On Saturday, December 9th, 2006, 13 members of the Battlefield Restoration and Archaeological Volunteer Organization (BRAVO) gave their time and expertise to investigate two areas of former settlements at Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco. Based on their preliminary results, additional knowledge has been gained regarding the history of the Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco property prior to its purchase for the Boy Scouts.

BRAVO, whose members span the state of New Jersey, has been widely recognized for their expertise in locating, stabilizing, identifying and documenting, metallic artifacts. The group has previously done extensive work at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, the US Military Academy at West Point, as well as many other sites in New Jersey and surrounding states. Recently, members of BRAVO discovered evidence of a battle at Monmouth Battlefield that had previously been unrecorded.

Using sophisticated metal detectors, BRAVO scoured the areas commonly known as the "stagecoach site" and the old outpost leantu. Through the research of Conservation chairman Steve Kallesser, it was known that there had been a home and farm at the stagecoach site somewhere between 1796 and 1860, and that there had been a home and farm near the old oupost leantu between 1774 and 1778.

Although the report has not been completed, preliminary results suggest that the home at the stagecoach site was used in the early part of the 1800's, and that later that century (post 1865), a logging camp existed on the site. In addition, a second later settlement was also discovered near the outpost leantu that appears to date between 1825-1853.

BRAVO was introduced to the Council by Patricia Kallesser, a park superintendent with the State Park Service who is also a member of the Weboree staff. Steve Kallesser helped make the arrangements with the Council and Ranger Tom Rich for this site visit. The group was guided within camp by Steven and Patricia as well as Rob Coonce and Paul Buttgereit. BRAVO's services were free of charge to the Council.

BRAVO has removed the artifacts from the camp for the cleaning, identification, and stablilization process. BRAVO will also prepare a report detailing the exact location of each artifact excavated, as well as details and photographs of each item. Upon completion of that report, the artifacts will be returned to the camp for display, education and safe keeping.

"We are really thankful that groups like BRAVO are willing to give of their time and expertise for the benefit of the Scouts who camp and learn and love Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco. The information that will be contained in the final report should be able to be used as an educational tool for many years to come.", said Steve Kallesser.

The final report is currently set to be released at the Weboree held at Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in the last week of April 2007.   Among the possible finds: a shoe buckle, buttons from various articles of clothing from various time periods, eating utensils from various time periods, pieces from oil lamps, a link from what could be a large logging chain, many different types of nails from various time periods, and at least one horseshoe.

Click here to read about the final report from the archaeological dig

Steve Kallesser and Joe Berlinghieri are currently researching the history of the camp and will publish a brochure for this summer's 80th anniversary.  If you have any information regarding the camp that you would like to share, please contact SPS.

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