Scouting in Pennsylvania
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Scouting in Pennsylvania has a long and rich tradition, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live. The Order of the Arrow was born at Treasure Island outside Philadelphia.
[edit] Early history (1910-1950)
Scouting in Pennsylvania formally started in 1911 with the founding of the Philadelphia council. Among the claimants for First Boy Scout Troop in the United States is Troop 1 in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is also home to the oldest annual Scouting event in the nation, the Valley Forge Pilgrimage and Encampment.
In 1913, the Philadelphia council opened the first American scout camp, Treasure Island Scout Reservation, near Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania. Two years later, Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carrol Edson founded the Order of the Arrow, which inducted its first members on July 16, 1915 at Treasure Island. The 1921 and 1931 National Order of the Arrow Lodge Meetings were held at Philadelphia, the 1922 and 1927 National Lodge Meetings were held at Reading, Pennsylvania, and the 1940 National Lodge Meeting was held at Ligonier, Pennsylvania.
The 1950 National Jamboree was held at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
[edit] Recent history (1950-1990)
The 1957 and 1964 National Jamborees were held at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Half of the 1973 National Jamboree (Jamboree East) was held at Moraine State Park in Pennsylvania, where the 1977 National Jamboree was also held.
During 1975 and 1976, Scouts in the Philadelphia area could earn a Colonial Philadelphia merit badge. It could only be counted towards palms, not any rank, and came in a green border and a very yellow-green border. This was the only time BSA National approved a regional merit badge for any such use.
[edit] Scouting in Pennsylvania today
There are twenty-four Boy Scouts of America local councils in Pennsylvania.
[edit] Allegheny Highlands Council
Allegheny Highlands Council serves Scouts in New York and McKean and Potter counties in Pennsylvania.
[edit] Baden-Powell Council
The Baden-Powell Council serves Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania and parts of New York .
[edit] Bucks County Council
The Bucks County Council, Pennsylvania is a Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Camp Ockanickon is a Scout reservation, located on Tohickon Creek in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The camp was founded in 1941 and named after a Lenape chief who assisted William Penn in the exploration of the Bucks Country area. The camp is run as a weekend camp during spring, fall and winter, and as a full-time summer camp during the summer. There are fifteen separate camp sites, and a wide range of activities and programs including the first ever scout Science Center run by the greatest science staff .
[edit] Districts
- Lenape District
- Pennsbury District
- Playwicki District
- Tohpendel District
[edit] Bucktail Council
Covering Elk, Cameron, Clearfield, Jefferson and Northern Centre Counties of Pennsylvania
Districts
- Elk
- Seneca
- Susquehanna
[edit] Chief Cornplanter Council
In 1910, members of the community of Warren, Pennsylvania first explored Scouting activities. In 1913, the Boy Scouts of America gave a charter to an organization known at the time as the Warren County Council. In 1954 the Council's official name was changed to Chief Cornplanter Council to honor the famous Seneca Chief who had his home in this area in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Cornplanter, the son of a Dutch trader from Albany, NY named John O'Bail and a Seneca Squaw, was a prominent Seneca Chief during and after the Revolutionary War period. In the French and Indian Wars, he once fought against a British force under Braddock which included a young George Washington.
The Council's Camp, Camp Olmsted was purchased for the Council by George W. Olmsted. Mr. Olmsted organized the Long Island Lighting Company.
The Chief Cornplanter Council's Order of the Arrow Lodge is Gyantwachia #255 first organized as part of the Warren County Council, Boy Scouts of America in 1944 as the Chief Cornplanter Lodge at Camp Olmsted. "Gyantwachia" means "one who plants corn," the Seneca name of Chief Cornplanter. The Lodge totem is the wolf.
[edit] Chester County Council
Main article: Chester County Council
The Chester County Council is a Boy Scouts of America service council that serves members of the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturing programs in Chester County, Pennsylvania and Northeastern Cecil County, Maryland. It is one of the oldest councils in the nation, and is one of three single-county councils left in Pennsylvania, the other two being the Chief Cornplanter Council in Warren, PA and the Bucks County Council in Doylestown, PA (Philadelphia Area Council was a single-county council, covering Philadelphia County, but has since became part of the three-county Cradle of Liberty Council).
[edit] Columbia-Montour Council
- Iroquois District
- Susquehannocks District
The Columbia-Montour Council has now combined its two districts into one. It is now split up into 3 service areas. The council is currently running a contest for any scout under the age of 18 to Name The District.
Official website of the Columbia-Montour Council [1]
[edit] Cradle of Liberty Council
Main article: Cradle of Liberty Council
The Cradle of Liberty Council is a Boy Scouts of America council created in 1996 with the merger of the former Philadelphia Area Council, covering the city and county of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the former Valley Forge Council, covering both Delaware County, Pennsylvania and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It is the largest council in Pennsylvania and one of the ten largest in the entire Boy Scouts of America.
[edit] Districts
- Baden Powell- Home of Oreland Boy Scout Troop 1
- Conestoga
- Constellation
- Continental
- Delaware
- Frontier
- General Nash
- Lafayette
- Minquas
- Northern
- Triune
- Washington
[edit] Five Rivers Council
Five Rivers Council serves Scouts in New York and Pennsylvania.
[edit] French Creek Council
The French Creek Council with headquarters in Erie, PA was organized in 1972 from a merger of the former Washington Trail Council (Erie), Custaloga Council (Sharon, PA) and Col. Drake Council (Oil City, PA).
The Council serves Scouts in six counties in northwestern Pennsylvania and one Township in Ohio.
[edit] History of the Council
It is known that early in 1749 Captain Louis Celeron de Bienville was appointed by the Governor of New France to make an expedition to lay claim to the land from the Great Lakes to the forks of the Ohio. The expedition proceeded from the shore of Lake Erie and along French Creek through Custaloga's Town to present day Franklin. Celeron's expedition buried lead plates along the route with an inscription claiming the land for France. It is believed that one was buried near Custaloga's Town, but it has never been found.
The French called the creek "River aux Boeufs" (Buffalo River), probably because of the woodland bison which may have roamed this area. The natives called French Creek the Venango River. It finally became known as French Creek when 21 year-old George Washington called it that during his misison to visit the French at Fort Le Boeuf (Waterford, PA)in 1753.
Former Washington Trail Council: The first charter in Erie was in 1915 with 77 Scouts and four troops. In 1928 the Council territory was expanded to all of Erie County and in 1936 the name was changed to Erie County Council which continued until 1944 when the name was changed to the Washington Trail Council. The Meadville Council was chartered in 1917 and became the Crawford County Council in 1923. It was added to the Erie Council in 1926. The Washington Trail Council Camp was Camp Sequoyah, on the shores of Lake Erie. This camp was sold in the 1970s.
Former Custaloga Council: The Grove City Council was chartered in 1922 and the Shenango Valley Council was chartered in 1923. They consolidated in 1927 to form the Mercer County Council. In 1969 the name was changed to the Custaloga Council. The city of Mercer at the time was chartered as a 2nd Class council (no Scout Executive, but run by a volunteer Scout Commissioner) in 1917. Orangeville, Ohio was added to the Shenango Valley Council in 1924 from the Trumbull County Council. The Council's name was changed to Custaloga Council in the 1960s. The former Custaloga Council Camp was Custaloga Town Scout Reservation, which is the current camping facility for the French Creek Council. Prior to the purchase of Custaloga Town, the Mercer County Council camp was called Camp Kiondashawa, along the Shenango River in Mercer County, PA.
Former Colonel Drake Council: A charter was granted to Oil City Council in 1915. In 1922 it was changed to Venango County Council and in 1925 changed to Clarion and Venango Council. Forest County was added to the charter in 1928 and the Titusville area (in Crawford County) was added in 1930. The name was changed again in 1942 to the Colonel Drake Council. This Council operated Camp Coffman in Venango COunty. Camp Coffman was sold in the 1970s.
These Councils merged in 1972 to form the current French Creek Council.
[edit] Current Districts
>Chief Kiondashawa District serves Mercer County, PA and Brookfield, Ohio.
>Colonel Drake District serves Venango County, Clarion County and Forest County as well as the Titusville, PA area in Crawford County.
>Oliver Perry District serves 12 school districts along the lakeshore in Erie County.
>Washington Trail District serves the remainder of Crawford County and the southern half of Erie County.
[edit] Camping
The French Creek Council owns and operates an over-500 acre facility known as Custaloga Town Scout Reservation located along French Creek in Mercer and Venango Counties.
The area of Custaloga Town was inhabited by members of the Wolf Clan of the Seneca, under the leadership of Chief Guyasutha, who served as the League Deputy or "half king" on the Allegheny - Ohio. Guyasutha was the uncle of Chief Cornplanter and is buried on the grounds of Custaloga Town Scout Reservation.
Chief Custaloga, of the Wolf Clan of Delawares, arrived at the present site of Custaloga Town Scout Reservation in the mid 1700's and built a sizeable village here, which became his principal seat. Custaloga's name first appeared in western Pennsylvania's history in "George Washington's Journal of 1753". When Washington arrived at Fort Machault in the village of Venango (present Franklin, PA), Custaloga was in charge of the wampum of his nation.
Since Custaloga had aided Chief Pontiac in his rebellion, the white settlers were wary of the actions of Custaloga and asked Guyasutha to live among his people at Custaloga's Town to maintain a watchful eye on Custaloga's actions.
On November 29, 1778, Colonel James Smith led an expedition from Fort Pitt to Custaloga's Town, but found the Indian town evacuated. After this date very little is recorded about Custaloga. Captain Pipe had become Custaloga's successor as leader of the Wolf Clan of the Delaware. Some believe he lived in Ohio after he left Custaloga's Town.
The first log cabin on site was built in 1794, and in 1820, the Heydrick Homestead was started by Dr. Charles Heydrick came. This nearly 200 year-old building is still in use by the French Creek Council. The Heydrick Farm continued to be operated through 1946.
In 1963 the Mercer County Council purchased the land for the development of a Scout Reservation named Custaloga Town. Jim Dunlop was president for four years during the fund drive and construction of the reservation. Carlton Hutchison was chairman of the camp fund drive. John Gross, the person who found this site, was the architect of buildings and camp layout. Vern Smith was camp development chairman for Mercer County Council.
Camp Hank Forker was the first camp to open on the reservation. Custaloga Town first opened to Scout camping in the summer of 1968, It replaced the Mercer County Council's Camp Kiondashawa and later became the home for the entire French Creek Council. The first Scout camp was held during the summer of 1968 with Dr. Frederick J. Brenner serving as Camp Director. Custaloga Town Scout Reservation was dedicated on Saturday, July 19, 1969.
Each year Camp Hank Forker on the Custaloga Town Scout Reservation hosts hundreds of Scouts from all over the United States.
[edit] Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow Lodge for the French Creek Council is Langundowi #46. This Lodge came into existence in 1972 with the merger of the former Eriez Lodge #46 (Erie, PA), Hoh-Squa-Sa-Gah-Da Lodge #251 (Sharon, PA), and the Skanondo Inyan Lodge #256 (Oil City, PA).
The name "Langundowi" means "Peaceful One" in Lenape. The Lodge totem is the Iroquois Great Tree of Peace.
Langundowi Lodge has been a strong an integral part of the French Creek Council since the merger and continues to be a leader in the local, sectional, and national levels.
[edit] Greater Pittsburgh Council
Districts
- Beaver Valley District
- Chartiers District
- Conestoga District
- Fort Pitt District
- Greene District
- Japeechen District
- Mingo Trails District
- Mon Valley District
- Montour District
- Seneca District
- Steel City District
- Tecumsa District
Council camps
- Heritage Reservation
- Camp Twin Echo
- Camp Anawanna
- Camp Baker
- Camp Guyasuta
[edit] Hawk Mountain Council
Serving Berks, Schuylkill and western Carbon Counties.
- Appalachian District
- Black Rock District
- Cacoosing District
- Indian Run District
- Kittatinny Lodge #5, Order of the Arrow
Hawk Mountain Council, BSA #528
Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation
Kittatinny Lodge #5
Patches of the Hawk Mountain Council
[edit] Hudson Valley Council
The Hudson Valley Council is headquartered in Salisbury Mills, New York, and also serves Scouts in Pennsylvania.
[edit] Juniata Valley Council
- Oneida District (Huntingdon County)
- Nittany Mountain District (Centre County)
- Shawnee District (Mifflin and Juniata Counties)
Council Web site Monaken Lodge Web site
Camp: Located just off US Rt. 322 between Lewistown, PA and State College, PA. Seven Mountains Boy Scout Camp Uses the chartered troop plan, its own leadership, and the "patrol method", (which is recognized as the ideal method for Scout camping). Offers four (4) weeks of Boy Scout resident camping, two (2) weeks of Webelos resident camping, Cub/Parent overnight camping, and Family camping.
[edit] Keystone Area Council
The Keystone Area Council serves Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, most of Franklin and part of York Counties.
- Adventure District
- Blue Mountain District
- Frontier District
- Kittattinny District
- Union Canal District
Council camp: Hidden Valley Scout Reservation
[edit] Mason-Dixon Council
Tuscarora District
- Troop 19
- Troop 88 - Otterbein United Brethren in Christ Church
- Troop 97
Mason-Dixon Council serves Scouts in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
[edit] Minsi Trails Council
The Minsi Trails Council is a council of the Boy Scouts of America that serves Scouts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
[edit] Moraine Trails Council
Moraine Trails Council is home to Camp Bucoco (Boy Scouts) and Camp Agawam (Cub Scouts). Moraine State Park is also located within the council boundaries, and was the site for two National Jamborees.
- King Beaver District
- Glacier Ridge District
- River Valley District
[edit] Northeastern Pennsylvania Council
- Appalachian District
- Lakes District
- Two Mountains District
[edit] Penn's Woods Council
- Chestnut Ridge District
- Chief Logan District
- Forbes Trail District
- Keystone District
[edit] Pennsylvania Dutch Council
The Pennsylvania Dutch Council, Pennsylvania is a Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
[edit] Troop and Pack Information
The Harvest District consists of 35 Packs, 31 Troops, 1 Lodge, 1 Ship, 1 Team and 11 Crews
[edit] Lodges
Lodge 39 - Lancaster
- Conestoga River District
- Harvest District
- Horse-Shoe Trail District
[edit] Susquehanna Council
- Buffalo Trails District
[edit] York-Adams Area Council
The York-Adams Area Council, Pennsylvania is a local council of the Boy Scouts of America.
- First Capital District - serving York City and the northern sections of York County
- Blue & Grey District - serving the Hanover and Gettysburg areas of South-Central Pennsylvania.
- Troop 103, Hanover PA: http://www.bsatroop103.org
- Indian Steps District - serving the southern sections of York County.
The York-Adams Area Council owns three council camps, which are Camp Tuckahoe, Camp Conewago, and Wizard Ranch.
[edit] Westmoreland-Fayette Council
- Braddock Trail District
- Bushy Run District
- Laurel Hills District
- Old Trails District
[edit] Girl Scouting in Pennsylvania
There are 13 Girl Scout council offices in Pennsylvania.
GS USA is currently going through a nationwide realignment.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will end up with 3 councils.
Penn Laurel has been accepted as an "early adopter" by the end of this year they will be merged with the following councils: Scranton Poconos, Penn's Woods, Hemlock.
In western Pennsylvania, the following councils will be merged: Penn Lakes, Keystone Tall Trees, Beaver & Lawrence Counties, Talus Rock, Westmoreland, and Trillium.
Seven Lakes will remain as part of New York.
Eastern Pennsylvania will be merged as follows: Great Valley and Southeastern Pennsylvania.
The new council names have yet to be decided.
Girl Scouts of Beaver and Lawrence Counties Beaver, Pennsylvania Web Site: http://www.girlscouts-wpa.org
Girl Scouts of Freedom Valley Valley Forge, Pennsylvania Web Site: http://www.gsfvc.org
Girl Scouts - Great Valley Council, inc Allentown, Pennsylvania Web Site: http://girlscouts-greatvalley.org
Hemlock Girl Scout Council, Inc Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Web Site: http://www.hgsc.org
Keystone Tall Tree Girl Scout Council Kittanning, Pennsylvania Web Site: http://www.girlscouts-wpa.org
Penn Lakes Girl Scout Council, Inc Edinboro, Pennsylvania Web Site: http://www.girlscouts-pl.org
Penn Laurel Girl Scout Council, Inc York, Pennsylvania Web Site: http://www.pennlaurel.org
Penn's Woods Girl Scout Council Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania Web Site: http://www.pennswoodsgirlscouts.org
Girl Scouts, Scranton Pocono Council Scranton, Pennsylvania Web Site: http://www.spgsc.org
Girl Scouts of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania Web Site: http://www.gssp.org
Girl Scouts of Talus Rock Council, Inc Johnstown, Pennsylvania Web Site: http://www.talusrockpa.org
Girl Scouts - Trillium Council Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Web Site: http://www.girlscouts-wpa.org
Girl Scout Council of Westmoreland, Inc. Greensburg, Pennsylvania Web Site: http://www.girlscouts-wpa.org
[edit] Scouting museums in Pennsylvania
[edit] International Scouting units in Pennsylvania
In addition, there are Homenetmen Armenian Scouts in Philadelphia, and Külföldi Magyar Cserkészszövetség Hungarian Scouting maintains two troops in Philadelphia and one in Pittsburgh.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
 Scouting in the United States |
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