marin County. The two camps attract 199 participants, including for the first time two young men from abroad, Henry Chen from Taiwan and Julien Pagnac from Paris.

The White Stag Association with headquarters in Concord, California, plans for its 51st year with its summer camp at Camp Marin Sierra near Truckee in the Tahoe National Forest. Twenty candidates attend Marin Sierra.

2010 | top

Tony LaMarque is appointed Camp Director and Brian Phelps is appointed Program Director in Monterey. Liz Nunn-Gage is Program Director for the fourth year in Concord.

The White Stag Leadership Academy appoints two committees to help chart the program's future. A Fundraising Committee is chartered to raise money to begin a Captial Campaign to fund purchase of a camp. A Strategic Planning Committee is challenged to figure out how to grow the program in the next five years and beyond. The Monterey program commits to two camps again and sets a goal of 300 candidates for 2010.

[1] This history was initially based on A History of White Stag Leadership Development by Joe St. Clair, 1978. 8pp. Béla Bánáthy also made significant contributions to this record.

[2] From the Public Relations Department, Baden-Powell House, London, England.

[3] As reported in The Scouter, England's Scouting Association magazine, September, 1933.

[4] According to Béla, "Vitez" is the name of a military order established by the Regent of Hungary. Members of the order were selected based on their heroism during the First World War. (Vitez means hero.) These where "knighted" by the Regent. Béla says, "My father was a member of the order and I, as the oldest son, inherited the title." (From the  Pine Tree Web, by Lew Orans.)