Scouting in New Jersey

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Scouting in New Jersey 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. The second National BSA Headquarters was in North Brunswick, although it was referred to in BSA publications as being in neighboring New Brunswick.

Contents

Early history (1910–1950) [edit]

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Camp Glen Gray, located in Bergen County, New Jersey (Northern New Jersey Council) has been continually active since 1917, and was originally 150 acres (0.61 km2) located in a valley in the Ramapo Mountains in New Jersey. Camp Glen Gray is named after Frank Fellows Gray, (1869–1935) a well known early professional Scouter of that area. It was selected and developed by Gray to give a permanent summer camp for Scouts, and the camp is the first purpose-built Scout camp in New Jersey. Prior Scout summer camping experiments were typically were temporary affairs at farm fields or church camps. Frank Gray was one of America's earliest Scoutmasters, having started Troop 4 in Montclair, New Jersey, known as the "Lord Baden-Powell Troop" in March 1909.[1] He also created an honor program that was used in New Jersey and in the Brooklyn Council called "Senior Division". The camp ultimately reached a size of about 840 acres (3.4 km2) and was operated by Eagle Rock Council, then Essex Council, and finally Northern New Jersey Council. In 2003, the camp was sold to the Bergen County Parks Commission and operated through a management agreement by the non-profit group Friends of Glen Gray, and is supported by a group of volunteers known as the "Old Guard". While no longer an "official" Boy Scout Camp, it does continue to host a large number of Scouting groups and activities throughout the year, as well as hosting a summer day camp for an area special-needs school www.glengray.org.

Notable Scout Walter Marty Schirra, Jr. (March 12, 1923 – May 3, 2007) earned the rank of First Class in Troop 36 in Oradell, New Jersey. He was one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts. He was also the only person to fly in all of America's first three space programs (Mercury, Gemini and Apollo).

Cub Scouting Origins – To begin including younger boys to Scouting, James E. West approved the formation of the Boy Rangers of America, a separate organization for boys eight through twelve based on an American Indian theme. The Boy Rangers used the Scout Law and Chief Guide Emerson Brooks was a Boy Scout commissioner in Montclair, New Jersey. The BSA finally began some experimental Cubbing units in 1928 and in 1930 the BSA began registering the first Cubbing packs, and the Boy Rangers were absorbed. The Cub Scouting program used elements of Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book series, with the Cubmaster taking the role of Akela and the assistant Cubmaster the role of Baloo. The American program also syncretized American Indian elements, with all Cub Scouts belonging to the Webelos tribe, symbolized by the Arrow of Light and led by Akela. Webelos was also an acronym meaning Wolf, Bear, Lion, Scout. The initial rank structure was Wolf, Bear and Lion, with ages of 9, 10 and 11. Dens of six to eight Cubs were entirely led by a Boy Scout holding the position of den chief.

Mortimer L. Schiff – After a long tenure as vice-president of the BSA beginning in 1910, during which he also appeared on the cover of Time magazine on February 14, 1927, Mortimer L. Schiff was elected as president in 1931, but died after serving one month and Walter Head returned until 1946. Schiff's mother purchased and donated 400 acres (1.6 km2) of land in New Jersey and donated it to the BSA, thus creating Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation as a national training center. Both Mortimer and his son, John M. Schiff, received the Silver Buffalo Award from the BSA.

William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt – William Hillcourt was one of the BSA's most prolific writers. He wrote numerous articles for Boys' Life and Scouting magazines, including a column aimed at patrol leaders under the by-line of "Patrol Leader Green Bar Bill". At least 12,610,000 copies of his three editions of the Boy Scout Handbook were printed. Hillcourt died in Europe while on a Scouting tour in 1992. He is buried with his wife Grace in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Mendham, New Jersey at Row 8, Block I, to be near Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation as he had lived for so many years. His legacy in Scouting and his influence continue in the programs and training of Scouting. Consequently, his writings are still used within the Scouting movement and his material continues to be reprinted in Scouting magazine.[21] The Hiawatha Seaway Council operates the William Hillcourt Scout Museum at Camp Woodland in New York to "keep the traditions of Scouting alive" through the preservation of the history that is a foundation for today's Scouting movement

Order of the Arrow – The first Order of the Arrow ceremony for the Vigil Honor was held in New Jersey by E. Urner Goodman using Scouts from the Treasure Island Scout Reservation. The 1925 and 1936 National Order of the Arrow Lodge Meetings were held at Treasure Island, New Jersey.

Recent history (1950–1990) [edit]

In 1954, the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America moved its National Headquarters from New York City to a new site at the southwest corner of U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 130 in North Brunswick, New Jersey, although the location appeared in BSA publications as "New Brunswick".[2] The Johnston Historical Museum and a conservation education trail were also located there.[3] The national headquarters moved to Irving, Texas in 1979.[4]

Boy Scouting in New Jersey today [edit]

There are seven Boy Scouts of America local councils in New Jersey.

Central New Jersey Council [edit]

Main article: Central New Jersey Council

Central New Jersey Council serves central New Jersey from the Delaware River to the Jersey Shore.

Garden State Council [edit]

Southern New Jersey Council and Burlington County Council merged to form this new council as of January 1, 2013.

Organization [edit]

The council is divided into five districts:

  • Baysea District serves most of Cape May County and Cumberland County (Baysea and Cumberland District merged)
  • White Horse District serves Camden County (formerly Big Timber and Cooper Districts)
  • Old Colony District serves Gloucester and Salem Counties
  • Quakesen District serves most of Burlington County
  • Mahalala District serves most of Burlington County

Camps [edit]

  • Roosevelt Scout Reservation(Boy Scout camp)
  • Camp Diller(Boy Scout tent camp)
  • Camp Grice(use for Itols)
  • Pine Hill Scout Reservation(Cub Scout camp)
  • Pine Tree Education and Environmental Center (Cub Scout Camp)

OA lodge [edit]

Te'kenning 37 Hunnikick 76

Jersey Shore Council [edit]

Main article: Jersey Shore Council

The Jersey Shore Council serves all of Ocean County and Atlantic County, and part of Burlington and Cape May Counties.

Minsi Trails Council [edit]

Main article: Minsi Trails Council

The 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.

Monmouth Council [edit]

Main article: Monmouth Council

Northern New Jersey Council [edit]

Main article: Northern New Jersey Council

The Northern New Jersey Council serves Scouting in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties. The council is divided into three districts: Three Rivers (eastern Bergen County and Hudson County areas), Ramapo Valley (western Bergen and Passaic County areas), and Lenape Trail (Essex County towns). In 2007, this council served 37,721 youths. www.nnjbsa.org

Patriots' Path Council [edit]

Main article: Patriots' Path Council

The Patriots' Path Council includes Morris, Sussex, Somerset and Union counties.

Discontinued Councils [edit]

The following is a list of councils, headquartered in New Jersey, that have ceased to exist due to either a merger with another council, absorption by another council, closure or simply the name changed. In some cases the council number is listed, i.e. (#334).

  • Aheka Council, 1939–1972 - Merged with Alhtaha Council in 1972 to form Passaic Valley Council.
  • Alexander Hamilton Council, 1937–1968 - Merged with Hudson Council to form Hudson-Hamilton Council in 1968.
  • Alhtaha Council, 1942–1972 - Merged with Aheka Council in 1972 to form Passaic Valley Council.
  • Atlantic Area Council, 1926–1992 - Merged with Ocean County Council to form present day Jersey Shore Council.
  • Atlantic City Council, 1918-1926 - Absorbed by Pleasantville Council in 1924. Became Atlantic Area Council in 1926.
  • Bayonne Council, 1918–1993 - Merged with Hudson Hamilton Council in 1993 to form Hudson Liberty Council.
  • Bellvile Council, 1918-1918 - Absorbed by Newark Council in 1918.
  • Bergen Council, 1969–1998 - Merged with Essex Council, Hudson Liberty Council, and Passaic Valley Council to form present day Northern New Jersey Council.
  • Bernardsville Council, 1919-1921 - Absorbed by Plainville Council in 1921.
  • Bloomfield Council, 1917-1929 - Merged with Nutley Council in 1929 to form Bloomfield-Nutley Council in 1929.
  • Bloomfield-Nutley Council, 1929-1935 - Merged with South Bergen County Council to form Tamarack Council in 1935.
  • Bound Brook Council, 1917-1918.
  • Burlington Council, 1919-1924 - Became Burlington County Council in 1924.
  • Caldwell Council (#334), 1918–1929 - Absorbed by Southern New Jersey Council in 1988.
  • Caldwell Council (#820), 1929-1931 - Merged with Montclair Council and Glen Ridge Council to from Eagel Rock Council in 1931.
  • Camden Council, 1915-1921 - Became Camden County Council in 1921.
  • Camden County Council, 1921–1998 - Absorbed by Southern New Jersey Council in 1998.
  • Cameys Point Council, 1917-1919.
  • Central Hudson Council, 1919-1921 - Absorbed by North Hudson Council in 1921.
  • Central Union Council, 1919-1922 - Absorbed by Plainfield in 1922.
  • Cumberland County Council, 1919-1944 - Became South Jersey in 1944.
  • Eagle Rock Council, 1931–1976 - Merged with Robert Treat Council and Orange Mountain Council to form Essex Council.[5]
  • East Orange Council, 1915-1933 - Merged with Orange Council, Orange Mountain Council and West Orange Council to form Orange & Maplewood Council in 1933.
  • Elizabeth Council, 1916-1928 - Became Union Council in 1928.
  • Englewood Council, 1919-1925 - Merged with North Bergen Council in 1925.
  • Essex Council, 1976–1998 - Merged with Bergen Council, Hudson Liberty Council, and Passaic Valley Council to form present day Northern New Jersey Council.
  • George Washington Council, 1937–1999 - Merged with Thomas A. Edison Council to form present day Central New Jersey Council.
  • Glen Ridge Council (#340), 1912-1929.
  • Glen Ridge Council (#821), 1929-1931.
  • Gloucester-Salem Council, 1924-1967 - Merged with South Jersey Council to form Southern Jersey Council in 1967.
  • Hackensack Council, 1917-1919.
  • High Bridge Council, 1917-1919.
  • Hoboken Council, 1921–1936 - Merged with North Hudson Council to form Alexander Hamiliton Council in 1937.
  • Hudson Council, 1937–1968 - Merged with Alexander Hamilton Council to form Hudson-Hamilton Council in 1968.
  • Hudson-Hamilton Council, 1968–1993 - Became Hudson Liberty in 1993.
  • Hudson Liberty Council, 1993–1998 - Merged with Bergen Council, Essex Council, and Passaic Valley Council to form present day Northern New Jersey Council.
  • Irvington Council, 1917-1920, reorganized 1922-1923. Absorbed by Newark in 1923.
  • Jamesburg Council, 1943-1951. Absorbed by Monmouth Council in 1951.
  • Jersey City Council, 1916–1936 - Merged with Hoboken Council to form Hudson Council in 1936.
  • Lenape Area Council, 1929-1932 - Merged with Atlantic Area Council in 1932.
  • Leonia Council, 1917-1919.
  • Madison Council, 1919-1924 - Merged with Morristown Council to form Morris County Council in 1924.
  • Mercer Area Council, 1935-1937 - Became George Washington Council in 1937.
  • Middlesex Council, 1929–1969 - Merged with Raritan Council to form Thomas A. Edison Council in 1969.
  • Monmouth County Council, 1916-1924 - Became Monmouth Council in 1924. Became Monmouth-Ocean Council in 1937. Changed name back to present day Monmouth Council in 1940.
  • Monmouth Council, 1924-1937 - Became Monmouth-Ocean Council in 1937.
  • Monmouth-Ocean Council, 1937-1940. Became present day Monmouth Council in 1940.
  • Montclair Council, 1913-1931 - Merged with Caldwell Council and Glen Ridge Council to form Eagle Rock Council in 1931.
  • Morris County Council, 1924-1925 - Became Morris & Sussex Area Council in 1925.
  • Morris & Sussex Area Council, 1925-1928 - Became Morris Area in 1928.
  • Morris Area Council, 1928-1936 - Became Morris-Sussex Council in 1936.
  • Morris-Sussex Area Council, 1936-1999 - Merged with Watchung Area Council to form present day Patriots' Path Council.
  • Morristown Council, 1917-1924 - Merged with Madison Council to from Morris County Council in 1924.
  • New Brunswick Council, 1916–1929 - Became Middlesex Council in 1929.
  • Newark Area Council, 1915–1933 - Absorbed Bellville Council, 1918 and Irvington Council, 1920 and then became Robert Treat Council in 1933.
  • North Bergen County, 1921-1969 - Absorbed Tenafly Council in 1924.
  • North Hudson Council, 1919–1936 - Absorbed Central Hudson Council, 1922. Merged with Hoboken Council to form Alexander Hamilton in 1937.
  • Nutley Council, 1917-1929 - Merged with Bloomfield to form Bloomfield-Nutley Council in 1929.
  • Ocean City Council, 1919-1921.
  • Ocean County Council, 1940–1992 - Merged with Atlantic Area Council to form present day Jersey Shore Council.
  • Orange Council, 1917-1933 - Merged with East Orange Council, West Orange Council and Orange Mountain Council to from Oranges & Maplewood Area Council in 1933.
  • Orange Mountain Council (#345), 1919-1933 - Merged with Orange Council, East Orange Council and West Orange Council to form Oranges & Maplewood Area Council in 1933.
  • Orange Mountain Council (#337), 1949–1976 - Merged with Eagle Rock Council and Robert Treat Council to form Essex Council in 1976.
  • Oranges & Maplewood Area Council, 1933-1949 - Became Orange Mountain Council (#337) in 1949.
  • Passaic Council, 1918-1939, Became Aheka Council in 1939.
  • Passaic Valley Council, 1973–1998 - Merged with Bergen Council, Hudson Liberty Council, and Essex Council to form present day Northern New Jersey Council.
  • Paterson Council, 1915-1927. Became Paterson Area in 1927.
  • Paterson Area Council, 1927-1942. Became Alhtaha Council in 1942.
  • Perth Amboy Council, 1919–1927 - Became Raritan Council in 1927.
  • Plainfield Council, 1915-1926 - Absorbed Bound Brook Council in 1918, Bernardsville Council in 1921, Central Union Council in 1922. Became Watchung Area Council in 1926.
  • Pleasantville Council, 1917-1918, reorganized 1921-1924. Absorbed by Atlantic City Council in 1924.
  • Princeton Council, 1918-1925, Merged with Trenton Council to form Trenton Area Council in 1925.
  • Raritan Council, 1927–1969 - Merged with Middlesex Council to form Thomas A. Edison Council in 1969.
  • Ridgewood Council, 1915-1922. Became Ridgewood-Glen Rock Council in 1922.
  • Ridgewood-Glen Rock Council, 1922–1997. Absorbed by Bergen Council in 1997.
  • River Edge Council, 1917-1918.
  • Riverside Council, 1918-1918. Absorbed by Burlington Council in 1919.
  • Robert Treat Council, 1933–1976 - Merged with Eagle Rock Council and Orange Mountain Council to form Essex Council.
  • South Bergen County Council, 1919-1932. Merged with Bloomfield-Nutley to later form Tamarack Council in 1935.
  • South Jersey Council, 1944-1967. Merged with Gloucester-Salem to form Southern New Jersey Council in 1967.
  • South Orange Council, 1917-1919. Became Orange Mountain Council in 1919.
  • Summit Council, 1918-1922. Absorbed by Plainfield Council in 1922.
  • Tamarack Council, 1935–1986 - Half of council absorbed by Essex Council and the other by Bergen Council in 1986.
  • Tenafly Council, 1920-1924 - Merged with North Bergen County Council in 1924.
  • Thomas A. Edison Council, 1969–1999 - Merged with George Washington Council to form present day Central New Jersey Council.
  • Tok-Hok-Nok Council, 1927-1931 - Absorbed by Morris Area Council in 1931.
  • Trenton Council, 1915-1925 - Merged with Princeton in 1925 to form Trenton Area Council in 1925.
  • Trenton Area Council, 1925-1926 - Became Trenton-Mercer Council in 1926.
  • Trenton-Mercer Council, 1926–1937 - Became George Washington Council in 1937.
  • Union Council, 1917-1918 - Merged with Elizabeth Council in 1918. Reorganized 1928–1980 - Absorbed by Watchung Area Council in 1980.
  • Watchung Area Council, 1926–1999 - Merged with Morris-Sussex Area Council to form present day Patriots' Path Council.
  • Weehawken Council, 1917-1918.
  • West Hoboken Council, 1917-1918. Reorganized as Hoboken Council in 1921.
  • West New York Council, 1917-1918.
  • West Orange, 1917-1933 - Merged with East Orange Council, Orange Council, and Orange Mountain to form Oranges & Maplewood Area Council in 1933.
  • Woodbury Council, 1917-1918.

Girl Scouting in New Jersey [edit]

Map of Girl Scout Councils in New Jersey

New Jersey is divided into four councils that were created by rearrangement of the previous eleven councils in 2007.

Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey [edit]

The Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ covers 9 and a bit counties (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape Kay, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Salem, and parts of Monmouth) and serves over 27,000 girls and 11,000 adults. The council includes 3 service centers, 6 camps and 2 mobile resource centers. It was formed by the merger of Camden, Delaware-Raritan, and South Jersey Pines Councils on October 1, 2007. Planned merger date was July 1, 2007, but due to Delaware-Raritan's changed vote, the councils merged on October 1, 2007.

Headquarters: Cherry Hill, NJ

website: http://www.gscsnj.org/

Service Centers:

Camps:

Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey [edit]

Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey serves 25,000 plus girls in Hudson, Essex, Union, Somerset, Hunterdon, Southern Warren and parts of Middlesex counties. It was formed by the merger of Great Essex and Hudson Counties, Rolling Hills, and Washington Rock councils.

Headquarters: Montclair, NJ

website: http://www.gshnj.org/

Service Centers:

Online Shop (for badges, uniforms, and much more): http://shop.gshnj.org/

Camps:

Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore [edit]

Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore serves some 16,000 girls and has 6,000 adult volunteers in Ocean and most of Monmouth counties. Created in July 2007 by the merger of Monmouth and Ocean County Councils.

Headquarters: Farmingdale, New Jersey

website: http://www.girlscoutsjs.org/

Service Centers:

  • Toms River, NJ - Ocean Service Center, 1405 Old Freehold Road, Toms River, NJ 08753
  • Farmingdale, NJ - Monmouth Service Center, 242 Adelphia Road, Farmingdale, NJ 07727

Camps:

Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey [edit]

Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey serves 20.5% of girls aged 5–17 in 160 municipalities including all of Bergen, Morris, Passaic, and Sussex counties and the northern half of Warren County. As of 2011 there were 33,795 girl members and 17,395 adult members.[6] It was formed on October 1, 2007 by the merger of Bergen, Leni-Lenape, and Morris Area Girl Scout Councils.

Headquarters: Riverdale, NJ

website: http://www.gsnnj.org/

Service Centers:

Resource Center:

  • Paterson, NJ - Center City Mall, 301 Main Street, Upper Level, Paterson, N.J. 07505

Camps:

Camp Mogisca was sold in 2010.

Discontinued Girl Scout Councils [edit]

The following New Jersey councils ceased to exist in 2007/2008 due to mergers.

  • Bergen Girl Scout Council - Became part of the new Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey in 2007
  • Camden Council - Became part of the new Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey in 2007
  • Delaware-Raritan Council - Became part of the new Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey in 2007
  • Great Essex and Hudson Counties Council - Became part of the new Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey in 2008
  • Leni-Lenape Girl Scout Council - Became part of the new Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey in 2007
  • Monmouth Girl Scout Council - Became part of the new Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore in 2007
  • Morris Area Girl Scout Council - Became part of the new Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey in 2007
  • Ocean County Girl Scout Council - Became part of the new Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore in 2007
  • Rolling Hills Council - Became part of the new Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey in 2008
  • South Jersey Pines Council - Became part of the new Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey in 2007
  • Washington Rock Council - Became part of the new Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey in 2008

International Scouting units in New Jersey [edit]

Külföldi Magyar Cserkészszövetség Hungarian Scouting maintains two troops each in Passaic, New Jersey and New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Scouting Museums in New Jersey [edit]

The New Jersey Scout Museum in Morganville was established as an independent non-profit in 2004 and concentrates on history of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts in New Jersey.

See also [edit]

Portal icon Scouting portal
Portal icon New Jersey portal
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Scouting in New Jersey

External links [edit]

Boy Scouts:

Girl Scouts:

References [edit]

  1. ^ Price, Luther Edmonds (1941). Thirty Years of Scout Camping:History of Glen Gray and Other Camps in Northern New Jersey with Memoirs of Frank F. Gray. Glen Ridge, NJ: self-published. p. 112. 
  2. ^ 40°27′38″N 74°27′27″W / 40.4605280°N 74.4575156°W / 40.4605280; -74.4575156 The building has been torn down and the intersection reveloped. The Shoppes at North Brunswick retail shopping center now occupies the site of the former BSA building.
  3. ^ http://www.njscoutmuseum.org/about.html
  4. ^ http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/210-551.pdf
  5. ^ History of Camp Glen Grey
  6. ^ GSNNJ 2011 press release
Scouting organizations
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