In April of 1917 the San Francisco Council sent out flyers to the Scouts indicating that the first summer training camp for the council would be held near the town of Cazadero at Eliim Grove.  However for unknown reasons the location could not be secured so the training camp had to be moved at the last minute.  The council was able to secure the Mill Valley property of Dr. Alexander Warner for the site of the first training camp.

The first summer training camp run by the San Francisco Council was held in the Warner Canyon area of Mill Valley in June of 1917.  Dr. Alexander Warner was the owner of the property and rented it to the Scouts for $210 per year.  The camp was attended by 140 boys and their leaders and Scout Executive Raymond O Hanson acted as camp director.  Assisting Mr. Hanson as the Camp Adjutant was Homer J. Bemiss, Scoutmaster of Troop 14.  Bemiss would ultimately become the future Scout Executive of the Oakland Area Council (from 1920 to 1957) as well as the longest tenured Scout Executive in the Bay Area even until this day.  

Each day the boys would be instructed in five hours of Scout craft, first aid, agriculture and signaling.  Eighty-five of the boys earned the special War Emergency Badges for completing their requirements.  The Scouts camped in large tents that held seven Scouts each with a leader in charge of each tent.  The tent group rather than the Scout Troop unit was made the basis for the camp organization.  On the fourth of July the boys went into the city of Mill valley and participated in the 4th of July Parade.  Later that evening, the Scouts made quite an impression upon the public with a presentation of a camp play at the Mill Valley theater and cleared $25.00 towards their camp expenses.

The following report was submitted to the Executive Board on July 19, 1917 by Scout Executive Raymond O Hanson regarding the Training Camp:

“In order that the Committee may have a general idea of the routine of the camp, I shall outline just briefly the daily program.  

At 6:30 o’clock every morning reveille was sounded and the boys were given fifteen minutes in which to rise, dress wash and take their place in line for roll call.  Punctuality was insisted upon and the boys who were tardy were placed in what we called the late’s line where they remained until breakfast was well under way.  No more effective punishment could be devised than this.

At 6:45 flag raising exercises were held., the boys standing at salute while old Glory was hoisted to the top of the pole by a special color guard.  The boys then gave the pledge of allegiance to the flag, followed by the singing of the Star Spangled Banner.  To participate in such exercise every morning for a month could not fail to inspire the boy with a deeper sense of patriotism and a greater love for his country.