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Scouting in Texas

Scouting in Texas 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

Early history (1910-1950)

In February 1910, just days after the Boys Scouts of America was organized, Boy Scout Troop 114 was established in Floresville, TX by Professor W.H. Butler. A reference to the Floresville Boy Scout Troop can be found in the April 2, 1911 edition of the The Galveston Daily News when they published a picture of the Floresville troop. An article in the Victoria, Weekly Advocate (probably 10/1/1911 edition) refers to the Floresville Boy Scout troop as the second oldest in Texas. A short break in the troop's charter occurred in 1974.

In 1913 Troop 1 was established in Wichita Falls, Texas. Troop 1[which?] has been continuously chartered since 1916.[citation needed]

In 1914, the BSA gave local councils the power to ban African Americans from Scouting. Until 1974, some southern councils of the Boy Scouts of America were still racially segregated. (The Old Hickory council did not integrate until 1974.)

By 1918, unofficial Wolf Cub packs appeared in Paris, Texas.

The Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council traces its roots back to the 1920s when Frances Mann Law and Corrinne Fonde organized a Girl Scout Council in Houston.[1] The council office was in a three roomed cottage.

Most Girl Scouts of the USA units were originally segregated by race according to state and local laws and customs. The first troop for Mexican Americans was formed in Houston in 1922. In 1936, the first African American Girl Scout troop west of the Mississippi was formed in Texas.

The Girls Scouts' Camp Texlake was dedicated in 1949.

Recent history (1950-1990)

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Scouting in Texas today

The National Scout Museum has now been relocated to the National BSA Headquarters in Irving, Texas.

There are twenty Boy Scouts of America local councils in Texas. All of Texas lies within Southern Region, except for El Paso, Hudspeth and Parmer counties, as part of Western Region.

Alamo Area Council

Alamo Area Council is composed of:Alamo Area Council

Old Districts

These ten are no longer have their old names, except Galaxy. Beginning February 2009, each received it's new name:

New Districts

OA Lodge

Aina Topa Hutsi #60 [1] [2]

Bay Area Council

OA Lodge http://www.wihinipahinsa.org/

Buffalo Trail Council

Caddo Area Council

Caddo Area Council serves Scouts in Texas and Arkansas.Caddo Area Council

Longhorn District - Serves Bowie and Cass counties in Northeast Texas.

Capitol_Area_Council">

Capitol Area Council

Capitol Area Council serves Scouts and Scouting volunteers in 15 Central Texas counties, surrounding Austin

OA Lodge

Tonkawa #99

Circle Ten Council

Main article: Circle Ten Council

Circle Ten Council is the main Boy Scouts of America (BSA) chartered council in central north Texas and a portion of Oklahoma. It encompasses all or parts of: Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, Rains, Rockwall and Van Zandt counties in Texas as well as Bryan County in Oklahoma. Founded in 1910 and based in Dallas, approximately 70,000 youth and 10,000 adults participate in Scouting through the council each year. The council has six camps; the Order of the Arrow is represented by Mikanakawa Lodge.

Concho Valley Council

East Texas Area Council

Golden Spread Council

Main article: Golden Spread Council

Golden Spread Council serves Scouts in Texas and Oklahoma.

Longhorn Council

Longhorn Council

NeTseO Trails Council

NeTseO Trails Council serves Scouts in Texas and Southeastern Oklahoma.NeTSeO Trails Council

Districts

Camp Properties

Camp Fredrick Dierks, Wright City, Oklahoma

"Hogue's Landing" a.k.a. Lynwood Hogue Scout Camp, Paris, TX

OA Lodge

Loquanne Allangwh Lodge #428

Northwest Texas Council

Northwest Texas Council Since 1916 Wichita Falls and surrounding communities have had the opportunity to be involved in Scouting. The Mission of the Boy Scouts of America is ‘To prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. The Aims of the BSA is to promote character development, citizenship training and mental and physical fitness. We serve over 2,000 youth members in almost 100 units in the following 12 north Texas counties along the Red River (Archer, Baylor, Clay, Cottle, Foard, Hardeman, King, Knox, Montague, Throckmorton, Wichita, and Wilbarger.)

Camp Properties

Camp Perkins A gift from Mr. & Mrs. J. J. Perkins, this Northwest Texas Council property is about 60 acres of camping paradise. Located between Sheppard Air Force Base and Burkburnett, the camp is close enough to towns to be convenient and remote enough to offer a fun camping experience. Many council sponsored activities take place at Camp Perkins and packs, troops and crews are welcome to use the camp for their own day and overnight events. Charter partners with the Northwest Texas Council are also welcome to utilize the camp. Any persons or groups wishing to use Camp Perkins facilities or equipment must complete the appropriate Camp Reservation Form and submit it along with any fees to the Scout Office for approval. Fees and requirements are listed on the Reservation form depending on the group requesting Camp usage. Two-week notice prior to event is highly recommended!!

Reservation form and required deposit must be submitted & received by the Northwest Texas Council at least 2 weeks prior to the requested date.

The fees and regulations listed in the Camp Reservation forms can be changed at any time per the NWTC Camping Committee.

The Northwest Texas Council also has camping equipment for rent. ...including complete chuck boxes, tents, dining flies, bicycles, canoes (and transport trailer), rowboats, PFDs, cots, blow darts, archery equipment and BB guns. Please contact the NWTC Service Center for more information or to reserve equipment.

OA Lodges

Wichita Lodge 35 Order of the Arrow

Rio Grande Council

Rio Grande Council The Rio Grande Council covers 5 counties, including Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Starr & Zapata and it serves a membership of approximately ,4,000 youth and 1,500 adult leaders. The Rio Grande Council has four districts:

This council is one of 300 geographic council in the Boy Scouts of America. Scouting in the southern most parts of texas, has provided the values that young people have need in the border town of the Rio Grande valley since 1926.

Camp Properties

Laguna Station High Adventure Sea Base is located on South Padre Island. Campers can gain SCUBA certification.

Camp Perry was established in 1927 and has continuously operated as a Boy Scout Camp longer than any other such camp in Texas. Situated on the banks of the Arroyo Colorado, it covers over 260 acres. There are twelve campsites at Camp Perry.

High Adventure Sea Bases

Laguna Station High Adventure Sea Base

Sam Houston Area Council

Camp Properties

OA Lodges

International exchanges

Houston Scouts have an international relationship with Scouts in Chiba, Japan.

Sam Houston Area Council

South Plains Council

Main article: South Plains Council

South Texas Council

The South Texas Council of Corpus Christi, Texas, was renamed from the Gulf Coast Council in 2003.South Texas Council

OA Lodge

Karankawa Lodge 307

Texas Trails Council

The Texas Trails Council was formed in 2003 by the consolidation of the Chisholm Trail Council and the Comanche Trail Council.Texas Trails Council

Three Rivers Council

Yucca Council

Yucca Council serves Scouts in Texas and New Mexico.Yucca Council

Other Scout associations in Texas

Girl Scouting in Texas

There are 8 Girl Scout councils in Texas.

Girl Scouts of Central Texas

Girl Scouts of Central Texas now includes the former councils of: Girl Scouts — Bluebonnet Council, Girl Scouts — El Camino Council, Girl Scouts — Heart of Texas Council, Girl Scouts — Lone Star Council. In 2007, the Girl Scouts of Central Texas served 20,000 girls, ages 5•17 years, and nearly 12,000 adult volunteers. The council runs three residential camps. These are: Camp Texlake, Camp Wood Lake and Camp Kachina. It also runs three primitive camps: Camp Dixie Allison, Camp Howdy and Camp Happy Hollow.

Headquarters: Austin, TX Website: http://www.gsctx.org/

Camp Texlake comprises 455 acres (1.84 km2) on Lake Travis. It was assigned to the former Girl Scouts — Lone Star Council by the Lower Colorado River Authority, and was dedicated on July 17, 1949. That summer nearly 400 girls attended camp. The dining facility overlooks Lake Travis itself. The council houses ten horses at this site as well as encouraging watersports. The camp can accommodate 335 overnight guests in a variety of situations.

Camp Wood Lake is on the shores of Lake Brownwood.

Camp Kachina is on the shores of Lake Belton. It covers a total of 344 acres (1.39 km2). Facilities include an equestrian center and an archery course.

Although nationally the Girl Scouts of the USA does not have a relationship with Planned Parenthood, some Girl Scout councils may choose to have connections to Planned Parenthood. In 2004 in Waco, Texas, the former Bluebonnet Council had endorsed a Planned Parenthood education event, but did not provide money nor send Girl Scouts to it. This was criticized by some pro-life movement supporters and social conservatives. The Bluebonnet Council subsequently removed their endorsement. (USA Today article).

Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest • Southern New Mexico & West Texas

Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest brings together Girl Scouts of the Permian Basin, Girl Scouts of the Rio Grande and Girl Scouts - Zia Council. The merger on May 1, 2009 is part of the realignment of Girl Scout councils nationwide.(see Scouting in New Mexico).

Headquarters: El Paso, TX Website: http://www.gsdsw.org

Service Centers: Midland, TX; Odessa, TX; Alamogordo, NM; Artesia, NM; Carlsbad, NM; Deming, NM; Hobbs, NM; Las Cruces, NM; Roswell, NM; Silver City, NM;

Camp Mitre Peak is located in the Davis Mountains between Alpine and Fort Davis. There are three cabins, known as Kickapoo, Apache, and Seminole, located in Fern Canyon. There are also three tent units: Mescalero, Tonkawa, and Chippewa. These have views of Mitre Peak. The Janice Hill Mathews Amphitheater seats over 200 people and campfires are held here. The Pamela Catherine Haas Horseback Riding Arena, nicknamed Rebel Arena, gives girls the opportunity to participate in western riding and trail riding programs. The Laura Van Pelt Complex supports indoor activities. The complex consists of a pavilion and an educational building. The latter includes a kitchen and a darkroom. Alumni and supporters of the camp can join Troop Mitre.

Camps:

Girl Scouts - Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas

See Scouting in Arkansas.

Headquarters: North Little Rock, Arkansas Website: http://www.girlscoutsdiamonds.org

Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas

Formed by the merger of Girl Scouts Paisano Council and Girl Scouts — Tip of Texas Council in 2007.

Headquarters: Harlingen, TX Website: http://www.gsgst.org/

Council Offices:

Program Centers:

Camps:

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas

New council formed by the merger of Cross Timbers, Red River Valley, and Tejas Councils. 42,761 girls are in this council, 61% of which are in troops. This council serves girls in 32 counties. The first troop in the Dallas area was formed in December 1920.

Headquarters: Dallas, TX Website: http://www.gsnetx.org

Camps:

Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council

This was merged with the Girl Scouts of South Texas Council in 2006. The new council serves some 64,000 girls in Shelby, Nacogdoches, San Augustine, Sabine, Angelina, Houston, Trinity, Polk, Tyler, Jasper, Newton, Walker, San Jacinto, Hardin, Montgomery, Liberty, Orange, Waller, Harris, Chambers, Jefferson, Fort Bend, Galveston, Wharton, and Brazoria counties.

Headquarters: Houston, Texas Website: http://www.gssjc.org/

Program Place and Goodykoontz Museum of Girl Scout History

The Program Place and Goodykoontz Museum of Girl Scout History opened in 2007. It is situated next to the headquarters building and is intended to function in harmony with the headquarters on the shared site. The Program Place includes a library, theater, Girl Scout shop, stage, café and a lounge for older girls, as well as a park with fire pit. The Goodykoontz Museum of Girl Scout History, in the same building, features a timeline from the start of the council in the 1920s until the present, and interactive displays. The building acquisition and renovation cost $5.6 million.[2] The entrance canopy of the Program Place was designed and built by University of Houston graduate architecture students.[3] The pavilion was represents a Girl Scout sash.[4]

Camps

There are ten camps run by the council. Three of these form the Treelake Complex, a series of connected camps. Trails allow Girl Scouts to hike from Camp Misty Meadows to Camp Silver Springs via Camp Agnes Arnold.[5]

Camp Agnes Arnold is a 479-acre (1.94 km2) camp near Conroe. Campers can be accommodated in tents, yurts, tree houses or cabin units. The camp offers canoeing and fishing on Shadow Lake. A nature trail encircles the lake. In total, there are 7 miles (11 km) of hiking and cycling trails on the site. The Ann Temple Allen Lodge is air-conditioned. The Nature Center was opened on 2008-04-12.[6] The center has over 4,000 square feet (370 m2) of space and includes a workroom, classroom and exhibit hall, as well as overnight accommodations for two naturalists. A glass wall makes an indoor observation deck. There is also a pillared observation deck. Wood from around the site was used to build the center. The Council received the 2008 Excellence in Wood Design Award from the Texas Forestry Association (TFA) for the Nature Center.[7] In total, there are 7 miles (11 km) of hiking and cycling trails on the site. The Ann Temple Allen Lodge is air-conditioned.

Camp Camwood covers 100 acres (0.40 km2) in Hockley. It is only operational during the daytime.

Camp Casa Mare is a year-round camping facility for Girl Scouts ages 8•17 years old. It is located on Galveston Bay in Seabrook, Texas and under ownership of the Girl Scouts San Jacinto Council. Camp Casa Mare was founded in 1958[8] and has offered sailing programs, aquatics, and sporting activities, not to mention performing arts and academic classes. Fencing is also offered to campers at this site.

The Galveston Boat Club (GBC) is a two storey building on Galveston Island. Visitors sleep on the floor on the second storey. Adult leaders can be accommodated in a separate small building. The GBC is in a residential area. Visitors primarily use the GBC to visit the island's attractions.

Camp Misty Meadows is a 328-acre (1.33 km2) wooded camp located in Conroe. The main attraction of this camp is its horse riding facilities. In 2007, there was a herd of forty horses. Visitors sleep in cabins or dormitories.

Camp Myra S. Pryor includes air-conditioned cabins and a camping area. The activity center is also air-conditioned.

Camp Robinwood is a 206-acre (0.83 km2) camp in Willis. Campers are accommodated in platform tents, cabins or dorms. Swimming and canoeing is conducted on Lake Ann, a reservoir. There is also an outdoor swimming pool.

Camp Silver Springs is a wooded 131-acre (0.53 km2) camp located in Conroe.

Camp Whispering Pines is a 93-acre (380,000 m2) site located in Garrison. Swimming, canoeing and rope assisted hill climbing are all on offer at this site.

Camp Wind-A-Mere is located in Alvin. The Tejas unit had two teepees. These were destroyed in Hurricane Ike, but will be replaced. The Caddo unit has platform tents. Pine Meadows and the Chickasaw site are camping areas. During Hurricane Ike, a great oak tree fell on the lodge and half the building was declared unsafe and unrepairable.[9]

Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas

Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas serves more than 19,000 girls and was established in 2007 from the San Antonio Area council plus a large section of the old El Camino council.

Headquarters: Sally Cheever Girl Leadership Center, San Antonio, Texas Website: http://www.sagirlscouts.org

Service Centers:

Camps:

Houses:

Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains

Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains serves over 18,000 girls. It was formed by the merger in January 2008 of Girl Scouts of Caprock Council, Girl Scouts-Five Star Council, and Girl Scouts, Norcentex Council.

Headquarters: Fort Worth, Texas Website: http://www.gs-top.org

Regional Offices:

Service Centers:

Camps:

Scouting museums in Texas

See also

Scouting portal

References

  1. ^ "Have you visited the Goodykoontz Museum of Girl Scout History at the Program Place for Girls?". The Golden Link (Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council) 34 (5): 7. September/October 2008. http://www.thegoldenlink.org/doc/SeptOct08GL.pdf. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  2. ^ "Girl Scouts have place to call their own". El Campo Leader-News. 2007-12-08. http://www.leader-news.com/news/2007/1208/lifestyle/036.html. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  3. ^ "Girl Scouts Opens Program Place for Girls". Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council. http://www.gssjc.org/news/2007/12-programplace.cfm. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  4. ^ "Special Recognition Award: The Girl Scouts: Building confidence, character and a new Headquarters". Building Design and Construction. Reed Elsevier Inc. 2008-10-01. http://www.bdcnetwork.com/article/CA6603398.html. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  5. ^ "SouthEast Texas Girl Scouts Camping". http://www.geocities.com/setxgs/camp.html. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  6. ^ "Nature Center Opens At Girl Scout Camp". Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council. May 2008. http://www.gssjc.org/newsdata.cfm?n=180. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  7. ^ "Girl Scouts Recognized by Texas Forestry Association". Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council. November 2008. http://www.gssjc.org/newsdata.cfm?n=199. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  8. ^ "Camp Casa Mare". Camp Channel, Inc. http://www.campchannel.com/camps/2312.html. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  9. ^ Spaeth, Bob (November/December 2008). "Around Camp". The Golden Link (Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council) 34 (6). http://www.thegoldenlink.org/doc/NovDec08GL.pdf. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
  10. ^ Camp La Jita and Mira Sol. Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas. http://www.girlscouts-swtx.org/Images/gssa/Publications/GSSWT2008CampGuide_Web_08Feb08.pdf.

External links

v • d • Scouting in the United States
Scouting organizations Scouting in the United States Baden-Powell Scouts' Association • Boy Scouts of America • Girl Scouts of the USA • International Scout and Guide Fellowship
Scouts-in-Exile Külföldi Magyar Cserkészszövetség • Organization of Russian Young Pathfinders • Polish Scouting Association
Scout-like organizations American Heritage Girls • Awana • Camp Fire USA • Pathfinders • SpiralScouts International • Royal Rangers • Woodcraft Indians
Historical organizations American Boy Scouts • Boy Rangers of America • Lone Scouts of America • New England Boy Scouts • Rhode Island Boy Scouts • Sons of Daniel Boone • Woodcraft Indians
Other organizations Alpha Phi Omega • American Indian Scouting Association • U.S. Scouting Service Project
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Overseas American Scouting overseas
v • d • Camping Facilities in the state of Texas
Camp Arrowhead (Hunt) • Camp Bowie (Brownwood) • Camp Casa Mare (Seabrook) • Camp Champions (Marble Falls) • Camp Cherokee (Athens) • Camp Constantin (Mineral Wells) • Camp Doublecreek (Round Rock) • Camp El Har (Dallas) • Camp El Tesoro (Granbury) • Camp Fern (Marshall) • Camp Hoblitzelle (Midlothian) • Camp John Marc (Meridian) • Camp Kiowa (Denton) • Camp La Junta (Hunt) • Camp Meisenbach (Athens) • Camp Lone Star (La Grange) • Camp Oasis (Dallas) • Camp Olympia (Trinity) • Camp Rio Vista (Ingram) • Camp Stewart (Hunt) • Camp Sweeney (Gainesville) • Camp Wisdom (Dallas) • Camp Young Judaea (Wimberley) • Deer Creek Adventure Camp (Medina) • Echo Hill Ranch (Kerrville) • Heart O' The Hills Camp (Hunt) • James Ray Scout Reservation (Pottsboro) • Lone Star Camp (Tilden) • Texas Lions Camp (Kerrville) • YMCA Camp Carter (Fort Worth) • YMCA Camp Cullen (Trinity) • YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow (Hunt) • YMCA Camp Grady Spruce (Graford) • YMCA Camp Pine Tree (Spring) • YMCA Hamman Ranch (Bandera)

Categories: Scouting in the United States | Youth organizations based in Texas

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