Scouting in California
Scouting in California 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.
Early history (1910-1950)
Many Scouts in California prior to the charter of the BSA were the youth auxiliary of the California Highway Patrol (similar to Law Enforcement Explorers, while others belonged to the Peace Scouts of California, another pre-BSA Scouting association.
Recent history (1950-1990)
The 1953 National Scout Jamboree was held at Irvine Ranch, California. Jamboree Road in Newport Beach, California, commemorates the site of the 1953 Jamboree.
The 1973 National Order of the Arrow Conference was held at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Boy Scouting in California today
There are twenty-four Boy Scouts of America local councils in California.
Alameda Council
One of the six councils that serves the San Francisco Bay area - serving the city of Alameda.Alameda Council
Order of the Arrow
Camps
- Camp Cedarbrook (closed 1999)
California Inland Empire Council
Districts California Inland Empire Council
- Arrowhead District
- Grayback District
- High Desert District
- River Valley District
- Sunrise District
- Tahquitz District
- Temescal District
- Three Peaks District
- Old Baldy District as of May 2006 (Ontario, Montclair, Upland, and Rancho Cucamonga) (See history)
Camps
- Camp Emerson, in Idyllwild, CA. Council operated since 1919, largely on land donated to the former Riverside County Council by developer and humanitarian Lee Emerson.
- Camp Helendade, near Running Springs, CA. Council operated since 1960. It was partially burned in the California October 2007 fires.This area was cleaned in the most part by Troop 2 of Santa Monica, California[1][2][3] Helendade was originally given to the council in 1960 to replace another camp that had been burned.[1]
History
The California Inland Empire Council (CIEC) "was formed in 1973 through the merger of the Arrowhead Area, Grayback and Riverside Councils." [4]. In 2006, the council acquired the San Bernardino County portions of Old Baldy Council.
Order of the Arrow
The Council is served by the Cahuilla Lodge #127[5]. It currently has nine chapters, roughly one serving each district (the High Desert District has two chapters due to its large geographic size). "[It] was formed January 1, 1973 from the merger of Tahquitz Lodge # 127 and Wisumahi Lodge # 478. In 1974, the Lodge welcomed A-tsa Lodge # 380 into the family to make the territory of the Lodge as we know it today." With the merger of the Old Baldy Council, Navajo Lodge also was merged into the Cahuilla Lodge.[5] The Lodge has received many awards, local and national, in its history, including the National Service Award (2001), the E. Urner Goodman Camping Award (most recently in 2006), and the Section W4B Spirit Award (17 times in 29 years; most recently in 2006 (tie)).
Crater Lake Council
Crater Lake Council serves Scouts in Oregon and California.
Golden Empire Council
Golden Empire Council serves Scouts in a large section of Northern California, primarily the Sacramento Valley and the northern Sierra Nevada mountains. The council headquarters are located in Sacramento.
Districts Golden Empire Council
- Amador District
- Buttes Area District
- El Dorado District
- Gold Country District
- Iron Horse District
- Northern Rivers District
- Pioneer District
- Pony Express District
- Ranchero West District
- Rio Del Oro District
- River City District
- Sierra Gateway District
- Soaring Eagle District
- Trailblazer District
- Yolo District
Council Camps
- Camp Robert Cole
- Camp Lassen
- Camp Pollock
- Camp Winton
- Camp Pahatsi
Order of the Arrow
Greater Yosemite Council
Districts
- 49er DistrictGreater Yosemite Council
- Big Valley District
- Chief Tenaya District
- El Capitan District
- Golden Heritage District
- Waukeen District
- Wawona District
Council Camps
- Camp John Mensinger
- Camp McConnell
- Camp Isom
Order of the Arrow
Las Vegas Area Council
Formerly Boulder Dam Area Council, Las Vegas Area Council serves Scouts in Nevada, California and Arizona.
Long Beach Area Council
Long Beach Area Council (LBAC), headquartered in Long Beach, is one of five Boy Scouts of America councils in Los Angeles County, California.Long Beach Area Council
Districts
- Los Fierros District
- Polaris District
Council Camps
- Camp Tahquitz 34°09′58″N 116°53′49″W / 34.166°N 116.8970°W
- Will J. Reid Park
- Long Beach Sea Base
Honor Camping Society
The Long Beach Area Council does not charter an Order of the Arrow lodge, instead it has a preexisting honor society, the Tribe of Tahquitz.[6]
Los Angeles Area Council
Los Angeles Area Council (LAAC) (#33) serves most of the City of Los Angeles as well as several other cities in the greater Los Angeles area. It is one of five Boy Scouts of America councils in Los Angeles County, California.
Los Padres Council
Serving the youth of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties 1919.Los Padres Council
Districts
- Cachuma District
- Camino Real District
- Del Norte District
- Live Oak District
- South Coast District
Council Camps
- Rancho Alegre
- Camp Mabel French
Order of the Arrow
Marin Council
Council Camps
- Camp Marin-SierraMarin Council
- Camp Tamarancho
One of the six councils that serves the San Francisco Bay area.
Order of the Arrow
Monterey Bay Area Council
Districts
- Loma Prieta District- Santa Cruz County, plus Royal Oaks and AromasMonterey Bay Area Council
- San Benito District- San Benito County, except Aromas
- Santa Lucia District- Monterey County, except Royal Oaks
Council Camp
Pico Blanco Scout Reservation is a summer camp in California, operated by the Monterey Bay Area Council. It has been run by a staff of dedicated young men and women who have provided a pristine outdoor environment for young boys for over fifty years. The camp is located in the Los Padres National Forest just 13 miles (21 km) inland from Highway 1. Its name comes from the 3,709 ft (1,131 m) Mt. Pico Blanco, which, during the camp season, is climbed weekly. Activities at the camp include aquatics, shooting sports at the camp's three ranges, handicraft, nature study, Scout outdoorsman skills (known as Scoutcraft), which includes the Skills Patrol area, a climbing and COPE course, and out-of-camp trips to the Pacific for kayaking and surfing. The camp now offers an "Adventure Day", on Wednesday, when instead of merit badge classes, Scouts have access to a plethora of fun activities both in camp and out of camp. Also this year, the camp launched an older scout program called Pico Pathfinders. It was a great program full of hiking, outdoor skills learning, shotgun shooting, knife/tomahawk throwing, and craft making.
New developments of the camp from 2003-2006 include a new dining hall known as Hayward Lodge (previously was known as the "super slab" until it received its roof in late 2005), a new roof for the handicraft lodge, which suffered from severe water damage between the 2004 and 2005 camping seasons, a massive flag pole near the Trading Post at Downtown Pico (The Parade Ground), a smaller pole erected on Uptown Pico (the Staff Area), and a state-of-the-art fish ladder to accommodate the endangered steelhead trout through the Little Sur River when the camp's aquatics dam is in use.
The 800 acres (3.2 km2) of camp property was purchased by the Monterey Bay Area Council from the William Randolph Hearst family in 1948.
Order of the Arrow
In the Summer of 2007, the Esselen Lodge celebrated its 50th Anniversary.
The Esselen Lodge consists of three chapters
- Sit Caw Yu, which means White Bear (Loma Prieta District)
- Shanax, which means fog in Esselen (Santa Lucia District)
- Quetzalcoatl, also known as the Q (San Benito District)
Mount Diablo Silverado Council
One of the six councils that serves the San Francisco Bay area.Mount Diablo Silverado Council
Districts
- Aklan District
- Black Diamond District
- Chief Solano District
- Herms District
- Iron Horse District
- Lake District
- Marsh Creek District
- Meridian District
- Muir District
- Napa Valley District
- Silver Gate District
Council Camps
- Camp Herms is located in El Cerrito. This camp serves as a year-round camp with Cub Scout Day Camp during the summer. It is situated atop the El Cerrito Hills and can be used as the hub of local historical site visits to San Francisco and the surrounding area.
- Camp Lindblad offers year-round traditions and wilderness camping on over 200 acres (0.81 km2) in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains. Camp is open year round, with five fully staffed weekends of Cub Scout family camping opportunities throughout the year. The rest of the year is open for use by all interested groups.
- Camp Silverado (Temp. Closed) is located on Silver Lake near Kit Carson California. The camp is owned and operated by the Mount Diablo Silverado Council of the Boy Scouts of America, which leases the land from the United States Forest Service.
- Camp Wolfeboro is a Boy Scout summer camp located on the north fork of the Stanislaus River near Bear Valley, California. The camp is owned and operated by the Mount Diablo Silverado Council of the Boy Scouts of America, which leases the land from the United States Forest Service. Currently, Camp Wolfeboro is used for 8 weeks each summer as a regular accredited BSA summer camp where it is host to as many as 500 Scouts per week, with a total summer attendance of more than 1,600 Scouts. Since 2005, the camp has also run an approximately six-week Fall Camp program designed for individual Scout troops and Venturing crews to use the property for rock-climbing, waterfront activities, and shooting sports. The fall program immediately follows the end of the regular 8-week summer season.
Camp Wolfeboro was founded by the Berkeley Council in 1928 in the area known as Hell's Kitchen, across the river from a family-oriented camp, Camp Baxter. Camp Baxter later closed down and its property was absorbed by Camp Wolfeboro, who Built Camp Sites and remodeled the Camp Baxter Dining hall and Medical Shack which beacame a nature lodge and hike shack. The camp has an honors society known as the Wolfeboro Pioneers.
Order of the Arrow
- Ut-in Selica Lodge #58]
See also
Nevada Area Council
Nevada Area Council serves 13,945 youth as of December 2005 in northern Nevada and northeastern California.
Old Baldy Council
On May 1, 2006, Old Baldy Council merged into two neighboring councils. The Sunset District (in Los Angeles County) joined with the San Gabriel Valley Council and the Golden Eagle and Trails End Districts (in San Bernardino County) merged with the California Inland Empire Council. In the San Gabriel Valley Council the area that was formerly Old Baldy Council's Sunset District is now divided and added to expand the Valle Del Sol and Golden Eagle districts.
Orange County Council
Dating back to 1921,[7] the council was formed by the merger of the North Orange County Council and the South Orange County Council in 1950. The Orange County Council's Order of the Arrow Lodge, Wiatava #13, is currently home lodge of the National Chief of the Order of the Arrow, Evan Chaffee.Orange County Council
Districts
- Ahwahnee District
- Canyons District
- El Camino Real District
- El Capitan District
- Los Amigos District
- Orange Frontier District
- Pacifica District
- Portola District
- Rancho Del Mar District
- Saddleback District
- Santiago District
Council Camps
- Schoepe Scout Reservation at Lost Valley 33°21′21″N 116°34′21″W / 33.3557°N 116.5726°W
- Rancho Las Flores at Camp Pendelton (closed)
- Sea Base on the Newport Harbor 33°37′02″N 117°55′08″W / 33.6172°N 117.9190°W
- Oso Lake
- White's Landing (closed)
- Outdoor Education Center (under development)
- Camp RoKiLi, at Barton Flats (closed)
Order of the Arrow
See also
Pacific Skyline Council
One of the six councils that serves the San Francisco Bay area.Pacific Skyline Council
Districts
- Discovery District
- Redwood District
- Stanford District
Council Camps
- Cutter Scout Reservation (In the Santa Cruz Mountains)
- Boulder Creek Scout Camp (In the Santa Cruz Mountains)
- Camp Oljato (Summer Camp in the Sierra Nevada mountains)
- Camp Oljato is a camp for Boy Scouts located at Huntington Lake. It is owned and operated by the Pacific Skyline Council.
- Camp Oljato offers a wide range of activities focused around merit badge curriculum and certain high adventure activities. Additionally, it's location on Huntington Lake allows it to take advantage of some of the best inland small boat sailing in the country.
Order of the Arrow
Piedmont Council
The Piedmont, CA Council of BSA was started in 1921 and Piedmont is among the oldest and smallest BSA councils in the United States. Scouting is active in the Piedmont community which is located in the East Bay hills, east of San Francisco and near Oakland and Berkeley. One of the six councils that serves the San Francisco Bay area.Piedmont Council
Order of the Arrow
Redwood Empire Council
Districts
- Coast Logger District
- Del Norte District
- Miwok District
- Pacific Rivers District
- Pomo District
- Yokayo District
Council Camps
- Camp Navarro
- Camp Noyo
- Camp Riggs Johnston
Order of the Arrow
San Diego-Imperial Council
The San Diego-Imperial Council is headquartered in San Diego, California, and serves youth members and volunteer leaders through Scout units in San Diego and Imperial counties of Southern California, as well as a portion of Arizona. Desert Pacific Council was renamed to San Diego-Imperial Council on January 3, 2005.San Diego-Imperial Council
Districts
- Black Mountain District
- Desert Trails District
- Heartland District
- Kit Carson District
- Mission District
- Pacific Coast District
- Pacific Crest District
- Santa Margarita District
- Skyline District
- Scripps-Mesa District
- Sweetwater District
- Torrey Pines District
Council Camps
- Mataguay Scout Ranch
- Camp Balboa
- San Diego Youth Aquatic Center
Order of the Arrow
San Francisco Bay Area Council
Formed by a merger of the San Francisco and Oakland Area Councils.[8]Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, serving the cities of Colma, Daly City (northern section), San Francisco, Emeryville, Oakland, San Leandro, Hayward, Fremont, Union City, Newark, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Livermore, as well as unincorporated communities such as Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, and Sunol. Headquartered in San Leandro, this council surrounds both the Piedmont and Alameda Councils.San Francisco Bay Area Council
One of the six councils that serves the San Francisco Bay area.
Districts
- Golden Gate District (Colma, Daly City, and San Francisco)
- Mission Peak District (Fremont, Newark, and Union City)
- Peralta District (Emeryville and Oakland)
- Tres Ranchos District (Castro Valley, Hayward, San Leandro, and San Lorenzo)
- Twin Valley District (Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, and Sunol)
Council Camps
- Camp Royaneh
- Rancho Los Mochos
- Wente Scout Reservation 39°25′01″N 123°22′16″W / 39.417°N 123.371°W
Wente Scout Reservation is located outside of Willits, California. It is owned and operated by San Fransico Bay Area Council. [9] [10]
Order of the Arrow
San Gabriel Valley Council
Located in Los Angeles County's San Gabriel Valley, San Gabriel Valley Council (#40) is one of five Councils serving Los Angeles County. Headquartered in Pasadena.San Gabriel Valley Council
Districts
- El Camino Real District (combined with Mission Amigos as of 2007)
- Golden Eagle District
- Lucky Baldwin District
- Mission Amigos District
- Rose Bowl District
- San Gabriel River District
- Valle De Sol District
Council Camps
- Camp Cherry Valley is a summer camp on Catalina Island, California, that is operated by the San Gabriel Valley Council. It is located two coves north of Two Harbors at Cherry Cove. The camp is known for its Boy Scout use, but other groups use it as well. This camp is by the ocean allowing snorkeling and scuba diving. Scouts sleep in walled, two person canvas tents set on wooden platforms that are under grove of cherry trees (hence the name). There is a small silver mine located in the cove left from the time the western part of Catalina Island was full of such mines, and tours of the mine can be provided. Duffel bags are required to bring to Camp Cherry Valley because of the boat transport there.
- Camp Eaton ( aka Camp Cumorah Crest, now closed, link goes to the camp's now-obsolete webpage) 34°20′55″N 117°59′02″W / 34.3485°N 117.984°W
- Trask Scout Reservation - City of Monrovia, in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. 34°11′31″N 117°57′45″W / 34.1919°N 117.9625°W
- Holt Scout Ranch (now closed)
- HSR was an SGVC camp located in the San Bernardino Mountains. The camp was named in honor of Herbert Brayton Holt on June 15, 1968. Prior to that time, the camp was known as Camp Cedar Canyon. In 1975, the camp was sold to a private party. The camp was located off SR-38. 34°05′27″N 116°58′01″E / 34.0907°N 116.96684°E The fire access road, which started at the hairpin curve on SR-38 connected to the camp entrance road. Just before the camp entrance (where the camp director's home was located), the fire access road forked to the left to make its way up the mountain.
- Holcomb Valley Scout Ranch (formerly of Old Baldy Council) 34°18′10″N 116°53′46″W / 34.3028°N 116.8960°W Located north of Big Bear Lake in the old mining district of Belleville in the Holcomb Valley on the site of the old Hitchcock Ranch.
Order of the Arrow
The San Gabriel Valley Council's Order of the Arrow lodge is the Ta Tanka Lodge #488.
Chapters:
- Hunkpapa - Lucky Baldwin & El Camino Real Districts
- Kiowa - Golden Eagle District
- Oglala Lakota - Rose Bowl & Mission Amigos District
- Teton Dakota - Valle Del Sol & San Gabriel River Districts
Santa Clara County Council
Santa Clara County Council, Inc. is a Boy Scouts of America council headquartered in San Jose, California. As of 2004, the council serves over 11,000 youth in over 400 Boy Scout troops, Cub Scout packs, Venturing crews, and Explorer posts.
One of the six councils that serves the San Francisco Bay area.
- (not to be confused with the Sequoyah Council located in Tennessee and Virginia)
Districts
- Chawanakee District
- Golden West District
- Kings River District
- Live Oak District
- Mount Whitney District
- Thunderbird District
Council Camps
- Camp Chawanakee
- Camp Wortman
Order of the Arrow
Southern Sierra Council
Districts
- Desert DistrictSouthern Sierra Council
- Inyo-Mono District
- Meridian District
- Pathfinder District
- Trailblazer District
Council Camps
- Camp Kern
- Camp Mirimichi
- Camp Jewett
Order of the Arrow
Ventura County Council
Ventura County Council of the Boy Scouts of America was officially chartered as Council 57 on June 23, 1921 after a series of meetings that followed a proposal put forward at a County Chamber of Commerce meeting on March 28, 1921 in the Masonic Hall. Mr. C. H. Whipple, then of Moorpark and later Oxnard, became the president; and Col. J.L. Howland became commissioner. Harvey R. Cheesman, an assistant scout executive in the Los Angeles Council, became the first Scout Executive, assuming his duties on July 11th.Ventura County Council
History
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The original charter indicates that there were nine troops in existence at the time. Research shows that these most likely included: In June 1910 the Ventura Free Press published an article, “Boys Organize Band of Scouts”.
A band of Scouts was organized in the Pastor’s study of the Congregational Church Monday evening, June 20. So far as we can learn this is the first organization of this worldwide movement in Ventura or even in California. The movement originated in the mind of Ernest Thompson Seton. It has been pushed in England under the leadership of General Baden Powell, and now there are in England three hundred thousand boys enlisted in the movement.
We have framed our constitution after the international one, but changed it to meet the needs of our Western life and customs. It includes the things that tend to the physical and moral development of the live boy.
Tramps in the hills, with the study of nature, will be a part of the physical development. It also includes many of the things called for by Thompson Seton. For the moral development, we have first the study of the Book, each Sunday.
Honor in all things is called for. Each boy must attend school if possible, must have some regular labor for which he receives pay.
Six months after membership is attained he must have a bank account in his own name. Our badge will be the arrowhead, with the words upon it, “Be Prepared. These words have great significance known only to the wearers of the badge, in fact it is the sign to them of life, and can be taken from them if it is not honored.
The band now numbers only twelve, but the invitation is extended to any boy of proper age who is not in any Sunday School, and wishes to live a clean life to join us. We say “come with us and we will do you good”.
Records of the Ventura Congregational church indicate that the group was officially disbanded in January 1914. Various articles gleaned from the local newspapers indicate that troops were active in most of the local communities. The YMCA had one in Santa Paula in 1911. They then formed another in Fillmore in 1912 with 25 boys. The scoutmaster was Mr. A.J. Dicks, and his assistant Professor A.C. Marcey. Ray Horton was the Seal Patrol leader, and his brother Harold leader of the Foxes. The same article mentions leaders from a group of 20 scouts in Bardsdale helping to form the group. In February 1913, the Oxnard Courier talks of a YMCA group under Scoutmaster Kirchner and Commissioner Stant, while in November 1913 the Star mentions Scoutmaster Ramsey expecting to enroll as many as 100 boys and young men and is setting up a recruiting station at City Hall. A later Courier article in February 1916 mentions Scoutmaster Rev. J.M. Barhart, assisted by Ross Winter and Elmer Johnson, while the committee consisted of George Hume, Frank Petit, and J.W. Shillington. A surname that appears in the boys noted, Willett is very familiar to long time scouters in the council, as Camp Willett gets its name from the family. Surely additional information is buried in the old microfilm and will shed more light as research continues.
The earliest of these was Troop 1, sponsored by St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church of Oxnard from February 1916 to February 1918. Next in line is Troop 1 (later 301) of Santa Paula sponsored by The Clipper Club of Presbyterian Mariners Club from December 1917 to December 1919, again from November 1920 to November 1933, and once more from August 1934 to February 1963. Moorpark Troop 1, sponsored by the Community M.E. Church existed from December 1919 to December 1922; Ojai Troop 1, by a Group of Citizens, went from December 1919 to December 1920; and Troop 1 of Ventura (later 101), sponsored by the Rotary Club appears from December 1919 to December 1926. 101 still exists today, but is sponsored by the Church of Latter Day Saints, its last reincarnation after an interim sponsorship by the Kiwanis. Troop 1 of Port Hueneme appears to have existed, beginning in April 1916; but disappears before the council was chartered.
Districts
- Camarillo District - Camarillo, Somis and Point Mugu
- Channel Islands District - Oxnard, Port Hueneme, and El Rio
- Conejo Valley District - Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village and Oak Park
- Matilija District - Ventura, Montalvo, Saticoy, Ojai, Meiners Oaks, and Oak View
- Ronald Reagan District - Simi Valley and Moorpark
- Santa Paula/Fillmore District - Santa Paula, Piru, and Fillmore
Council Camps
Camp Three Falls is located in the Los Padres National Forest at the base of Mount Piños in the northern portion of Ventura County, approximately 50 miles (80 km) north of Castaic Junction. The camp has been open since 1933. The name is derived from the three waterfalls: North Falls, Middle Falls, and Bitter Falls, that are located on the streams running from the mountains above the camp. The camp is at 5,400 feet (1,600 m) elevation. The summer weather at this elevation is dry and the temperature ranges from 70-90 degrees with cool evenings and crisp nights.[11]
This is the Council where Rock Climbing and Rappelling started in the Scouting Program in 1973. Camp Three Falls was the first BSA summer camp to offer Rock Climbing and Rappelling as a new program element in scouting. This was 22 years before it was considered to become a merit badge at Philmont. A 57-foot (17 m) Climbing tower was built at Camp Three Falls in the spring of 2003.
Camp Willett Mrs. Edith Scott Willett donated a 535-acre (2.17 km2) plot near Oak View, California in 1954 and named in her honor. Camp Willett has been used for events such as Camporees. There are no facilities at this camp.
Order of the Arrow
Topa Topa Lodge #291[12]
Many years ago the Chumash Indians roamed the forests and hunted game in the bountiful Ojai Valley. When a bad omen came to the tribe, the great spirit sent two white gophers to chief Matilija. The gophers instructed the chief and his people to perform acts of unselfish service and sacrifice. Chief Matilija perished in a great calamity, but with the acts of service and devotion done, the great spirit sent chief Topa Topa to the Chumash to save the worthy people from an evil horde. In the 1920s the spirit of unselfish service was rekindled at Ventura County Council's Camp Grey. There, the "Tribe of Matilija" was founded as the honor camping organization of the council. The tribe had as its purpose to promote camping at Camp Grey. The Order of the Arrow in Ventura County was established in June of 1944, when ceremonies were conducted during the Camp-O-Ral at Steckel Park to induct 13 selected scouts as charter members of Topa Topa Lodge #291 of the Order of the Arrow. Thus the Order of the Arrow came to replace the "Tribe of Matilija." The new lodge took its name from the legendary Chief Topa Topa.
Verdugo Hills Council
Verdugo Hills Council (VHC) is one of five Boy Scouts of America councils in Los Angeles County, California. Headquartered in Glendale.Verdugo Hills Council
Districts
- Foothills District
- Iron Eyes Cody District
Council Camps
- Camp Verdugo Oaks
- Camp Silver Fir
Order of the Arrow
Western Los Angeles County Council
Western Los Angeles County Council (WLACC) (51) is one of five Boy Scouts of America councils in Los Angeles County, California. Headquartered in Van Nuys, the WLACC services over 30,000 youth spanning six districts including the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, Antelope Valley, Malibu, and much of West Los Angeles.Western Los Angeles County Council
History
The Western Los Angeles County Council was formed in 1972, when the Crescent Bay Council merged with the San Fernando Valley Council to form the Great Western Council. The Great Western Council was later renamed Western Los Angeles County Council.
Districts
The Western Los Angeles County Council is divided into six districts.
- Antelope Valley District, Edwards Air Force Base to Santa Clarita Valley border
- Balboa Oaks District, Central area of the San Fernando Valley: west of Sepulveda Boulevard and east of Corbin Avenue
- Bill Hart District, Santa Clarita Valley
- Cahuenga District, Eastern area of the San Fernando Valley: west of the City of Burbank to Sepulveda Boulevard
- Crescent BayDistrict, Mulholland Drive south to Playa Del Rey and Culver City, and from Ventura County line to Beverly Hills.
- Las Colinas District, San Fernando Valley: west of Corbin to the Ventura County line at Westlake Village.
Order of the Arrow
The Malibu Lodge #566, chartered in 1972, serves 755 Arrowmen as of 2004. The lodge totem is a Pacific blue shark, and the name translates to "From the Mountains to the Sea" in the Chumash language. Malibu Lodge was created in 1972 from the merger of Tamet Lodge 225 and Walika Lodge 228.
Council Camps
Current Camps
- Camp Emerald Bay is located on Catalina Island, California. It has been operating since 1925, when it was first opened by the Crescent Bay Area Council. It offers year-round activities as well as being a summer camp.
- Camp Josepho, Pacific Palisades (1941-present)
- Camp Josepho is a year round camp owned and operated by the Western Los Angeles County Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The 110-acre (0.45 km2) camp is located in Pacific Palisades in the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles County and has been serving Scouting and community groups since 1941.
- The land on which Camp Josepho now lies was originally donated to the Crescent Bay Council in 1941 by Anatol Josepho and his wife Ganna. The camp quickly rose to the forefront of Scouting camps, becoming known as the West Point of Scouting.[citation needed] The focal point of the camp is its large old western style lodge now named the Malibu Lodge after the Malibu Chapter of the Order of the Arrow.
- In January 2005, a flood washed out the main road into Camp Josepho. The camp remained closed for less than a month, reopening (to backpacking) in February 2005. The camp remained inaccessible to vehicular traffic while the road was studied by civil engineers. As of July 2007, the road was open once again.
- Camp Whitsett is a summer camp in the Giant Sequoia National Monument which has been operating since 1947. Its 'sister camp' is Sierra Expeditions, which offers backpacking and other high-adventure activities.
- Camp Wolverton, Sequoia National Park. It is apocryphaly said to be the only Boy Scout camp in a National Park.
Past Camps
- Camp Jubilee (? - 2003)
- Camp Slauson, Topanga Canyon (1910 - late 1970s)
- Camp Temescal, Pacific Palisades (? - 1930)
Girl Scouting in California
There are 19 Girl Scout council offices in California; however, over the next few years some of them will be merging.
A Council in the greater Los Angeles area
A new council, name to be decided, will be in the greater Los Angeles area and will be a merger of Angeles Girl Scout Council, Girl Scout Council of Greater Long Beach, Joshua Tree Council (southeastern portion), Mt. Wilson Vista Council, Spanish Trails Council, and San Fernando Valley Girl Scout Council.
Angeles Girl Scout Council
Headquarters: Santa Monica, California Girl Scouting traces is history in this community back to 1926 with the founding of the Santa Monica Bay Council. In 1965 Santa Monica Bay, Los Angeles, Centinela Valley and El Segundo Girl Scout Councils merged to become Angeles Girl Scout Council and, in 1968, were joined by South Bay Council. Today, Angeles Girl Scout Council serves families from Malibu down the coast through San Pedro, and eastward from Eagle Rock through Downey, encompassing 101 communities. The council consists of over 770 Girl Scout troops and groups organized in 38 Girl Scout Neighborhoods. Angeles Council receives no financial support from Girl Scouts of the USA, the parent organization that is celebrating its 95th birthday in 2007. All activities are supported by generous local individuals, families, businesses, organizations and foundations.[13]Angeles Girl Scout Council
Girl Scout Council of Greater Long Beach
Girl Scout Council of Greater Long Beach (GSCGLB) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that has been serving girls since 1962. GSCGLB serves more than 2,400 girls and 1,800 adult volunteers from the cities of Artesia, Avalon, Bellflower, Compton, Cerritos, Dominguez, Hawaiian Gardens, Hollydale, Lakewood, La Mirada, Long Beach, Lynwood, Norwalk, Paramount, Santa Fe Springs, Signal Hill and Willowbrook.
Girl Scout Council of Greater Long Beach provides opportunities for all girls to develop self-esteem preparing them to meet life's challenges and achieve their full potential. These opportunities are provided by a volunteer-led organization, supported by a professional staff.
The council maintains two facilities, El Ranchito and Skyland Ranch, where girls can explore the outdoors, hike, cook over an open fire and sleep under the stars. A third site, Marine Landing, hosts a year-round waterfront program, which includes a fleet of kayaks and canoes. The council headquarters houses our administrative offices, a Girl Scout retail store, which carries uniforms and official equipment, and a training facility where certified trainers prepare women and men each year as Girl Scout volunteers. Web Site: http://www.gscglb.org
Girl Scouts - Joshua Tree Council
Bakersfield, California Web Site: http://www.girlsfirst.org
Girl Scouts - Mount Wilson Vista Council
Arcadia, California Web Site: http://www.gsmwvc.org
San Fernando Valley Girl Scout Council
Chatsworth, California Web Site: http://www.sfvgsc.org
Girl Scouts - Spanish Trails Council
Montclair, California Web Site: http://www.gsspanishtrails.org
Girl Scouts of California's Central Coast
New council forming by the merger of Monterey and Tres Condados councils. Official merger date is October 1, 2007.
Girl Scouts of Monterey Bay
Castroville, California Web Site: http://gsmontereybay.org
Tres Condados Girl Scout Council
Santa Barbara, California Web Site: http://www.gstc.org
Girl Scouts Golden Valley Council
Fresno, California Web Site: http://www.girlscoutsgvc.org
Under the realignment will acquire the Kern County portion of Joshua Tree Council and will likely get a new name. Merger date is set for October 1, 2008.
Girl Scouts of Northern California
A new council forming by the merger of Konocti, San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Clara County, Sierra Cascade, and Napa-Solano councils. It will serve over 60,000 girls. The official merger date will be October 1, 2007.
Web Site: http://girlscoutsnorcal.org/
Girl Scouts of Konocti Council
Santa Rosa, California Web Site: http://www.konoctigirlscouts.org
Girl Scouts of San Francisco Bay Area
Oakland, California[1]
Known for it annual "Golden Gate Bridging" where Junior Girl Scouts bridging to Cadette Girl Scouts walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. This event was started in 1981 with one troop but now has several thousand scouts involved each year.[2]
Camps
- Camp Bothin
- Camp Deer Lake located at 6,800 ft (2,100 m)
- Camp Sugar Pine located in the Sierra Nevada
- Camp Butano Creek in San Mateo County
- Hayward Cabin
- Ida Smith
- Twin Canyon
- Two Sentinels
- Camp Arequipa
Camp Bothin
Camp Bothin officially known as the Bothin Youth Center, is a Girl Scout summer camp since 1948 located in Marin County, California. The site is managed by Girl Scouts of San Francisco Bay Area and supported mostly through private foundation grants and individual donations.
History
Camp Bothin began as a convalescent home for women and children, called Hill Farm, established in 1905 near Fairfax, California on property then owned by Henry E. Bothin. The patients were initially housed in an old farmhouse. Normally, Hill Farm was home to 30 patients, but during the summer the mild climate allowed as many as 60 through the use of tents and cots. During this time, Miss Elizabeth H. Ashe was director.
In 1910, a corporation named Bothin Convalescent Home for Women and Children was formed. Mr. Bothin deeded 152 acres (615,000 m²) of land to this corporation. The old farm house was torn down and a rustic building, now known as Manor House, was erected that could accommodate 40 patients with deep sleeping porches and an outdoor dining room.
That same year the Arequipa Sanatorium, directed by Dr. Philip King Brown, was opened to serve women in the first stages of tuberculosis. The name Arequipa, taken from a city in Peru, is said to be a Native American word signifying 'place of rest.'
Following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, dust- and ash-filled air contributed to a tuberculosis epidemic in San Francisco. With the help of local artists and members of the area's philanthropic community, Dr. Brown engaged tubercular women in therapeutic handcrafts to combat idleness and avoid the stigma of charity. Arequipa Pottery is now highly prized among collectors.
The ceramics therapy was directed by a succession of nationally known ceramists: Frederick Hurten Rhead, Albert Solon, and Fred Wilde. The master potters were responsible for shaping the greenware, thus resulting in very dramatic variations in styles; however the surface decorations were added by the patients either in the form of designs painted on the surface or patterns carved into the damp clay. Later, Rhead introduced slip trailing which has become the signature form of decoration of Arequipa pottery.
In 1917, the Bothin Helping Fund was incorporated. This organization, now known as the Bothin Foundation, was responsible for raising the $30,000 needed to build Stone House. It was here that professional and business women could come to rest and recuperate after illness.
As treatment methods for TB changed, the need for the Bothin Convalescent Hospital dropped. In 1948, Miss Ashe offered a small building now known as Little House to the San Francisco Girl Scouts for troop camping. A few years later Manor House was made available for Girl Scout use and by 1955 the entire Bothin property was offered to the Council for its use. The property was developed for use by Girl Scouts and a pool was added. The name was officially changed to the Henry E. Bothin Youth Center.
In the 1950s, Arequipa was closed as a hospital and in 1959 the property was leased to Girl Scouts. By 1963 both sides of the property began to operate as the Henry E. Bothin Youth Center.
Timeline
- 1905
- Hill Farm convalescent home for children opened by Henry E. Bothin
- 1910
- Bothin Convalescent Home Board founded and 152 acres (615,000 m²) is deeded.
- Manor House built.
- Arequipa built.
- 1917
- Bothin Helping Fund was incorporated to distribute funds under the terms of H. Bothin.
- 1919
- Stone House completed.
- 1922-1940
- Bothin is abandoned.
- 1948
- Use of Little House and Bothin property was offered to Girl Scouts.
- 1948-1953
- During this time, 181 troops, representing 2221 Girl Scouts and 556 leaders, made use of Bothin.
- 1954
- Severely crippled and mentally retarded Girl Scouts attend camp sessions.
- 1955
- Use of Bothin offered to Girl Scout for at least 10 years.
- Name changed to Henry E. Bothin Youth Center.
- 1959
- Use of Arequipa offered to Marin Girl Scout Council.
- 1963
- Entire property becomes Henry E. Bothin Youth Center.
Girl Scouts of Santa Clara County
San Jose, California[3]
Camps
- Skylark Ranch 280 acres (1.1 km2) on the Pacific coast north of Santa Cruz.[4]
- Hidden Falls has 90 acres in the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz mountains.[5]
- Camp Metro - day camp in Berryessa
Girl Scouts of Sierra Cascade
Chico, California[6]
Girl Scout Council of Napa-Solano
Fairfield, California[7]
Girl Scouts Heart of Central California
A new council formed by the merger of Muir Trail and Tierra del Oro councils.
Girl Scouts Muir Trail Council
Modesto, California[8]
Serving Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne counties.
Girl Scouts of Tierra Del Oro
Rancho Cordova, California[9]
Girl Scout Council of Orange County
Costa Mesa, California[10]
Girl Scouts, San Diego-Imperial Council
San Diego, California[11]
Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council
Redlands, California[12]
This council will remain mostly the same except it will acquire some bits from neighboring councils (the realignment hopes to decrease the number of councils that cross state and county lines).[14] Its name is also likely to change.
International Scouting units in California
Cambodian Scouting in exile existed at least into the early 1990s in Los Angeles, alongside fellow Vietnamese Scouting in exile and Laotian Scouting in exile groups. Colonel Oleg Pantyukhov, Chief Scout of Russia, moved to the United States, where large troops of Russian Scouts were established in cities such as San Francisco, Burlingame, California, Los Angeles, etc. Also, Külföldi Magyar Cserkészszövetség Hungarian Scouting maintains four troops in Los Angeles and two in San Francisco.
See also
- Mount Baden-Powell, California
- Silver Moccasin Trail
- Mount Shasta
- Asociación de Scouts de México, A.C.
References
- ^ a b "Running Springs Fire Update". California Inland Empire Council. Oct 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ "Fires Consume 5,000 Acres Total". Fire & Wind. The Sun Daily Bulletin. Oct 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ "Main Page Website". Camp Helendade Website. Oct 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ http://www.bsa-ciec.org/about/history.php
- ^ a b History - Cahuilla Lodge # 127, Order of the Arrow, Boy Scouts of America
- ^ Tribe of Tahquitz
- ^ Orange County - 1910 to 1929
- ^ http://www.sfbac.org/sfbac_history.cfm
- ^ Camp WenteHome Page
- ^ wente
- ^ Ventura County Council, BSA
- ^ Topa Topa Lodge - Order of The Arrow
- ^ Council History
- ^ http://www.gssgc.org/Forms/REALIGNMENT_FAQ%20for%20GSSGC.pdf