Scouting in Rhode Island

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Scouting in Rhode Island 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.

Contents

[edit] Early history (1910-1950)

Rhode Island Boy Scouts badge
Rhode Island Boy Scouts badge

Narragansett Council #546, Boy Scouts of America has existed since the early 1900s. The Rhode Island Boy Scouts (RIBS) was a rival organization to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) until its merger with BSA. The RIBS still exists as a trustee organization.

RIBS was founded as a volunteer association on September 6, 1910. RIBS was chartered as a State corporation on April 13th, 1911. Between 1910 and 1917 RIBS managed the majority of Rhode Island and BSA managed Blackstone Valley, Newport and Woonsocket. In 1917 RIBS merged with the BSA with the BSA granting all members of RIBS back service.

RIBS kept its corporate identity after the merger allowing it to continue receiving bequests, funds, and properties, creating the RIBS trustee organization. The trustee organization exists today and owns most of the properties and camps operated by the Narragansett Council. This excludes Camp Cachalot which the Council owns outright as a result of a merger with the former Moby Dick Council.

In 1910 the First Providence Troop was organized in Washington Park, Providence, RI. On October 24 1910 the troop was formally recognized by Scout headquarters. Troop meetings were held at the Broad Street School. The first Scoutmaster was Herbert R. Dean, a retired Army general. The first charter listed sixty-four boys.[1]

[edit] Scouting in Rhode Island today

The Narragansett Council of the Boy Scouts of America, serves all of the state of Rhode Island and some of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Its several camps include Camp Yawgoog and Camp Cachalot. The present council was formed as the result of a 2001 merger between the Moby Dick Council and the Narragansett Council.

[edit] Districts

Narragansett Council is split into the following districts:

  • Cachalot District (covers only Massachusetts)
    The Cachalot District is a subdivision of the Narragansett Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
    Cachalot Council, named after the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), existed until 1972. It was headquartered in New Bedford, Massachusetts and served that city and the surrounding communities. Smaller councils began to be consolidated, which led to Cachalot Council merging with the Massasoit Council (see Massasoit District) to form the Moby Dick Council. In this new council, the two former councils became districts. Moby Dick Council maintained the *:Cachalot Council's office in New Bedford. Massasoit's Camp Noquochoke was sold, and Cachalot's Camp Cachalot remained with the new council.
    Cachalot Council's Agawam Lodge 509, Order of the Arrow, merged with Massasoit's Noquochoke Lodge 124 and became Neemat Lodge 124.
    In 2001, Moby Dick Council merged with Rhode Island's Narragansett Council. The new council kept the Massasoit and Cachalot district designations, and also continues to operate Camp Cachalot.
  • Massasoit District (covers primarily Massachusetts)
Main article: Massasoit District

[edit] Girl Scouting in Rhode Island

There is one Girl Scout council office in Rhode Island.

[edit] See also

Scouting Portal

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Robert, Peterson (05 2001). 90 Years Old and Counting (English). Boy Scouts of America. Retrieved on 01 2008.
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