Scouting in Washington

Scouting in Washington 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)

Camp Black Mountain, located on the beautiful shores of Silver Lake an hour drive east of Bellingham, is the oldest existing camp in Washington State. Interviews with Hugh Eldridge Carr and General Floyd Hansen, Bellingham Eagle Scouts from the early 1920s, indicate the camp was active prior to 1919. The land was used by permission of owner H. P. Jukes (the council treasurer) prior to transferring ownership to the BSA in 1927. It was originally used by the Bellingham Council as Camp H. P. Jukes and has been in continuous use since that time with the exception of two seasons during WWII (1943 and 1944). Upon first use the camp was used for troop and district events, but became a fully organized resort in 1925. During the 1920s, the camp was supported by the Order of the Blue Knot, an honor camper's society that later became Quilshan Lodge, Order of the Arrow. Programs from the 1925 and 1926 seasons provide insight into early camp activities and vintage photographs of this cherished property.

Founded in 1919, Camp Parsons is the oldest continuous running Boy Scout camp west of the Mississippi River and one of the oldest continually running Boy Scout camp in the United States on its original location.^[1] It sits on Jackson Cove, part of the Hood Canal, on the Olympic Peninsula, just north of Brinnon, Washington, and just south of Quilcene, Washington. The original land for the camp was donated by Reginald Parsons in 1918. Thousands of Boy Scouts come to Camp Parsons every summer.

Recent history (1950–present)

Camp Sheppard is a Council High Adventure Base located in the shadow of Mt. Rainier in Washington State. It offers treks ranging from basic mountaineering seminars, expedition climbs to the summit of Mt. Rainier, 50 – 90-mile (140 km) hikes on the Pacific Crest Trail and in Mt. Rainier National Park, mountain bike descents, 90-mile (140 km) adventure races and custom combo-treks. Camp Sheppard is also the only Boy Scout camp in the nation currently offering a summer camp-style program during its winter camp sessions that are run from January through March, and offer a wide range of advancement opportunities. It is the top council high adventure base in the nation.

Scouting in Washington today

There are seven Boy Scouts of America local councils in Washington.

Blue Mountain Council

With headquarters in Kennewick WA the Blue Mountain Council serves Scouts in Washington and Oregon.

The U.S. Scouting Service Project has created a link to all known websites (districts, troops, packs, Venturing Crews, O.A. Lodge & Chapter, etc. websites) located within the Blue Mountain Council which can be found at Scout Site Search.

Districts

• Columbia River District serves Kennewick and Finley, Washington
• Eastern Oregon District serves Baker, Wallowa, Union, Grant, and Wheeler counties, Oregon
• Oregon Trail District serves Umatilla, Wheeler, Gilliam, and Morrow counties, Oregon
• Pioneer District serves Walla Walla and Columbia Counties, Washington
• Rattlesnake Ridge District serves Richland, West Richland, and Benton City, Washington
• White Bluffs District serves Franklin County, Washington

Council Camping Properties

The Council does not operate a summer camp.

• Camp Wallowa in Joseph, Oregon
• Martin Scout Camp near Pendleton and Pilot Rock, Oregon

The U.S. Scouting Service Project also maintaines the ScoutCamp.org website which provides general information and a place for leader comments on the two camps operated by the Blue Mountain Council at Martin Scout Camp and Camp Wallowa

Order of the Arrow Lodge

• Wa-La-Moot-Kin Order of the Arrow Lodge

Cascade Pacific Council

Main article: Scouting in Oregon

Cascade Pacific Council serves Scouts in Oregon and Washington.

Chief Seattle Council

Main article: Chief Seattle Council

The Chief Seattle Council serves the main parts of Puget Sound and Seattle areas including the Olympic Peninsula.

Grand Columbia Council

Located in central Washington and based in Yakima, the Grand Columbia Council serves the Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Okanogan, Yakima and portions of Adams, Benton, Ferry and Klickitat Counties. The Grand Columbia Council maintains two service centers in Yakima and Wenatchee.

The U.S. Scouting Service Project has created a link to all known websites (districts, troops, packs, Venturing Crews, O.A. Lodge & Chapter, etc. websites) located within the Grand Columbia Council which can be found at Scout Site Search.

Camps

The council operates four camps: Camp Fife off of Highway 410 near Bumping Lake, Camp Bonaparte between Tonasket and Republic on Highway 20, Camp Scout-A-Vista outside Wenatchee and Summit Lake on Highway 155 between Omak and Nespelem.

The U.S. Scouting Service Project also maintains the ScoutCamp.org website which provides general information and a place for leader comments on the council's four camps: Camp Bonaparte, Camp Fife, Scout-A-Vista, and Summit Lake.

Districts

• Apple Valley District – Wenatchee area
• Chief Kamiakin District – Prosser, Sunnyside, Zillah and Toppenish area
• Columbia Basin District – Quincy, Ephrata, Moses Lake, Coulee City area
• Okanogan Valley District – Okanagon Valley area
• Saddle Mountain District – Ritzville, Othello and Mattawa area
• Skookum District – Kittitas County and Yakima area

Order of the Arrow Lodge

• Tataliya Lodge 614

Inland Northwest Council

With headquarters in Spokane the Inland Northwest Council serves Scouts in Washington and Idaho.

The U.S. Scouting Service Project has created a link to all known websites (districts, troops, packs, Venturing Crews, O.A. Lodge & Chapter, etc. websites) located within the Inland Northwest Council which can be found at Scout Site Search.

Order of the Arrow Lodge

• Es-Kaielgu Order of the Arrow Lodge serves the council. It is one of the few lodges in the nation that has no web presence, not even on the council site. An unofficial Facebook page provides the only form of electronic communication for the lodge.

Districts

• Thunderbird District- North Spokane County
• Chinook District- South Spokane County and Lincoln County
• Old Missions District- Kootenai County
• David Thompson District- Pend Oreille in Washington; Bonner and Boundary Counties in Idaho
• Grizzly District- Spokane Valley
• Stevens District- Stevens County
• Chief Kamiakin District- Latah and Whitman Counties
• Lewis-Clark District- Asotin, Garfield, Nez Perce, Clearwater, and Idaho Counties

The Inland Northwest Council provides the communities and volunteers with three council service centers. Each council service center has a Scout Shop and staff to answer questions, provide training and resources, and is able to take registrations for summer camp or events. Besides the headquarters office in Spokane there are service centers in Hayden Lake, ID and Clarkston, WA.

In 2009, the council sponsored a statue in Spokane. Titled Footsteps To The Future, it honors community mentors.^[2]

Council Camps

• Camp Easton in Harrison, Idaho
• Camp Grizzly in Harvard, Idaho
• Cowles Scout Reservation in Newport, Washington
• North Idaho High Adventure Base in Harrison, Idaho.

The U.S. Scouting Service Project also maintaines the ScoutCamp.org website which provides general information and a place for leader comments on all of the camps operated by the Inland Northwest Council: North Idaho High Adventure Base, Camp Grizzly, Camp Easton, Camp Cowles Scout Reservation.

Mount Baker Council

The Mount Baker Council of the BSA serves Boy Scouts in the Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island and San Juan counties of Washington State. The council operates two Scout camps Fire Mountain and Black Mountain.

The U.S. Scouting Service Project has created a link to all known websites (districts, troops, packs, Venturing Crews, O.A. Lodge & Chapter, etc. websites) located within the Mt. Baker Council which can be found at Scout Site Search.

Order of the Arrow Lodge

The council's Order of the Arrow Lodge is No. 338 Sikhs Mox Lamonti which was created in 1995 through the merger of Kelcema Lodge No. 305 and Quilshan #325. Sikhs Mox Lamonti translates to "Friends of two mountains", which is a reference to the Mount Baker Council's camps Black Mountain and Fire Mountain.

Districts

The Council is made of the following districts [1]:

• Klahaya District Cathcart, Clearview, Echo Lake, Gold Bar, Index, Lake Stevens, Maltby, Monroe, Seattle Hill, Skykomish, Snohomish, Sultan
• Puget Sound District Lynnwood and Southwest Snohomish County
• Tillikum District Serves Everett and Mukilteo School Distract
• Skagit District Serves Skagit County
• Tyee District Serving Arlington, Camano Island,Darrington,Granite Falls, Lakewood,Marysville, and Stanwood
• Island District Comprises the islands of Whidbey, Fidalgo, and the San Juans
• Whatcom District Serves Whatcom County

Council Camps

• Fire Mountain Scout Reservation in Mt. Vernon, Washington
• Black Mountain Camp in Maple Falls, Washington

The U.S. Scouting Service Project also maintaines the ScoutCamp.org website which provides general information and a place for leader comments on all of the camps operated by the Mt. Baker Council: Fire Mountain Scout Reservation and Black Mountain Camp.

Pacific Harbors Council

The Pacific Harbors Council of serves the scouts in the Pierce, King, Mason, Thurston and Grays Harbor Counties of Washington State. The council operates four Scout camps: Camp Hahobas, in the midst of a revitalization for Boy Scouts; Camps Thunderbird and Delezenne for Cub Scouts, and Camp Kilworth, undergoing a renovation.

The U.S. Scouting Service Project has created a link to all known websites (districts, troops, packs, Venturing Crews, O.A. Lodge & Chapter, etc. websites) located within the Pacific Herbors Council which can be found at Scout Site Search.

Order of the Arrow Lodge

• Nisqually Lodge Order of the Arrow serves the council.

Districts

• Capital Area
• Coastal Waters
• Glacier View
• Mt. Tahoma
• Puget Sound
• Timberline

Council Camps

• Camp Delezenne in Elma, Washington
• Camp Hahobas in Tahuya, Washington
• Camp Kilworth in Federal Way, Washington
• Camp Thunderbird in Olympia, Washington

The U.S. Scouting Service Project also maintaines the ScoutCamp.org website which provides general information and a place for leader comments on all of the camps operated by the Pacific Harbors Council: Camp Delezenne, Camp Hahobas, Camp Kilworth, & Camp Thunderbird.

Girl Scouting in Washington

There are three Girl Scout councils serving Washington.

Girl Scouts of Western Washington

This council was formed by the merger of Pacific Peaks and Totem Councils on October 1, 2007. Administrative offices are located in Seattle, Washington. The new council serves over 26,000 girls.

Mission: To build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Website: http://www.GirlScoutsWW.org

Regional Offices:

• DuPont Girl Scout Center, serving South Puget Sound, in DuPont, Washington
• Snohomish County Regional Office in Marysville, Washington
• East King County Regional Office in Bellevue, Washington
• Peninsula Regional Office in Bremerton, Washington
• Greater Seattle Regional Office in Seattle, Washington
• Southern Counties Regional Office in Longview, Washington
• South King County Regional Office in Renton, Washington

Information about each Regional Office may be found at http://www.GirlScoutsWW.org/aboutus/locations.

Camps:

• Girl Scout Camp Evergreen is 76 acres (310,000 m²) near Longview, Washington
• Girl Scout Camp Klahanee is 78 acres (320,000 m²) near Hoquiam, Washington
• Girl Scout Camp Lyle McLeod is 60 acres (240,000 m²) near Belfair, Washington
• Girl Scout Camp River Ranch is 430 forested acres in Carnation, Washington including Lake Langlois and is by the Tolt River
• Girl Scout Camp Robbinswold is 540 acres (2.2 km²) on the Hood Canal near Lilliwaup, Washington
• Girl Scout Camp St. Albans is 414 acres (1.68 km²) near Belfair, Washington

Information about all Girl Scout Camps in Western Washington can be found at http://www.GirlScoutsWW.org/aboutus/camp_properties.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho

This is a new council formed May 1, 2007 by the merger of Inland Empire and Mid-Columbia councils. It serves more than 8,000 girls in eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and 3 counties in northern Oregon.

Headquarters: Spokane, Washington
Website: http://www.gsewni.org/

Service Centers:

• Sandpoint, Idaho
• Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
• Lewiston, Idaho
• Tri-Cities, Washington
• Yakima, Washington

Camps:

• Camp 4 Echos is 230 acres (0.93 km²) on Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho.

Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington

This council was established on October 1, 2008. See Scouting in Oregon for more information.

Headquarters: Portland, Oregon
Website: http://www.girlscoutsosw.org

See also

Scouting portal

• Scouting in British Columbia
• Scouting in Oregon
• Scouting in Idaho

Notes and references

1. ^ Eby, David L. "America's Oldest Scout Camps."
2. ^ "Footsteps To The Future". September 27, 2009. http://www.footstepstothefuture.com/index.htm. 

External links

• Mount Baker Council
• Chief Seattle Council
• Grand Columbia Council
• Blue Mountain Council
• Fire Mountain Scout Camp
• Camp Parsons
• Camp Sheppard