Scouting in Florida
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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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Recent history (1950-1990)
[edit] Scouting 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.
[edit] Alabama-Florida Council
Alabama-Florida Council serves Scouts in Alabama and Florida, as the name implies, with the council office located in Dothan, Alabama.
[edit] Central Florida Council
Central Florida Council #83 serves Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Brevard, Volusia and Flagler Counties. Its headquarters is located in Apopka, Florida, and its primary Scout camp is Camp La-No-Che in Paisley.
Districts
- Canaveral District
- Eagle District
- Fort Gatlin District
- Halifax District
- Ivanhoe District
- King's Road District
- Lake District
- Little Econ District
- Manatee District
- Osceola District
- Rolling Hills District
- Sand Lake District
- Seminole Trails District
- Tuscarora District
- Wekiwa District
OA lodge
[edit] Gulf Coast Council #773
Gulf Coast Council 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: Yustaga Lodge #385
- Alabama-Florida District
- Choctawhatchee District
- Esca-Rosa District
- Lake Sands District
- Perdido Bay District
[edit] Gulf Ridge Council #86
[edit] Gulf Ridge Council
Gulf Ridge Council serves Scouts in West-Central Florida with the council headquarters is in Tampa, Florida. Youth are served in the following eight counties: Citrus, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk and Sumter.
OA Lodge: Seminole Lodge #85
- Calusa District
- Lake Region District
- Operation First Step District
- Rough Riders District
- New Fire District (formerly Tacachale)
- Timucucua District
- Thunderbird District
- Trail Blazer District
- Ucita District
- Withlacoochee District
[edit] Gulf Stream Council
- Indian River District
- Lake Shore District
- Lighthouse District
- Manatee District
- Okeechobee District
- Osceola District
- Sailfish District
- Trade Winds District
- Treasure Coast District
[edit] North Florida Council
- 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
[edit] South 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. The former McGregor-Smith Scout Reservation was sold to the Southwest Florida Water Management district, with Gulf Ridge Council leasing back park of the camp.
OA Lodge: O-Shot-Caw Lodge.
- Buccaneer District
- Calusa District
- Fireball District
- Hurricane District
- Lighthouse District
- Pine Island District
- Pioneer District
- Seminole District
- Tequesta District
- Thunderbird District
[edit] Southwest Florida Council
Council Website [1]
- Alligator District
- Manatee District
- Panther District
Pack/Troop/Crew 4 - Cape Coral [2]
- Two Rivers District
[edit] Suwannee 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: Semialachee Lodge #239
[edit] 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.
OA Lodge: Timuquan Lodge 340.
- Calusa District
- Osceola District
- Skyway District
- Twin Rivers District
[edit] Girl Scouting in Florida
There are ten Girl Scout council offices in Florida.
Girl Scout Council of The Apalachee Bend, Inc. Tallahassee, Florida Web Site: http://www.gscab.org
Girl Scouts of Broward County, Inc. Oakland Park, Florida Web Site: http://www.browardgirlscouts.org
Girl Scouts of Citrus Council, Inc. Orlando, Florida Web Site: http://www.citrus-gs.org
Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, Inc. Jacksonville, Florida Web Site: http://www.girlscouts-gateway.org
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. Sarasota, Florida Web Site: http://www.girlscoutsgulfcoastfl.org
Heart of Florida Girl Scout Council, Inc. Lakeland, Florida Web Site: http://www.hfgsc.org
Girl Scouts of Northwest Florida, Inc. Pensacola, Florida Web Site: http://www.gsnwfl.org
Girl Scouts of Palm Glades Council, Inc. Jupiter, Florida Web Site: http://www.gspgc.org
Girl Scouts of Suncoast Council, Inc. Tampa, Florida Web Site: http://www.girlscoutsofsuncoastcouncil.org
[edit] Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida, Inc.
Camp Wesumkee belongs to the Girl Scouts of the USA, and is part of the Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida [3], 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] External links
- Alabama-Florida Council
- Central Florida Council
- Gulf Coast Council
- Gulf Ridge Council
- Gulf Stream Council
- North Florida Council
- South Florida Council
- Southwest Florida Council
- Suwannee River Area Council
- West Central Florida Council
- West Central Florida Council Sand Hill Scout Reservation
- Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida
 Scouting in the United States |
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