Scouting in Pennsylvania

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Scouting in Pennsylvania
Troop 152 Scouts, Philadelphia, at Scout Sunday Service at the St Francis de Sales church
Valley Forge Trail Medal
Valley Forge Trail Medal
Girl Scout working on her Gold Award Project
Girl Scout working on her Gold Award Project
Camp Archbald Sign
Camp Archbald Sign

Scouting in Pennsylvania has a long and rich tradition, from 1908[1]:55 to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.

History

Early history (1908–1950)

One of the earliest Scouting groups 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.[1]:55 The oldest Pennsylvania Scout troop still in existence is "Troop Bala One" in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, which was founded in 1908 by Frank H. Sykes.[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.

Warren, Pennsylvania, Boy Scout Basketball Team, 1912

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, Texas, in October 2007.[citation needed]

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 Laurel Highlands 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, [1]:68 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 Pennsylvania, 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 [1]:56 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.

Recent history (1950–1990)

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.[3]

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, Pennsylvania.

In 1967, the former Nemacolin Trails Council in Washington, Pennsylvania, 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 former 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. [1]:85 1970 also saw the merger of Blair-Bedford Area Council (Altoona), William Penn Council (Indiana, Pennsylvania) and Admiral Robert E. Peary Council (Johnstown, Pennsylvania) into the former 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, Pennsylvania.

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, Pennsylvania), forming the current Moraine Trails Council. Host to two National Jamborees (see below).

Also in 1973, the former Elk Lick Council, in Bradford, Pennsylvania, merged into Allegheny Highlands Council headquartered in Falconer, New York.

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 1950, 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.

Boy Scouting in Pennsylvania today

Bucktail Council

Bucktail Council #509
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters DuBois, Pennsylvania
Scout Executive Gregg Bennett
Website
bucktail.org

Camps

  • Camp Mountain Run

Order of the Arrow

  • Ah'Tic Lodge #139


Bucks County Council

Main article: Bucks County Council (Boy Scouts of America)
Bucks County Council (#777)
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Country United States
Scout Executive Magne Gundersen
Website
buckscountybsa.org

Bucks County Council serves Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Chester County Council

Main article: Chester County Council
Chester County Council #539
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Location West Chester
Country United States
Scout Executive Charles E. Rogers, Jr.
Website
http://www.cccbsa.org

Camps

Order of the Arrow

  • Octoraro Lodge #22


Chief Cornplanter Council

Chief Cornplanter Council#538
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters Warren, Pennsylvania
Country United States
Scout Executive Kevin Bonner
Website
cccbsa.com

Camps

  • Camp Olmsted

Order of the Arrow

  • Gyantwachia Lodge #255


Columbia-Montour Council

Columbia-Montour Council #504
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
Scout Executive Paul Knox
Website
columbiamontourbsa.org

Camps-

Order of the Arrow

  • Wyona Lodge #18


Cradle of Liberty Council

Main article: Cradle of Liberty Council
Cradle of Liberty Council #525
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Country United States
Coordinates Coordinates: 39°57′32″N 75°10′32″W / 39.959°N 75.17552°W / 39.959; -75.17552
Founded 1996
President T. Roderick Henkels
Council Commissioner Stephen Perrone
Scout Executive Thomas Harrington
Website
http://www.colbsa.org/

Camps

Order of the Arrow


French Creek Council

Main article: French Creek Council
French Creek Council #532
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Country United States
Founded 1972
Website
Frenchcreek-BSA.org

The French Creek Council serves Boy Scouts in six counties in northwestern Pennsylvania and one township in Ohio. The council was organized in 1972 from a merger of the former Washington Trail Council of Erie, Custaloga Council of Sharon and Colonel Drake Council of Oil City, Pennsylvania. It has headquarters in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Hawk Mountain Council

Main article: Hawk Mountain Council
Hawk Mountain Council #528
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters Reading, Pennsylvania
Country United States
Founded 1970
President Daniel Adams
Scout Executive William Garrett
Website
hmc-bsa.org

Camps

  • Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation

Order of the Arrow

  • Kittatinny Lodge #5


Juniata Valley Council

Juniata Valley Council CSP (#497)
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters Reedsville, PA
Country United States
Scout Executive James Kennedy
Website
jvcbsa.org

Camps

  • Seven Mountains Scout Camp

Order of the Arrow

  • Monaken Lodge


Laurel Highlands Council

Main article: Laurel Highlands Council
Laurel Highlands Council
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Country United States
Founded July 1, 2011
Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh
Website
http://www.lhc-bsa.org

Laurel Highlands Council serves youth in the Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. Laurel Highlands Council was formed whenever the Greater Pittsburgh and Penn's Woods Councils merged in 2011.

Camps

  • Camp Anawanna
  • Camp Anderson
  • Camp Baker
  • Camp Guyasuta
  • Heritage Reservation (containing camps Liberty, Freedom, Eagle Base, and Independence)
  • Camp Joseph
  • Putts Campground
  • Camp Seph Mack
  • Camp Twin Echo.

Order of the Arrow

  • Allohak Menewi Lodge 57


Minsi Trails Council

Main article: Minsi Trails Council
Minsi Trails Council #502
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters Allentown, Pennsylvania
Founded 1969
President Joseph E. Brake
Commissioner Eric J. Chiles
Scout Executive Craig Poland
Website
minsitrails.com

Minsi Trails Council is a council of the Boy Scouts of America that serves Scouts of eastern Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley and Pocono regions as well as parts of western New Jersey. The council serves six-counties: Lehigh Northampton, Monroe, Carbon, Luzerne, and Warren counties.

The council was formed in 1969, after the merger of the Bethlehem Area Council, Delaware Valley Area Council, and Lehigh Council. The council consists of six districts and maintains two camping properties: Camp Minsi in Pocono Summit, Pennsylvania, and Trexler Scout Reservation in Jonas, Pennsylvania.

Moraine Trails Council

Moraine Trails Council #500
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters Butler, Pennsylvania
Country United States
Scout Executive Ray Tennent
Website
morainetrails.org

Camps

  • Camp Agawam
  • Camp Bucoco

Order of the Arrow

  • Kuskitannee Lodge #168


New Birth of Freedom Council

Main article: New Birth of Freedom Council
New Birth of Freedom Council #544
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Country United States
Founded April 1, 2010
Scout Executive Ron Gardner
Website
newbirthoffreedom.org

The New Birth of Freedom Council is a council of the Boy Scouts of America serving South-Central Pennsylvania. The council was formed by a merger of York-Adams Area Council and Keystone Area Council on April 1, 2010.

Northeastern Pennsylvania Council

Main article: Northeastern Pennsylvania Council
Northeastern Pennsylvania Council #501
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters Moosic, Pennsylvania
Country United States
Founded 1990
Scout Executive Marcel Cinquina
Website
nepabsa.org

Northeastern Pennsylvania Council, with headquarters in Moosic, Pennsylvania, formed in 1990 from the merger of Forest Lakes Council and Penn Mountains Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Pennsylvania Dutch Council

Pennsylvania Dutch Council #524
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Scout Executive Edward Rasmuson
Website
padutchbsa.org

Camps-

  • Bashore Scout Reservation
  • Edward Mack Scout Reservation

Order of the Arrow

  • Wunita Gokhos Lodge #39[4]


Susquehanna Council

Susquehanna Council #533
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Country United States
Scout Executive Jon Brennan
Website
susquehannabsa.org

Camps

  • Camp Karoondinha (Glen Iron, Pennsylvania)

Order of the Arrow

  • Woapeu Sisilija Lodge #343


Westmoreland-Fayette Council

Westmoreland-Fayette Council #512
Owner Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Scout Executive Martin Barbie
Website
wfbsa.org

Camps

  • Camp Conestoga
  • Camp Buck Run
  • Camp Tenacharison

Order of the Arrow

  • Wagion Lodge #6 [5]


Non-Pennsylvania-based Boy Scout councils

Allegheny Highlands Council

Baden-Powell Council

Five Rivers Council

Potomac Council

Mason-Dixon Council

Girl Scouting in Pennsylvania today

Girl Scouting in Pennsylvania


Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania

Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania
Owner GSUSA
Headquarters Harrisburg, PA
Country United States
Scout Executive Jane Ransom
Website
gshpa.org

Camps


Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania

Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania
Owner GSUSA
Headquarters Miquon, Pennsylvania
Country United States
Website
gsep.org

Camps

Divesting in camps

According to a June 16 2011 report, the council has decided to divest in Camp Tweedale, Camp Tohikanee, and Camp Hidden Falls.[6][7][8]

Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania

Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania
Owner GSUSA
Headquarters Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Country United States
Scout Executive Patricia A. Burkart
Website
gswpa.org

Camps


Non-Pennsylvania-based Girl Scout councils

Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways

Scouting museums in Pennsylvania

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 other's collections

International Scouting units in Pennsylvania

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Scouting in Pennsylvania.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Henning, Steve (2009). Susan Shelly, ed. On My Honor - The Hawk Mountain Council Story ... 1908-2010. Company Heritage Books. ISBN 9780980100914. 
  2. ↑ Troop Bala One History
  3. ↑ Hook, James; Franck, Dave; Austin, Steve (1982). An Aid to Collecting Selected Council Shoulder Patches with Valuation. 
  4. ↑ http://www.wg39.org
  5. ↑ www.wagion.org
  6. ↑ http://www.gsep.org/blog/blog.php?ID=1
  7. ↑ http://www.change.org/petitions/girl-scouts-of-eastern-pa-keep-camp-tweedale-open
  8. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Camp-Tweedale-and-Tohi/231434100216334
  9. ↑ St. Gregory the Illuminator, Armenian Apostolic Church, http://www.saintgregory-phily.org,
Scouting organizations
Scouts-in-Exile
Scout-like organizations
Non-sectarian
Sectarian
Historical organizations
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