Scouting in Florida

Scouting in Florida is composed of Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and Girl Scouts USA (GSUSA) local councils in Florida. Scouting in Florida 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)
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.

Boy Scouts of America in Florida today
There are nine BSA local councils in Florida. In addition, the Florida National High Adventure Sea Base of the BSA is located in Islamorada, Florida.

Alabama-Florida Council
Alabama-Florida Council serves Scouts in Alabama and Florida, with the council office located in Dothan, Alabama.

OA Lodge: Cowikee Lodge #224

Central Florida Council
Central Florida Council serves Scouts in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Brevard, Volusia and Flagler Counties. Its headquarters is located in Apopka, Florida, and its primary Scout camp is Camp La-No-Che in Paisley.

OA lodge: Tipisa Lodge 326

Greater Tampa Bay Area Council
The Greater Tampa Bay Area Council is the newest council in Florida and was formed by a merger of Gulf Ridge Council and West Central Florida Council on May 1, 2016.

The Greater Tampa Bay Area Council serves youth in Citrus, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sumter counties. The four main Scout camps are Camp Brorein in Odessa, Camp Soule in Clearwater, Flaming Arrow Scout Reservation in Lake Wales, and Sand Hill Scout Reservation in Brooksville. There are also two smaller facilities at Bigfoot Wilderness Camp near Dade City, and Camp Alafia in Lithia. The Scout office is in Tampa.

OA Lodge: Uh-To-Yeh-Hut-Tee Lodge 89

Gulf Coast Council
Gulf Coast Council #773 serves Scouts in Florida and Alabama, with the council office located in Pensacola, Florida. The council's name refers to the Gulf Coast of the United States. Its camp is Spanish Trail Scout Reservation in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.

OA lodge: Yustaga Lodge #385 whose patches can be seen here.

Gulf Stream Council
Gulf Stream Council is in southeast Florida with the headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens. The council serves youth in the eastern portion of South Florida from the Broward/Palm Beach line north to the Brevard/Indian River County line and west into the eastern portions of Highlands, Glades and Hendry counties.

OA Lodge: Aal-pa-tah Lodge 237

North Florida Council
The North Florida Council encompasses the 17 counties of northeast Florida. Through almost 7,000 volunteers the council serves over 57,000 youth in over 850 units. The North Florida Council owns, maintains and operates two camps: St. Johns Riverbase at Echockotee on Doctors Lake in Orange Park, and Camp Shands near Hawthorne.

OA Lodge - Echockotee Lodge

South Florida Council
The South Florida Council, is in South Florida in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties. It has 3 camps: Camp Elmore in Davie, Camp Sawyer in the Florida Keys, and Camp Everglades in Everglades National Park.

OA Lodge: O-shot-caw Lodge 265

Southwest Florida Council
Southwest Florida Council serves Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Manatee, Sarasota, and parts of DeSoto and Hendry counties. It has 2 properties: the Price-Sanders Scout Reservation in Charlotte with the Dr. Franklin Miles Camp and Camp Gannett, and Camp Flying Eagle in Manatee.

"The Southwest Florida Council was chartered in July 1969, and based on membership and units, it ranks 46th out of 306 councils in the United States. The Southwest Florida Council is a geographic area divided into four districts that include Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hendry, Lee, Manatee, Sarasota Counties. The Council has an executive board of volunteers and a staff of professionals."''

''"The Council accomplishes its mission by making its program available to chartered organizations; existing organizations that have compatible goals. These groups include religious, educational, civic fraternal, business, labor, and governmental bodies. The Council supports chartered organizations by providing materials and certain facilities, such as camps. The Chartered Organizations organize the packs and troops." (Source — SWFL Council Website) ''

Recent Highlights

In 2007 The Southwest Council:

Awarded Centennial Council for achieving excellence in providing a quality program to a growing youth population in Southwest Florida Recognized as a National Quality Learning for Life Council Achieved 11 consecutive years of membership growth Serves over 32,000 boys and girls, in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hendry, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota Counties Had 117 young men attained the rank of Eagle Scout Has 4,000 active volunteers and over 390 units engaged in the program Increased attendance at: merit badge camp-outs, summer day-camps, camporees and at the Philmont Scout Reservation Almost 15,000 campers used our two camp facilities including special needs youth and community groups provided over 15,000 community service hours Collected almost 100000 lb of food through the Scouting For Food Campaign Represented by 12 Scouts and Scout Leaders at the World Jamboree in London, England The Friends of Scouting fundraising campaign netted the largest amount in the Council's history Achieved a balanced budget Youth sold over 7,700 cases of popcorn at a retail value of over $480,000 Of that, 1,600 cases were shipped to deployed troops in over 40 countries''

Council Website

OA Lodge: Osceola #564, website

Suwannee River Area Council
The Suwannee River Area Council, active from 1924 to present, encompasses 13 counties in north Florida and south Georgia. The Council Service Center and central headquarters are in Tallahassee, Florida. Since opening in 1924, the Suwannee River Area Council has offered traditional Scouting programs at several camps.

Camps
The first was Camp Orchard Pond, located near Tallahassee. Orchard Pond was a small camp, having only four campsites during its entire lifetime. It was used from 1927 to 1947, when it was sold. The council moved its summer camp operations to Camp Semialachee, located on the west side of Moore Lake south of SR 20 on the Silver Lake Road west of Tallahassee. Semialachee got its name indirectly from the union of "Seminole" and "Apalachee", two primary groups of Native Americans in the United States from the north Florida region. Camp Semialachee was kept until 1965, when camping was moved to Wallwood Scout Reservation, located just south of Quincy, Florida. The land for the new camp was donated by Dr. Charlie K. Wall and his wife Margaret as a gift to Scouting. The buildings and equipment were donated by various community leaders, Scouters, and organizations. The dedication of Wallwood came in 1964, the buildings were constructed in 1965, and the first camping season was the summer of 1966. Wallwood covers over 500 acre of land bordered on one side by a branch of Lake Talquin. The camp offers a variety of Scouting programs, including COPE, as well as opportunities for other civic organizations. There are currently two camping facilities at the Wallwood Reservation - Camp Nea Mathla and Camp Tom Matherly.

Order of the Arrow
The Semialachee Lodge #239 serves the council.

Girl Scout of the USA in Florida today
Six Girl Scout councils exist in Florida.

Girl Scouts of Citrus Council
Girl Scouts of Citrus Council serves over 17,000 girls in Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties in central Florida. It was established in 1956.

Headquarters: Orlando, Florida

Website: https://www.citrus-gs.org/

Camps
 * Celia Lane Little House in Orlando.
 * Mah-Kah-Wee Program Center is 250 acre near Chuluota.
 * Riverpoint Program Center is 24 acre with a 19th-century lodge
 * Melbourne Scout House

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council
Girl Scouts of Gateway Council serves nearly 6,200 girls in 35 northern Florida counties (Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Nassau, Okaloosa, Putnam, Santa Rosa, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union Wakulla, Walton, and Washington).

Headquarters: Jacksonville, Florida

Website: https://www.gsgateway.org/

Camps:
 * Camp Kateri is 550 acre and two lakes in Hawthorne, Florida
 * Camp Kugelman in Lillian, Alabama
 * Fernandina Beach Little House in Fernandina Beach, Florida

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida
Girl Scout programs were first established in Gulfcoast Florida in the mid-1920s. In 1962, the Caloosa Girl Scout Council, made up of Lee, Collier, and one-half of Hendry Counties, merged with the Gulfside Council (Manatee and Sarasota Counties) and incorporated independent troops in Charlotte County and DeSoto County, to form the Gulfcoast Council. The Council's name was changed to Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. in 1993, with expansion to cover ten counties and nearly 10,000 square miles. Today, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida serves 7,000 girls across Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier Counties.

Headquarters: Sarasota, Florida Website: https://www.gsgcf.org/

Camps:
 * Camp Honi Hanta (Bradenton)
 * Camp Caloosa (North Fort Myers)

Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida
A new council formed by the merger of Girl Scouts of Broward County and Girl Scouts of Palm Glades Council.

Headquarters: Jupiter, Florida; Oakland Park, Florida

website: https://www.gssef.org

Camps
Camp Welaka is a 640 acre camp in Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Tequesta. Facilities are provided for daytime and Troop/Group Camping for all age levels. A full-time camp ranger is on site. Camp Welaka facilities include a combination of both platform tent and cabin sites. A lodge is available for activities. There are 3 platform tent sites with 8 tents each sleeping 4. An additional platform tent site has 4 tents each sleeping 4. Cabins are available at 2 sites with 6 cabins each sleeping 4. Also, a cook's cabin, a double-wide unit sleeping 14 is available. A Unit House is located at each site for eating and activities. An ADA accessible Bunk House may also be reserved.

Camp Nocatee just southwest of Clewiston is a 640 acre camp with a 13 acre lake, and a swimming pool. Facilities provide Troop/Group Camping for all age levels. A full-time camp ranger is on site. Camp Nocatee's facilities include a Camp Commons area that consists of Founder's Hall, an activity and dining center. It is equipped with a commercial kitchen. Only a certified food manager can use the commercial kitchen. There is also a Director's and a cook's cabin. In addition, an Arts and Crafts Center and Trading Post is on site. Camp Nocatee has six camp sites in all. For camp sites 1-5 there are 5 cabins per site each sleeping 8. Site 5 is ADA accessible. Tree Tops is site 6 – and has 3 cabins that are elevated on stilts each sleeping 8.

Camp Telogia a 13 acre camp situated in Parkland. Facilities are provided for daytime activities for Daisy's and daytime activities and Troop/Group Camping for all age levels. Camp Telogia has 2 platform tent sites and a Troop House. There are 9 platform tents sleeping 4 to a tent at one site and the other has 5 platform tents sleeping 4 each. Green Thumb, the Troop House, sleeps 20. Green Thumb is also ADA accessible. A day site is available for activities and can be used to pitch tents.

These camps offer a variety of activities such as Core Camps, canoeing, swimming, archery, hiking and more. Canoeing and swimming are not available at Camp Telogia.

Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida
The Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida serves some 16,000 girls in Monroe and Miami-Dade counties.

The first troop in Monroe was formed in 1921 and the first in Dade County in 1923. The council was chartered in 1929 and its founder was Judge Edith Atkinson.

website: https://www.girlscoutsfl.org

Camps
Camp Wesumkee belongs to the Girl Scouts of the USA, and is part of the Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida, serving Miami, Florida. It is located on West Summerland Key in the Lower Florida Keys, covering over 10 acre of Atlantic ocean front.

Camp Wesumkee is for experienced campers, offering opportunities for canoeing, snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, and nature observations in tidal pools. There are fields for tent use, and 11 chickees with bunk beds for six people each. The chickees have screen walls with shades for privacy. The Galley and Wheelhouse have kitchens and dining/activity areas. There are also fire circles and picnic tables.

The camp hosts the Winter Star Party, usually in February, for amateur astronomers.

Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Wilma in 2005 both affected the camp. All structures were damaged to some degree, and storm surge left sand piled up across the camp. Hurricane Irma in 2017, landing just 8 miles away, similarly damaged the camp.

Camp Choee in Miami serves mainly as a day camp, though it has overnight capabilities, accommodating over 250 day campers across its 20 acre. Facilities include a large air-conditioned building with kitchen, pool with bath house, craft lodge, fire circles, and four air-conditioned cabins. The original cabins were destroyed during Hurricane Andrew; the replacement cabins have their own toilets and showers, and house 16 people each. The camp is in a fairly urban location, and is made up of open grassy areas and pine scrub.

Camp Mahachee is located in a rich tropical hammock (ecology), and serves as both a day camp and an overnight camp. It covers over 11 acre, has 8 cabins housing 10 people each, and areas for tents. There are also several fire circles, a butterfly garden, and a natural coral rock "maze."

Coral Gables Little House is on the register of historical places. It is located near Venetian Pool, and is used for day activities and meetings.

South Miami Little House is used for troop meetings and camping, accommodating 20 people overnight or 40 people for day activities. During the summer, the camp they run is called 'Camp Little House' and it is an 8-week summer program. They also have spring break camp (1 week) to attend.

Girl Scouts of West Central Florida
Girl Scouts of West Central Florida serves more than 28,000 girls in 8 Florida counties (Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sumter). It is a new council formed by the merger of Heart of Florida Girl Scout Council and Girl Scouts of Suncoast Council.

In the 1960s the Suncoast Council established Camp Withlacoochee in the Withlacoochee State Forest.

Headquarters: Tampa, Florida

Website: https://www.gswcf.org/

International Scouting units in Florida
Cuban Scouting in exile exists to this day in Miami as part of the Boy Scouts of America, where Cuban-American Scouts are instrumental in annual Lincoln-Martí celebrations.