Scouting in Pennsylvania has a long and rich tradition, from 1908[1] to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.
Scouting in Pennsylvania began in 1908 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, when a Superintendent with the Pennsylvania State Police, Lynn G. Adams, formed a troop using Baden-Powell's handbook, Scouting for Boys. The troop was made up of two patrols, one sponsored by the Pottsville Mission and the other by the YMCA. Adams became the first Scoutmaster in Pennsylvania in 1910 soon after the BSA was incorporated.[2]
The first council in Pennsylvania was the Delaware & Montgomery County Council in 1911. This council eventually became the former Valley Forge Council, now part of the Cradle of Liberty Council.
Sixteen councils were chartered in America between 1910 and 1913. The seventeenth was the Warren County Council headquartered in Warren, Pennsylvania. This Council later changed its name to Chief Cornplanter Council and is still in operation. It is currently the oldest existing, continuously registered council in America. The other preceding 16 councils either went out of business or merged with another Council at some point in their history. The information for this paragraph was provided by the Registration Department of the National Office of the BSA, Irving, TX in October 2007.
Also 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.
In 1914, the Allegheny County Council, forerunner of today's Greater Pittsburgh Council, was chartered. Also in 1914, the Philadelphia council was chartered.
In 1915 charters were first granted to the councils headquartered in Erie, Wilkes-Barre, and Oil City, Pennsylvania.
In 1916, councils were chartered in Reading,[3] Lancaster, Harrisburg, and Scranton, among others. The Council in Harrisburg is now part of New Birth of Freedom Council.
In 1917 Meadville, State College and Bethlehem were granted charters by the National Office, along with nine other councils.
1919 saw the councils in Williamsport, Altoona and Chester County formed. Like Chief Cornplanter, the Chester County Council is still in operation today and they represent only a handful of small one-county councils left in America. The other one in PA, Bucks County Council, received its first charter in 1927.
By 1920, forty-six Councils had been chartered in Pennsylvania. Most of these were small Councils no larger than the town they were named after. Some of these were known as "Second Class Councils".
In the following years, other currently chartered councils were started: Juniata Valley in 1929; Bucktail in 1930; Columbia-Montour and Schuylkill County Area[4] in 1931; and York-Adams in 1932.
1937 saw the formation of the current Westmoreland-Fayette Council in Greensburg.
All other current Councils in Pennsylvania are the result of mergers which began to occur in the 1960s through present day.
1941 saw the creation of Camp Ockanickon, in Bucks County 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 1928, Eagle Scout (and Erie native) Paul Siple was one of the first Scouts to travel to Antarctica with Admiral Richard Byrd. Byrd had held a national contest to invite worthy Eagle Scouts along with the expedition. Paul Siple later went on to develop what is now known as the "Wind Chill Factor"
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 Scout Jamboree was held at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Outside of the few small Councils mentioned above, the history of Pennsylvania Councils over the past 50 years has been one of mergers.
Beginning in 1962, the Mid-Valley Council, headquartered in Peckville merged with the former Dan Beard Council in Scranton to form the Forest Lakes Council. Meanwhile, in 1970, the former Anthracite Council (Hazleton) merged with the former Wyoming Valley Council (Wilkes-Barre) to form the Penn Mountains Council. In 1984, the area comprising the former Anthracite Council removed itself from the Penn Mountains Council and joined neighboring Minsi Trails Council. Forest Lakes Council and Penn Mountains Council merged in 1990 to form the current Northeastern Pennsylvania Council, in Moosic, PA.
In 1967, the former Nemacolin Trails Council in Washington, PA merged with the Allegheny Council in Pittsburgh to become the former Allegheny Trails Council. This Council merged again in 1993 with East Valley Council to become the current Greater Pittsburgh Council.
In 1969, the Lehigh County Council (Allentown), Bethlehem Area Council (Bethlehem) and Delaware Valley Area Council (Easton) merged to form the current Minsi Trails Council in Allentown.
In 1970, the former Appalachian Trail Council and Daniel Boone Council merged to form the current Hawk Mountain Council in Reading.[5] 1970 also saw the merger of Blair-Bedford Area Council (Altoona), William Penn Council (Indiana, PA) and Admiral Robert E. Peary Council (Johnstown, Pennsylvania) into the current Penns Woods Council in Ebensburg.
In 1971, the Lancaster County Council and Lebanon County Councils merged to form the Lancaster-Lebanon Council. This Council changed its name in 1995 to Pennsylvania Dutch Council and is headquartered in Lancaster, PA.
In 1972, the Washington Trail Council (Erie), Colonel Drake Council (Oil City) and Custaloga Council (Sharon) merged to form the current French Creek Council, headquartered in Erie.
1973 saw the merger of the former Lawrence County Council (New Castle) with the former Pioneer Trails Council (Butler, PA), forming the current Moraine Trails Council. Host to two National Jamborees (see below).
Also in 1973, the former Elk Lick Council, in Bradford, PA merged into Allegheny Highlands Council headquartered in Falconer, NY
In 1974, the former West Branch Council (Williamsport) and Susquehanna Valley Area Council (Sunbury) merged to form the current Susquehanna Council in Williamsport.
Other notable happenings in Pennsylvania Scouting at this time include:
The 1957 and 1964 National Scout Jamborees were held at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Half of the 1973 National Scout Jamboree (Jamboree East) was held at Moraine State Park in Pennsylvania, where the 1977 National Scout Jamboree and Campaganza 2010 were 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.
| Council number: | 497 |
| Council headquarters: | Reedsville, PA |
| Scout executive: | James Kennedy |
| Camps & properties: | Seven Mountains Scout Camp |
| Order of the Arrow: | Monaken Lodge |
| Official website: | www.jvcbsa.org |
| Council number: | 500 |
| Council headquarters: | Butler, PA |
| Scout executive: | Ray Tennent |
| Camps & properties: | Camp Agawam Camp Bucoco |
| Order of the Arrow: | Kuskitannee Lodge #168 |
| Official website: | www.doubleknot.com |
| Council number: | 501 |
| Council headquarters: | Moosic, PA |
| Scout executive: | Marcel Cinquina |
| Camps & properties: | Camp Acahela (Blakeslee, PA) Goose Pond Scout Reservation (Lake Ariel, PA) |
| Order of the Arrow: | Lowwapaneu Lodge |
| Official website: | www.nepabsa.org |
| Council number: | 502 |
| Council headquarters: | Lehigh Valley, PA |
| Scout executive: | Craig Poland |
| Camps & properties: | Camp Minsi (Pocono Summit, PA) Trexler Scout Reservation (Kunkletown, PA) |
| Order of the Arrow: | Witauchsoman Lodge #44 |
| Official website: | www.minsitrails.com |
| Council number: | 504 |
| Council headquarters: | Bloomsburg, PA |
| Scout executive: | Paul Knox |
| Camps & properties: | Lavigne Road (Benton, PA) |
| Order of the Arrow: | Wyona Lodge #18 |
| Official website: | www.columbiamontourbsa.org |
| Council number: | 509 |
| Council headquarters: | DuBois, PA |
| Scout executive: | Gregg Bennett |
| Camps & properties: | Camp Mountain Run |
| Order of the Arrow: | Ah'Tic Lodge #139 |
| Official website: | www.bucktail.org |
| Council number: | 512 |
| Council headquarters: | Greensburg, PA |
| Scout executive: | Martin Barbie |
| Camps & properties: | Camp Conestoga Camp Buck Run |
| Order of the Arrow: | Wagion Lodge #6 |
| Official website: | www.wfbsa.org |
| Council number: | 544 |
| Council headquarters: | Mechanicsburg, PA |
| Scout executive: | Ronald Gardner |
| Camps & properties: | Camp Conewago (New Oxford, PA) Camp Tuckahoe (Dillsburg, PA) Hidden Valley Scout Reservation (Loysville, PA) Wizard Ranch (Hallam, PA) |
| Order of the Arrow: | Sasquesahanough Lodge |
| Official website: | www.newbirthoffreedom.org |
| Council number: | 524 |
| Council headquarters: | Lancaster, PA |
| Scout executive: | Edward Rasmuson |
| Camps & properties: | Bashore Scout Reservation J. Edward Mack Scout Reservation |
| Order of the Arrow: | Wunita Gokhos Lodge #39 |
| Official website: | www.padutchbsa.org |
| Council number: | 525 |
| Council headquarters: | Philadelphia, PA |
| Scout executive: | Thomas Harrington |
| Camps & properties: | Resica Falls Scout Reservation (East Stroudsburg, PA) Musser Scout Reservation (Marlborough Township) Treasure Island Scout Reservation (closed) |
| Order of the Arrow: | Unami Lodge #1 |
| Official website: | www.colbsa.org |
Penn's Woods Council and Greater Pittsburgh Council merged on July 1, 2011 to form Laurel Highlands Council.
| Council number: | 527 |
| Council headquarters: | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Scout executive: | Mike Surbaugh |
| Camps & properties: | Camp Anawanna Camp Anderson Camp Baker Camp Guyasuta Camp Joseph Camp Seph Mack Camp Twin Echo Heritage Scout Reservation Putt's Camp |
| Order of the Arrow: | Allohak Menewi |
| Official website: | www.lhc-bsa.org |
| Council number: | 528 |
| Council headquarters: | Reading, PA |
| Scout executive: | Daniel Adams |
| Camps & properties: | Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation |
| Order of the Arrow: | Kittatinny Lodge #5 |
| Official website: | www.hmc-bsa.org |
| Council number: | 532 |
| Council headquarters: | Erie, PA |
| Scout executive: | Duane Havard |
| Camps & properties: | Custaloga Town Scout Reservation |
| Order of the Arrow: | Langundowi Lodge #46 |
| Official website: | www.frenchcreek-bsa.org |
| Council number: | 533 |
| Council headquarters: | Williamsport, PA |
| Scout executive: | Jon Brennan |
| Camps & properties: | Camp Karoondinha (Glen Iron, PA) |
| Order of the Arrow: | Woapeu Sisilija Lodge #343 |
| Official website: | www.susquehannabsa.org/ |
| Council number: | 538 |
| Council headquarters: | Warren, PA |
| Scout executive: | Kevin Bonner |
| Camps & properties: | Camp Olmsted |
| Order of the Arrow: | Gyantwachia Lodge #255 |
| Official website: | www.cccbsa.com |
| Council number: | 539 |
| Council headquarters: | West Chester, PA |
| Scout executive: | Eric Magendantz |
| Camps & properties: | Camp Ware (Peach Bottom, PA) Camp Horseshoe (Rising Sun, MD) |
| Order of the Arrow: | Octoraro Lodge #22 |
| Official website: | www.cccbsa.org |
| Council number: | 777 |
| Council headquarters: | Doylestown, PA |
| Scout executive: | Magne Gundersen |
| Camps & properties: | Ockanickon Scout Reservation (Pipersville, PA) |
| Order of the Arrow: | Ajapeu Lodge #33 |
| Official website: | www.buckscountybsa.org/ |
| Council number: | 382 |
| Council headquarters: | Falconer, NY |
| Council number: | 221 |
| Council headquarters: | Hagerstown, MD |
| Council number: | 368 |
| Council headquarters: | Binghamton, NY |
| Council number: | 375 |
| Council headquarters: | Horseheads, NY |
| Council number: | 757 |
| Council headquarters: | Cumberland, MD |
| Council headquarters: | Harrisburg, PA |
| Executive officer: | Jane Ransom |
| Camps & properties: | Camp Archbald (Susquehanna County) Camp Echo Trail (York County) Camp ElWaHo (Chambersburg, PA) Camp Happy Valley (Adams County) Camp Furnace Hills (Lancaster County) Camp Gi Sco Ha (Hanover, PA) Camp Golden Pond (Huntington County) Camp Laurel (Lackawanna County) Camp Louise Camp Lycogis (Sullivan County) Camp Pocono (Monroe County) Camp Small Valley (Dauphin County) |
| Official website: | www.gshpa.org |
| Council headquarters: | Miquon, PA |
| Executive officer: | |
| Camps & properties: | Camp Mosey Wood (Carbon county) Camp Wood Haven (Schuylkill County) Camp Mountain House (Lehigh Valley) Camp Hidden Falls (Dingmans Ferry, PA) Camp Laughing Waters (Gilbertsville, PA) Shelly Ridge Day Camp (Miquon, PA) Valley Forge Day Camp (Valley Forge, PA) Camp Tohikanee (Quakertown, PA) Camp Tweedale (Oxford, PA) |
| Official website: | www.gsep.org |
According to a June 16 2011 report, the council has decided to divest in Camp Tweedale, Camp Tohikanee, and Camp Hidden Falls. The following links may be of interest to those interested in following this situation:
| Council headquarters: | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Executive officer: | Patricia A. Burkart |
| Camps & properties: | Camp Conshatawba (Ebensburg, PA) Camp Curry Creek is 63 acres (250,000 m2) in Brockway, PA) Camp Elliott is 101 acres (0.41 km2) near Volent, PA) Camp Hawthorne Ridge is 207 acres (0.84 km2) in Fairview, PA) Camp Lend-A-Hand (not in use) Camp Redwing (Renfrew, PA) Camp Resting Waters Camp Roy Weller Camp Singing Hills (Venango County) Camp Skymeadow (Avonmore, PA) Camp Timberlake (Marianna, PA) Camp Trefoil Trails Camp Wright-O-Way (Beaver County) Camp Yough (Elizabeth, PA) |
| Official website: | www.gswpa.org |
The World of Scouting Museum is located in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
Another Part of the Museum is located at the Miquon location (Shelley Ridge)
Each year a gathering of collectors come to Valley Forge and buy, sell, and SWAP items for each others collections
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