Scouting in West Virginia

Scouting in West Virginia 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.

BSA Councils Serving West Virginia

Boy Scouts of America

There are nine Boy Scouts of America local councils in West Virginia. Most of West Virginia lies within the BSA's Central Region, Mineral, Hardy, Hampshire, are part of the Northeast Region. Pendleton, Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson counties, are part of the Southern Region.

History

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.)

Boy Scouts of America in West Virginia Today

Allohak Council

Allohak Council was created in 1990. It is composed of six districts and serves West Virginia and Ohio. The council headquarters is in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

History

Parkersburg Council #618 founded 1919

Mariette Council #464 founded 1917

Clarksburg Council #616 founded 1916

Washington County Council #464 renamed 1922

Kootaga Area Council #618 renamed 1933

Southeastern Ohio Council #464 renamed 1923

Clarksburg Area Council #616 renamed 1936

Central West Virginia Council #616 renamed 1941

Kootaga Area Council #618 merged 1942

Allohak Council #618 merged 1990

Districts

• Blennerhassett District serves Ritchie County, West Virginia, Wood County, West Virginia, Washington County, Ohio
• Highland District serves Barbour County, West Virginia, Upshur County, West Virginia, Randolph County, West Virginia, Pleasants County, West Virginia, Wood County, West Virginia and Washington County, Ohio
• Hock Hocking District serves Athens County, Ohio.
• Little Kanawha District serves Calhoun County, West Virginia, Jackson County, West Virginia, Roane County, West Virginia and Wirt County, West Virginia
• Stonewall Jackson District serves Doddridge County, West Virginia, Gilmer County, West Virginia, Harrison County, West Virginia and Lewis County, West Virginia
• Washington District serves Tucker County, West Virginia

Camps

Camp Kootaga is located in Wirt County, WV. It serves as the summer camp for the Allohak Council. The camp is located on 500 acres (2.0 km²) of forest land along the Hughes River. Each year 5 weeks of summer camp are conducted at Camp Kootaga. Camp Kootaga has 14 campsites.

The property known as Camp Kootaga was purchased in 1922 by Don B. Lowe under the Gim-O-Gash tribe of the Boy Scouts of America. The first long-term summer camp was held that year on the banks of the Hughes River in the Kootaga region. This camp consisted of one or two Troops from the Parkersburg area with Don B. Lowe as the Camp Director during the early years. In 1929 Col. R. L. Cole brought a Kiowa Indian named J. Dougannah to help with the camp program. He gave Indian names to the Leaders and named the Boy Scout camp “Kootaga” which means “Good Friends”. Through the years, Camp Kootaga has gone through many changes, but one thing has remained constant: helping develop young men into upstanding citizens and outstanding individuals.

Camp Mahonegon, is the second camp in the Allohak Council. Though no longer used as an active summer camp, Mahonegon has remained an active part of the council. It is used for many council events yearly, and continues to be a focal point for scouting activity. The First Summer Camp was held in 1948. The last Summer Camp was held in 1980.

Buckeye Council

Main article: Scouting in Ohio

Buckeye Council serves Scouts in Ohio and West Virginia.

Buckskin Council

Buckskin Council serves Scouts in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Virginia.

History

Charleston Council #617 founded 1919

Logan County Council #756 founded 1926

McDowell County Council #707 founded 1925

Charleston Area Council #617 renamed 1929

Logan-Boone Area Council #756 renamed 1930

Kentucky-West Virginia Council #626 founded 1930

Southern West Virginia Council #707 renamed 1928

Logan-Boone-Mingo Area Council #756 merged 1934

Lonesome Pine Council #203 founded 1934

Buckskin Council #617 renamed 1949

Appalachian Council #673 founded 1946

Cornstalk Council #756 renamed 1953

Chief Cornstalk Council #756 renamed 1954

Southern West Virginia Council #707 merged 1955

Appalachian Council #707 renamed 1956

Chief Cornstalk Council #756 merged 1979

Buckskin Council #617 merged 1990

Buckskin Council #617 merged 1991

Districts

• Chief Cornstalk District
• Mountain Dominion District
• Mountain Rifle District
• Pioneer District
• Seneca District
• Wilderness District

Mountaineer Area Council

Mountaineer Council services the counties of Monongalia, Marion, Preston, and Taylor. The council office is located in Fairmont, WV. The council is not divided into districts and is served by OA Lodge Menawngihella Lodge #550.

History

		Mountaineer Area Council #615 founded 1928

Ohio River Valley Council

Ohio River Valley Council serves Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing in West Virginia and Ohio.

Council office is located at: Ohio River Valley Council, 192 McColloch Drive, Wheeling WV 26003

History

Wheeling Council #619 founded 1916

Wheeling and Moundsville Council #619 renamed 1923

Wheeling Area Council #619 renamed 1925

Huroquois Council #619 renamed 1926

Fort Steuben Area Council #459 founded 1929

National Trail Council #619 renamed 1966

Ohio River Valley Council #619 merged 1991

Districts

Districts include:

• Two Chiefs
• Mountaineer

Camps

Scout camps:

• Fort Steuben Scout Reservation - Freeport, Ohio
• Sandscrest Scout Reservation - Wheeling, WV

Order of the Arrow Lodge:

Onondaga Lodge 36

Potomac Council

Main article: Scouting in Maryland

Potomac Council serves Scouts in Maryland and West Virginia.

Shenandoah Area Council

Main article: Scouting in Virginia

Shenandoah Area Council serves Scouts in Virginia and West Virginia.

Stonewall Jackson Area Council

Main article: Scouting in Virginia

Stonewall Jackson Area Council serves Scouts in the Shenandoah Valley and Charlottesville areas of Virginia and Pendleton County, West Virginia.

Tri-State Area Council

The Tri-State Area Council serves Scouts in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio. It is headquartered in Huntington, West Virginia and has three districts.

History

Huntington Council #672 founded 1919

Ashland Council #200 founded 1918

Huntington Area Council #672 renamed 1924

Huntington Area Council #672 merged 1928

Tri-State Area Council #672 renamed 1935

Districts

• Cardinal District
• MGM District
• Muguyoh District

Camps

The Tri-state Area Council operates one permanent camp: Camp Arrowhead located in Ona, WV.

Girl Scouts of the USA

There are two Girl Scout councils in West Virginia.

Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council

Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council serves more than 20,000 girls in 59 counties in West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia, and Maryland.

Headquarters: Charleston, West Virginia

Field Offices

• Athens, Ohio - Appalachian Field Office shared with Girl Scouts - Seal of Ohio
• Steubenville, Ohio
• Beckley, WV
• Bluefield, WV
• Chapmanville, WV
• Huntington, WV
• Fairmont, WV
• Lewisburg, WV
• Morgantown, WV
• Parkersburg, WV
• Walton, WV
• Weston, WV
• Wheeling, WV

Camps:

• Camp Giscowheco in Triadelphia, West Virginia
• Camp Sandy Bend in Elizabeth, West Virginia
• Camp Mamie Flynn in Logan, West Virginia
• Camp Rocky Ledges in Milton, West Virginia

Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital

In October 2009 the old Shawnee Council of West Virginia joined with the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital as part of the nationwide reorganization.

West Virginia Service Center: Martinsburg, West Virginia

West Virginia Camp:

• Camp White Rock in Capon Bridge, WV

Other Girl Scout Camps

Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania has Camp Roy Weller in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia. It is 792 acres (3.21 km²) and besides lodges and camping areas has the Eberly Family Learning Center.