Scouting in Washington (state)
Scouting in Washington 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)
Camp Black Mountain, located on the beautiful shores of Silver Lake an hour drive east of Bellingham, is the oldest existing camp in Washington State. Interviews with Hugh Eldridge Carr and General Floyd Hansen, Bellingham Eagle Scouts from the early 1920s, indicate the camp was active prior to 1919. The land was used by permission of owner H. P. Jukes (the council treasurer) prior to transferring ownership to the BSA in 1927. It was originally used by the Bellingham Council as Camp H. P. Jukes and has been in continuous use since that time with the exception of two seasons during WWII (1943 and 1944). Upon first use the camp was used for troop and district events, but became a fully organized resort in 1925. During the 1920s, the camp was supported by the Order of the Blue Knot, an honor camper's society that later became Quilshan Lodge, Order of the Arrow. Programs from the 1925 and 1926 seasons provide insight into early camp activities and vintage photographs of this cherished property.
In 1910, a Spokane, Washington Boy Scout leader, the Reverend David Ferry, created a troop under the name of Girl Guides of America. The Girl Guides did not expand much beyond the local area.[1] In 1911, the Girl Scouts of America (Des Moines, Iowa and to be confused with the current Girl Scouts of the USA) and the Girl Guides planned to merge with the Camp Fire Girls to form the Girl Pioneers of America,[2] but relationships fractured and the merger failed.[1]
Founded in 1919, Camp Parsons is the oldest continuous running Boy Scout camp west of the Mississippi River and one of the oldest continually running Boy Scout camp in the United States on its original location.[3] It sits on Jackson Cove, part of the Hood Canal, on the Olympic Peninsula, just north of Brinnon, Washington, and just south of Quilcene, Washington. The original land for the camp was donated by Reginald Parsons in 1918. Thousands of Boy Scouts come to Camp Parsons every summer.
Recent history (1950–present)
Camp Sheppard[4] is a Council High Adventure Base located in the shadow of Mt. Rainier in Washington State. It offers treks ranging from basic mountaineering seminars, expedition climbs to the summit of Mt. Rainier, 50 – 90-mile (140 km) hikes on the Pacific Crest Trail and in Mt. Rainier National Park, mountain bike descents, 90-mile (140 km) adventure races and custom combo-treks. Camp Sheppard is also the only Boy Scout camp in the nation currently offering a summer camp-style program during its winter camp sessions that are run from January through March, and offer a wide range of advancement opportunities. It is the top council high adventure base in the nation.
Scouting in Washington today
There are seven Boy Scouts of America local councils in Washington.
Blue Mountain Council
With headquarters in Kennewick WA the Blue Mountain Council serves Scouts in Washington and Oregon.
The U.S. Scouting Service Project has created a link to all known websites (districts, troops, packs, Venturing Crews, O.A. Lodge & Chapter, etc. websites) located within the Blue Mountain Council which can be found at Scout Site Search.
Districts
- Columbia River District serves Kennewick and Finley, Washington
- Eastern Oregon District serves Baker, Wallowa, Union, Grant, and Wheeler counties, Oregon
- Oregon Trail District serves Umatilla, Wheeler, Gilliam, and Morrow counties, Oregon
- Pioneer District serves Walla Walla and Columbia Counties, Washington
- Rattlesnake Ridge District serves Richland, West Richland, and Benton City, Washington
- White Bluffs District serves Franklin County, Washington
Council Camping Properties
The Council does not operate a summer camp.
- Camp Wallowa in Joseph, Oregon
- Martin Scout Camp near Pendleton and Pilot Rock, Oregon
The U.S. Scouting Service Project also maintains the ScoutCamp.org website which provides general information and a place for leader comments on the two camps operated by the Blue Mountain Council at Martin Scout Camp and Camp Wallowa
Order of the Arrow Lodge
Cascade Pacific Council
Cascade Pacific Council serves Scouts in Oregon and Washington.
Chief Seattle Council
The Chief Seattle Council serves the main parts of Puget Sound and Seattle areas including the Olympic Peninsula.
Camps
The council operates four camps:
Order of the Arrow Lodge
Grand Columbia Council
Located in central Washington and based in Yakima, the Grand Columbia Council serves the Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Okanogan, Yakima and portions of Adams, Benton, Ferry and Klickitat Counties. The Grand Columbia Council maintains two service centers in Yakima and Wenatchee.
The U.S. Scouting Service Project has created a link to all known websites (districts, troops, packs, Venturing Crews, O.A. Lodge & Chapter, etc. websites) located within the Grand Columbia Council which can be found at Scout Site Search.
Camps
The council operates four camps:[5]
- Camp Fife off of Highway 410 near Bumping Lake
- Camp Bonaparte between Tonasket and Republic on Highway 20[6]
- Camp Scout-A-Vista outside Wenatchee,[7] and
Districts
- Apple Valley District – Wenatchee area
- Chief Kamiakin District – Prosser, Sunnyside, Zillah and Toppenish area
- Columbia Basin District – Quincy, Ephrata, Moses Lake, Coulee City area
- Okanogan Valley District – Okanagon Valley area
- Saddle Mountain District – Ritzville, Othello and Mattawa area
- Skookum District – Kittitas County and Yakima area
Order of the Arrow Lodge
Inland Northwest Council
With headquarters in Spokane the Inland Northwest Council serves Scouts in Washington and Idaho.
The U.S. Scouting Service Project has created a link to all known websites (districts, troops, packs, Venturing Crews, O.A. Lodge & Chapter, etc. websites) located within the Inland Northwest Council which can be found at Scout Site Search.
Order of the Arrow Lodge
- Es-Kaielgu Order of the Arrow Lodge serves the council. An unofficial Facebook page provides electronic communication for the lodge as well as a monthly newsletter.
Districts
- Thunderbird District- North Spokane County
- Chinook District- South Spokane County and Lincoln County
- Old Missions District- Kootenai County
- David Thompson District- Pend Oreille in Washington; Bonner and Boundary Counties in Idaho
- Grizzly District- Spokane Valley
- Stevens District- Stevens County
- Chief Kamiakin District- Latah and Whitman Counties
- Lewis-Clark Trails District- Asotin, Garfield, Nez Perce, Clearwater, and Idaho Counties
The Inland Northwest Council provides the communities and volunteers with three council service centers. Each council service center has a Scout Shop and staff to answer questions, provide training and resources, and is able to take registrations for summer camp or events. Besides the headquarters office in Spokane there are service centers in Hayden Lake, ID and Clarkston, WA.
In 2009, the council sponsored a statue in Spokane. Titled Footsteps To The Future, it honors community mentors.[8]
Council Camps
- Camp Easton in Harrison, Idaho
- Camp Grizzly in Harvard, Idaho
- Cowles Scout Reservation in Newport, Washington
- North Idaho High Adventure Base in Harrison, Idaho.
The U.S. Scouting Service Project also maintaines the ScoutCamp.org website which provides general information and a place for leader comments on all of the camps operated by the Inland Northwest Council: North Idaho High Adventure Base, Camp Grizzly, Camp Easton, Camp Cowles Scout Reservation.
The Mount Baker Council of the BSA serves Boy Scouts in the Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island and San Juan counties of Washington State. The council operates one Scout camp Fire Mountain.
The U.S. Scouting Service Project has created a link to all known websites (districts, troops, packs, Venturing Crews, O.A. Lodge & Chapter, etc. websites) located within the Mt. Baker Council which can be found at Scout Site Search.
Order of the Arrow Lodge
The council's Order of the Arrow Lodge is No. 338 Sikhs Mox Lamonti which was created in 1995 through the merger of Kelcema Lodge No. 305 and Quilshan #325. Sikhs Mox Lamonti translates to "Friends of two mountains", which is a reference to the Mount Baker Council's camps Black Mountain and Fire Mountain.
Districts
The Council is made of the following districts [1]:
- Klahaya District Cathcart, Clearview, Echo Lake, Gold Bar, Index, Lake Stevens, Maltby, Monroe, Seattle Hill, Skykomish, Snohomish, Sultan
- Puget Sound District Lynnwood and Southwest Snohomish County
- Tillikum District Serves Everett and Mukilteo School Distract
- Skagit District Serves Skagit County
- Tyee District Serving Arlington, Camano Island,Darrington,Granite Falls, Lakewood,Marysville, and Stanwood
- Island District Comprises the islands of Whidbey, Fidalgo, and the San Juans
- Whatcom District Serves Whatcom County
Council Camps
- Fire Mountain Scout Reservation in Mt. Vernon, Washington
- Camp Black Mountain in Maple Falls, Washington was sold in 2015 and no longer operates as a Council Camp.
The U.S. Scouting Service Project also maintains the ScoutCamp.org website which provides general information and a place for leader comments on all of the camps operated by the Mt. Baker Council: Fire Mountain Scout Reservation.
The Pacific Harbors Council of serves the scouts in the Pierce, King, Mason, Thurston, Pacific and Grays Harbor Counties of Washington State. The council operates one Scout camp: Camp Thunderbird.
The U.S. Scouting Service Project has created a link to all known websites (districts, troops, packs, Venturing Crews, O.A. Lodge & Chapter, etc. websites) located within the Pacific Herbors Council which can be found at Scout Site Search.
Order of the Arrow Lodge
- Nisqually Lodge Order of the Arrow serves the council.
Districts
- Capital Area
- Coastal Waters
- Glacier View
- Mt. Tahoma
- Puget Sound
- Timberline
- Hylebos
- Lexas
Council Camps
- Camp Thunderbird in Olympia, Washington
- Camp Delezenne in Elma, Washington no longer operates as a Council Camp since 2016. Currently being logged for profit by the Pacific Harbors Council. [9]
- Camp Hahobas in Tahuya, Washington no longer operates as a Council Camp since 2016. Currently being logged for profit by the Pacific Harbors Council [10]
- Camp Kilworth in Federal Way, Washington no longer operates as a Council Camp since 2016. Pacific Harbors Council's board voted 10/18/16 to give the Camp back to the Kilworth Foundation. The Vote was 14 to 2 with John Ohlson & Morris Clark being the only "NO" votes.
[11]
- Camp Curran no longer operates as a Council Camp since 2016.[12]
The U.S. Scouting Service Project also maintains the ScoutCamp.org website which provides general information and a place for leader comments on all of the camps operated by the Pacific Harbors Council: Camp Thunderbird.
Girl Scouting in Washington
There are three Girl Scout councils serving Washington.
Girl Scouts of Western Washington
This council was formed by the merger of Pacific Peaks and Totem Councils on October 1, 2007. Administrative offices are located in Seattle, Washington. The new council serves over 26,000 girls.
Mission: To build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Website: http://www.GirlScoutsWW.org
Regional Offices:
- DuPont Girl Scout Center, serving South Puget Sound, in DuPont, Washington
- Snohomish County Regional Office in Marysville, Washington
- East King County Regional Office in Bellevue, Washington
- Peninsula Regional Office in Bremerton, Washington
- Greater Seattle Regional Office in Seattle, Washington
- Southern Counties Regional Office in Longview, Washington
- South King County Regional Office in Renton, Washington
Information about each Regional Office may be found at http://www.GirlScoutsWW.org/aboutus/locations.
Camps:
- Girl Scout Camp Evergreen is 76 acres (310,000 m2) near Longview, Washington
- Girl Scout Camp Klahanee is 78 acres (320,000 m2) near Hoquiam, Washington
- Girl Scout Camp Lyle McLeod is 60 acres (240,000 m2) near Belfair, Washington
- Girl Scout Camp River Ranch is 430 forested acres in Carnation, Washington including Lake Langlois and is by the Tolt River
- Girl Scout Camp Robbinswold is 540 acres (2.2 km2) on the Hood Canal near Lilliwaup, Washington
- Girl Scout Camp St. Albans is 414 acres (1.68 km2) near Belfair, Washington
Information about all Girl Scout Camps in Western Washington can be found at http://www.GirlScoutsWW.org/aboutus/camp_properties.
Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho
This is a new council formed May 1, 2007 by the merger of Inland Empire and Mid-Columbia councils. It serves more than 8,000 girls in eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and 3 counties in northern Oregon.
Headquarters: Spokane, Washington
Website: http://www.gsewni.org/
Service Centers:
Camps:
- Camp 4 Echos is 230 acres (0.93 km2) on Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho.
Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington
This council was established on October 1, 2008 and serves girls in Clark and Skamania Counties. See Scouting in Oregon for more information.
Headquarters: Portland, Oregon
Website: http://www.girlscoutsosw.org
See also
References
- ^ a b Miller, Susan A. (2007). Growing Girls: The Natural Origins of Girls' Organizations in America. Rutgers.
- ^ Lane, Joseph J., ed. (July 1911). "Now Come the Girl Scouts to Emulate the Boy Scouts". Boys' Life. 1 (5). George S. Barton & Co.: 30. ISSN 0006-8608.
- ^ Eby, David L. "America's Oldest Scout Camps."
- ^ http://www.campsheppard.org
- ^ http://www.grandcolumbia.org/index.php/camps
- ^ http://www.ScoutCamp.org
- ^ http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/oct/19/scouts-to-sell-off-two-outdoor-camps/
- ^ "Footsteps To The Future". September 27, 2009.
- ^ http://www.hahobas.org/detailpage.asp?ID=23130
- ^ http://www.hahobas.org/detailpage.asp?ID=23130
- ^ http://www.hahobas.org/detailpage.asp?ID=23130
- ^ http://www.hahobas.org/detailpage.asp?ID=23130