Scouting in West Virginia

Scouting in West Virginia 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.

Boy Scouts of America

There are nine Boy Scouts of America local councils in West Virginia. Most of West Virginia lies within the BSA's Central Region, Mineral, Hardy, Hampshire, are part of the Northeast Region. Pendleton, Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson counties, are part of the Southern Region.

Early history (1910–1950)

In 1914, the BSA gave local councils the power to ban African Americans from Scouting. Until 1974, some southern councils of the Boy Scouts of America were still racially segregated. (The Old Hickory council did not integrate until 1974.)

Allohak Council

Allohak Council serves West Virginia and Ohio.^[1] The council headquarters is in Parkersburg, West Virginia and is administered through six districts:

• Blennerhassett District— Ritchie County, West Virginia, Wood County, West Virginia, Washington County, Ohio
• Highland District— Barbour County, West Virginia, Upshur County, West Virginia, Randolph County, West Virginia, Pleasants County, West Virginia, Wood County, West Virginia and Washington County, Ohio
• Hock Hocking District— Athens in Ohio.
• Little Kanawha District— Calhoun County, West Virginia, Jackson County, West Virginia, Roane County, West Virginia and Wirt County, West Virginia
• Stonewall Jackson District— Doddridge County, West Virginia, Gilmer County, West Virginia, Harrison County, West Virginia and Lewis County, West Virginia
• Washington District— Tucker County, West Virginia

Council Camps

The Allohak Council currently has two camps. In 1991 a merger took place between Kootaga Council located in Parkersburg, WV and the Central WV Council located in Clarksburg, WV. This merger gave the Council two camps.

Camp Kootaga

Camp Kootaga is located in Wirt County, WV. It serves as the summer camp for the Allohak Council. The camp is located on 500 acres (2.0 km²) of forest land along the Hughes River. Each year 5 weeks of summer camp are conducted at Camp Kootaga. Camp Kootaga has 14 campsites.

History

The property known as Camp Kootaga was purchased in 1922 by Don B. Lowe under the Gim-O-Gash tribe of the Boy Scouts of America. The first long-term summer camp was held that year on the banks of the Hughes River in the Kootaga region. This camp consisted of one or two Troops from the Parkersburg area with Don B. Lowe as the Camp Director during the early years. In 1929 Col. R. L. Cole brought a Kiowa Indian named J. Dougannah to help with the camp program. He gave Indian names to the Leaders and named the Boy Scout camp “Kootaga” which means “Good Friends”. Through the years, Camp Kootaga has gone through many changes, but one thing has remained constant: helping develop young men into upstanding citizens and outstanding individuals.

Camp Mahonegon

Camp Mahonegon, is the second camp in the Allohak Council. Though no longer used as an active summer camp, Mahonegon has remained an active part of the council. It is used for many council events yearly, and continues to be a focal point for scouting activity. The First Summer Camp was held in 1948. The last Summer Camp was held in 1980.

Buckeye Council

Main article: Scouting in Ohio

Buckeye Council serves Scouts in Ohio and West Virginia.

Buckskin Council

Buckskin Council serves Scouts in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Virginia.^[2]

• Chief Cornstalk District^[3]
• Mountain Dominion District
• Mountain Rifle District
• Pioneer District
• Seneca District
• Wilderness District

Mountaineer Area Council

Mountaineer Council services the counties of Monongalia, Marion, Preston, and Taylor. The council office is located in Fairmont, WV. The council is not divided into districts.

Order of the Arrow Lodge: Menawngihella Lodge 550

Ohio River Valley Council

Main article: Scouting in Ohio

Ohio River Valley Council serves Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing in West Virginia and Ohio.^[4]

Council office is located at:

Ohio River Valley Council, 192 McColloch Drive, Wheeling WV 26003

Districts include:

• Two Chiefs
• Mountaineer

Scout camps:

• Fort Steuben Scout Reservation - Freeport, Ohio
• Sandscrest Scout Reservation - Wheeling, WV

Order of the Arrow Lodge:

Onondaga Lodge 36^[5]

Potomac Council

Main article: Scouting in Maryland

Potomac Council serves Scouts in Maryland and West Virginia.

Shenandoah Area Council

Main article: Scouting in Virginia

Shenandoah Area Council serves Scouts in Virginia and West Virginia.

Stonewall Jackson Area Council

Main article: Scouting in Virginia

Stonewall Jackson Area Council serves Scouts in the Shenandoah Valley and Charlottesville areas of Virginia and Pendleton County, West Virginia.

Tri-State Area Council

The Tri-State Area Council^[6] serves Scouts in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. It is headquartered in Huntington, West Virginia and has three districts:

• Cardinal District
• MGM District
• Muguyoh District^[7]

The Tri-state Area Council operates one permanent camp: Camp Arrowhead located in Ona, WV.

Girl Scouts of the USA

There are two Girl Scout councils in West Virginia.

Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council

Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council^[8] serves more than 20,000 girls in 59 counties in West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia, and Maryland.

Headquarters: Charleston, West Virginia

Field Offices

• Athens, Ohio - Appalachian Field Office shared with Girl Scouts - Seal of Ohio
• Steubenville, Ohio
• Beckley, WV
• Bluefield, WV
• Chapmanville, WV
• Huntington, WV
• Fairmont, WV
• Lewisburg, WV
• Morgantown, WV
• Parkersburg, WV
• Walton, WV
• Weston, WV
• Wheeling, WV

Camps:

• Camp Giscowheco in Triadelphia, West Virginia
• Camp Sandy Bend in Elizabeth, West Virginia
• Camp Mamie Flynn in Logan, West Virginia
• Camp Rocky Ledges in Milton, West Virginia

Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital

In October 2009 the old Shawnee Council of West Virginia joined with the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital as part of the nationwide reorganization.^[9]

West Virginia Service Center: Martinsburg, West Virginia

West Virginia Camp:

• Camp White Rock in Capon Bridge, WV

Other Girl Scout Camps

Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania has Camp Roy Weller in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia. It is 792 acres (3.21 km²) and besides lodges and camping areas has the Eberly Family Learning Center.

References

1. ^ "Allohak Council". http://www.allohak.org/. 
2. ^ "Buckskin Council". http://www.buckskin.org. 
3. ^ "Chief Cornstalk District". http://www.chiefcornstalkdistrict.com. 
4. ^ "Ohio River Valley Council, BSA". http://www.orvc-bsa.com. 
5. ^ "Onondaga Lodge 36". http://www.onondaga36.org.  The Order of the Arrow Lodge of the Ohio River Valley Council
6. ^ "Tri-State Area Council". http://www.tsacbsa.org/. 
7. ^ "Muguyoh District". http://www.muguyohdistrict.org. 
8. ^ "Girls Scouts of Black Diamond Council". http://www.bdgsc.org.  Most of the info in this section is taken from here.
9. ^ "A Girl Scout Story - June 2009". Girl Scouts of Shawnee Council. http://www.shawneegirlscouts.org/page.aspx?pid=153. Retrieved 2009-08-15. 

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