Scouting in Florida

Scouting in Florida has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.

Early history (1910-1950)

Until 1948, some southern councils of the Boy Scouts of America were racially segregated. Colored Troops, as they were officially known, were given little support from Districts and Councils. Some Scouting executives and leaders believed that Colored Scouts and Leaders would be less able to live up to the ideals of the Boy Scouts. The National Office began a program of integrating local councils in 1940, which was largely complete in 1948.

Recent history (1950-1990)

couting in Florida today

There are nine Boy Scouts of America local councils in Florida. In addition, the Florida National High Adventure Sea Base of the BSA is located in Florida.

Alabama-Florida Council

Alabama-Florida Council serves Scouts in Alabama and Florida, as the name implies, with the council office located in Dothan, Alabama.

Central Florida Council

Central Florida Council #83 [http://www.cfcbsa.org] serves Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Brevard, Volusia and Flagler Counties.

Gulf Coast Council

Gulf Coast Council #773 serves Scouts in Florida and Alabama, with the council office located in Pensacola, Florida. The council's name refers to the Gulf Coast of the United States.

OA lodge: [http://www.yustaga385.com/ Yustaga Lodge #385] whose patches can be seen [http://yustaga_385.tripod.com here.]

* Alabama-Florida District
* Choctawhatchee District
* Esca-Rosa District
* Lake Sands District
* Perdido Bay District

Gulf Ridge Council

Gulf Ridge Council #86 serves Scouts in West-Central Florida with the council headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

Gulf Stream Council

The [http://www.gulfstreamcouncil.org/ Gulf Stream Council] serves youth in the eastern portion of South Florida from the Broward/Palm Beach line north to the Brevard/Indian River line and west into the eastern portions of Highlands, Glades and Hendry counties.

Order of the Arrow Lodge - [http://aal-pa-tah237.com/ Aal-pa-tah #237]

*Indian River District
*Lake Shore District
*Lighthouse District
* [http://www.manateedistrict.org Manatee District]
*Okeechobee District
*Osceola District
*Sailfish District
*Trade Winds District
*Treasure Coast District

Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation

* [http://www.tanahkeeta.com/ Tanah Keeta Website] Tanah Keeta is the Gulf Stream Council's main campground. The camp is about 1 square mile. The Council's O.A. lodge building is in the camp. The following names are the camp that are within Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation.
**Camp Loxahatchee
**Camp Clear Lake

Other Camps

*Oklawaha Scout Reservation
*Camp Dark Hammock - Primitive
*Camp Fort Drum - Primitive

North Florida Council

The [http://www.nfcscouting.org North Florida Council] encompasses the 17 counties of northeast Florida. Through almost 7,000 volunteers the council serves over 57,000 youth in over 850 units. The North Florida Council owns, maintains and operates two camps: [http://www.doubleknot.com/openrosters/ViewOrgPageLink.asp?LinkKey=5397 Camp Echockotee] on Doctors Lake in Orange Park, and [http://www.campshands.org/index.htm Camp Shands] near Hawthorne.

OA Lodge - [http://www.echockotee.org/ Echockotee Lodge]

*Alachua District
*Black Creek District
*Baden Powell
*Great Muskogee District
*Manatee District
*Marion District
*Mohawk District
*Nassau District
*Osceola District
*River Bend District
*Shawnee District
*Suwannee District
*Timucua District

outh Florida Council

South Florida Council serves Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties. Their headquarters are in Miami Lakes. They have Camp Sawyer in the Florida Keys, Camp Everglades within Everglades National Park, and Camp Seminole in Davie.

OA Lodge: O-Shot-Caw Lodge.

Website: www.sfcbsa.org

*Buccaneer District
*Calusa District
*Fireball District
*Hurricane District
*Lighthouse District
*Pine Island District
*Pioneer District
*Seminole District
*Tequesta District
*Thunderbird District

outhwest Florida Council

Southwest Florida Council serves Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Manatee, Sarasota, and parts of DeSoto and Hendry counties. It has 2 properties: the Price-Sanders Scout Reservation in Charlotte with the Dr. Franklin Miles Camp and Camp Gannett, and Camp Flying Eagle in Manatee.

Council Website [http://www.swflcouncilbsa.org]

OA Lodge: Osceola #564, website [http://www.osceola564.org]

*Alligator District
*Manatee District
*Panther District
*Two Rivers District

uwannee River Area Council #664

The Suwannee River Area Council, active from 1924 to present, encompasses 13 counties in north Florida and south Georgia. The Council Service Center and central headquarters are in Tallahassee, Florida. Over the past 90 years or so, the Suwannee River Area Council has offered traditional Scouting programs at several camps. The first was Camp Orchard Pond, located near Tallahassee. Orchard Pond was a small camp, having only four campsites during its entire lifetime. It was used from 1927 to 1947, when it was sold. The council moved its summer camp operations to Camp Semialachee, also located near Tallahassee. Semialachee got its name indirectly from the union of "Seminole" and "Apalachee", two primary groups of Native Americans in the United States from the north Florida region. Camp Semialachee was kept until 1965, when camping was moved to Wallwood Scout Reservation, located just south of Quincy, Florida. The land for the new camp was donated by Dr. Charlie K. Wall and his wife Margaret as a gift to Scouting. The buildings and equipment were donated by various community leaders, Scouters, and organizations. The dedication of Wallwood came in 1964, the buildings were constructed in 1965, and the first camping season was the summer of 1966. Wallwood covers over 500 acres (2 km²) of land bordered on one side by a branch of Lake Talquin. The camp offers a variety of Scouting programs, including COPE, as well as opportunities for other civic organizations.

OA lodge: [http://www.semialachee.org/ Semialachee Lodge #239]

West Central Florida Council

West Central Florida Council services Pinellas County and West Pasco County. Two main Scout camps are Camp Soule and Sand Hill Scout Reservation. [http://www.wcfcbsa.org West Central Florida Council]

OA Lodge: [http://www.timuquanlodge.org Timuquan Lodge 340] .

*Calusa District
*Osceola District
*Skyway District
* [http://www.twinriversbsa.org Twin Rivers District]

and Hill Scout Reservation

Sand Hill Scout Reservation is a Scout camp of over convert|1212|acre|km2 in the central Florida region, located near Brooksville, Florida. Sand Hill Scout Reservation belongs to the Tigers, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers of the West Central Florida Council and Gulf Ridge Council and is intended for their instruction and enjoyment.

and Hill Grace

For the hills, for the sand,
for the bounty of the land,
for water bright
and the pristine sunlight.
For all who guide our programs path
for all opportunities that Scouting hath
we thank Thee, O Lord.

Girl Scouting in Florida

There are ten Girl Scout council offices in Florida.

Girl Scout Council of The Apalachee Bend, Inc.Tallahassee, Florida [http://www.gscab.org]

Girl Scouts of Broward County, Inc.Oakland Park, Florida [http://www.browardgirlscouts.org]

Girl Scouts of Citrus Council, Inc.Orlando, Florida [http://www.citrus-gs.org]

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, Inc.Jacksonville, Florida [http://www.girlscouts-gateway.org]

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.Sarasota, Florida [http://www.girlscoutsgulfcoastfl.org]

Heart of Florida Girl Scout Council, Inc.Lakeland, Florida [http://www.hfgsc.org]

Girl Scouts of Northwest Florida, Inc.Pensacola, Florida [http://www.gsnwfl.org]

Girl Scouts of Palm Glades Council, Inc.Jupiter, Florida [http://www.gspgc.org]

Girl Scouts of Suncoast Council, Inc.Tampa, Florida [http://www.girlscoutsofsuncoastcouncil.org]

Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida

Camp Wesumkee belongs to the Girl Scouts of the USA, and is part of the Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida [http://www.girlscoutsfl.org] , serving Miami, Florida. It is located on West Summerland Key in the Lower Florida Keys, covering over 10 acres of Atlantic ocean front.

Camp Wesumkee is for experienced campers, offering opportunities for canoeing, snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, and nature observations in tidal pools. There are fields for tent use, and 11 chickees with bunk beds for six people each. The chickees have screen walls with shades for privacy. The Galley and Wheelhouse have kitchens and dining/activity areas. There are also fire circles and picnic tables.

The camp hosts the Winter Star Party, usually in February, for amateur astronomers.

Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Wilma in 2005 both affected the camp. All structures were damaged to some degree, and storm surge left sand piled up across the camp.

Other Girl Scout Camps

Camp Choee in Miami serves mainly as a day camp, though it has over-night capabilities, accommodating over 250 day campers across its 20 acres. Facilities include a large air-conditioned building with kitchen, pool with bath house, craft lodge, fire circles, and four air-conditioned cabins. The original cabins were destroyed during Hurricane Andrew; the replacement cabins have their own toliets and showers, and house 16 people each. The camp is in a fairly urban location, and is made up of open grassy areas and pine scrub.

Camp Mahachee is located in a rich tropical hammock (ecology), and serves as both a day camp and an over-night camp. It covers over 11 acres, has 8 cabins housing 10 people each, and areas for tents. There are also several fire circles, a butterfly garden, and a natural coral rock "maze."

Coral Gables Little House is on the register of historical places. It's located near Venetian Pool, and is used for day activities and meetings.

South Miami Little House is used for troop meetings and camping, accommodating 20 people over-night or 40 people for day activities.

International Scouting units in Florida

Cuban Scouting in exile exists to this day in Miami as part of the Boy Scouts of America, where Cuban-American Scouts are instrumental in annual Lincoln-Martí celebrations.

ee also

References

External links

* [http://www.alflcouncilbsa.org Alabama-Florida Council]
* [http://www.cfcbsa.org Central Florida Council]
* [http://www.gulfcoastcouncil.org Gulf Coast Council]
* [http://www.boyscouting.com Gulf Ridge Council]
* [http://www.gulfstreamcouncil.org Gulf Stream Council]
* [http://www.nfcscouting.org North Florida Council]
* [http://www.sfcbsa.org South Florida Council]
* [http://www.swflcouncilbsa.org Southwest Florida Council]
* [http://www.suwanneeriver.net/ Suwannee River Area Council]
* [http://www.wcfcbsa.org West Central Florida Council]
* [http://www.SandHillScoutReservation.com West Central Florida Council Sand Hill Scout Reservation]
* [http://www.girlscoutsfl.org Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida]
* [http://www.SandHillScoutReservation.com Sand Hill Scout Reservation Website]