Scouting in Alabama

Scouting in Alabama 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

Boy Scouting in Alabama

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.

Recent history (1950-1990)

Scouting in Alabama today

In the 1990s, the Boy Scouts of America went through a restructuring in an attempt to reduce manpower, and in several states small historic Councils were merged into a larger supercouncil. The new Greater Alabama Council is an example of such a supercouncil. There are eight BSA local councils serving Scouts in Alabama today.

Alabama-Florida Council

Alabama-Florida Council #3 serves Scouts in Alabama and Florida, as the name implies, with the council office located in Dothan, Alabama.

OA lodge: Cowikee Lodge #224

Black Warrior Council

The Black Warrior Council office is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and the council's name refers to Chief Tuskaloosa whose name means Black Warrior.Black Warrior Council #6

Council districts are:

OA lodge: Aracoma Lodge #481

Chattahoochee Council

Chattahoochee Council serves Scouts in Georgia and Alabama, with the Council office located in Columbus, Georgia. The council's name refers to the Chattahoochee River, which flows through Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.

OA lodge: Chattahoochee Lodge #204

Choctaw Area Council

Choctaw Area Council serves Scouts in Mississippi and Alabama, with the council office located in Meridian, Mississippi. The council's name refers to the Choctaw nation.

OA lodge: Ashwanchi Kinta Lodge #193

Greater Alabama Council

The Greater Alabama Council is located in northern and central Alabama. In the 1990s, the Boy Scouts of America went through a restructuring in an attempt to reduce manpower, and in several states small historic Councils were merged into a larger supercouncil. The new council is an example of such a supercouncil. The council office is located in Birmingham, Alabama.

Greater Alabama Council
Country United States
Website
http://www.1bsa.org
Scouting portal
Districts

The Greater Alabama Council is divided into 12 districts:

Order of the Arrow

Coosa Lodge #50 is the Order of the Arrow lodge associated with the Greater Alabama Council. As of November 2011, the lodge has 12 chapters:[2]

Gulf Coast Council

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 (whose patches are shown here)

Mobile Area Council

The Mobile Area Council office is located in Mobile, Alabama. Camp Pushmataha, the council's weekend primitive facility, was at one time the Council Camp. It is located in Citronelle. The council owns and operates one long term summer camp at the Maubila Scout Reservation. Camp Maubila has 680 acres (2.8 km2) including a swimming pool and private lake. The Mobile Area Council operates both summer camp and winter camp.

OA lodge: Woa Cholena Lodge #322

Tukabatchee Area Council

Tukabatchee Area Council
Location Montgomery, Alabama
Country United States
Website
http://www.tukabatcheebsa.org
Scouting portal

Council office located in Montgomery, AL. The Tukabatchee Area Council's Order of the Arrow Lodge, Alibamu #179, is home to the 2007 National Vice Chief of the Order of the Arrow, Larry Newton.

OA lodge: Alibamu Lodge #179

Girl Scouting in Alabama

There are two Girl Scout councils with headquarters in Alabama. In addition Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia serves Russell County, Alabama.

Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama

The Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama Council serves over 15,000 girls. It owns and operates six camps. Camp Gertrude Coleman, established in 1925, is a 140-acre (0.57 km2) site located east of Trussville on the Cahaba River in Jefferson County. Kanawahala Program Center (KPC) is a 600-acre (2.4 km2) site with a 45-acre (0.18 km2) lake, called Lake Alice. KPC is located in Shelby County. Camp Trico is a beautiful 109-acre (0.44 km2) wooded lot on the shore of Lake Guntersville. Camp Anderel, near Rogersville is a wooded 187-acre (0.76 km2) site nestled between Anderson Creek and the Elk River. Camp Tombigbee in Greene County was purchased in 2001, and has a beautiful 97-acre (0.39 km2) site. Camp Cottaquilla is located in Calhoun County.

The Fehr Fowler Service Center serves as headquarters and include the Council's shop. It is located in the Inverness area of Birmingham. The Council also operates service centers in Anniston, Huntsville, Gadsden, Florence and Tuscaloosa.

Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama

Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama covers 30 counties and serves over 9,000 girl members.

GSSA runs four campsites: Camp Scoutshire Woods, Camp Humming Hills, Camp Sid Edmonds and Kamp Kiwanis. There are two resident camps in the summer at Kamp Kiwanis and Camp Scoutshire Woods. Camp Scoutshire Woods is located on 56 acres (0.23 km2) of rolling wooded hills about 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Mobile. Kamp Kiwanis is located on 110 acres (0.45 km2) 45 minutes north of Montgomery, on Lake Martin. Both camps have boating and swimming areas.

There are two Service Centers. One is located in Mobile, the other in Montgomery and each has a shop.

References

  1. ^ Westmoreland District Website
  2. ^ "Chapters". Coosa Lodge 50, WWW. http://www.coosa50.org. Retrieved November 8, 2011. 

External links

Boy Scouts

Councils

Order of the Arrow Lodges

Girl Scouts