Scouting in Texas

Scouting in Texas
Comanche Trail Council Indian Camp at the 1937 National Scout Jamboree Girl Scout uniform, 1927 at The Women's Museum Boy Scouts of America National Headquarters Boy Scout Cookout

Scouting in Texas 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. Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, so that they may play constructive roles in society.

Scouting for boys in Texas is primarily represented by the Boy Scouts of America, or BSA. Texas is home to the BSA National Headquarters in Irving, Texas. The Boy Scouts of America in Texas are organized into 20 local councils.

Scouting for girls in Texas is primarily represented by the Girl Scouts of the USA, organized into eight local councils.

History

Scouting in Texas unofficially dates to the publication of British lieutenant general Robert Baden-Powell's popular book, Scouting for Boys, in 1908. Even before a national organization had been started, groups of boys began Scout activities in troops and small groups in 1908, 1909, and 1910. The claims of several troops to be the first organized in Texas, whether before or after the incorporation of the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910, are difficult to verify. BSA archives do show that the thirty-seventh registered scoutmaster in the country was a Texan, Rev. George W. Sheafor, of Comanche, in 1910.^[1]

In February 1910, just days after the Boys Scouts of America was organized, Boy Scout Troop 114 was established in Floresville, Texas by Professor W.H. Butler. A reference to the Floresville Boy Scout Troop can be found in the edition of April 2, 1911 of the The Galveston Daily News when they published a picture of the Floresville troop. An article in the Victoria, Weekly Advocate (probably January 10, 1911 edition) refers to the Floresville Boy Scout troop as the second oldest in Texas. A short break in the troop's charter occurred in 1974.

In 1913 Troop 1 was established in Wichita Falls, Texas. Troop 1 in Wichita Falls has been continuously chartered since 1916.

In 1913 Troop 7 was established in Grapevine, Texas. The troop has been chartered every year since starting except 1979.

In 1914, the BSA gave local councils the power to segregate African Americans from white Scouts. Until 1974, some southern councils of the Boy Scouts of America were still racially segregated.

However, an African American troop was formed in Port Arthur as early as 1916. The BSA report to Congress for 1930 named Dallas as one of the southern cities in which scouting was growing in the black community. Hispanic boys were also active in scouting, often in units with non-Hispanic boys. Jewish youth had been active in scouting in San Antonio for many years before a synagogue sponsored a troop for them in 1924.^[1]

By 1918, unofficial Wolf Cub packs appeared in Paris, Texas.

The BSA national office was moved to Irving in 1979.

The Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council traces its roots back to the 1920s when Frances Mann Law and Corrinne Fonde organized a Girl Scout Council in Houston.^[2] The council office was in a three roomed cottage.

Most Girl Scouts of the USA units were originally segregated by race according to state and local laws and customs. The first troop for Mexican Americans was formed in Houston in 1922. In 1936, the first African American Girl Scout troop west of the Mississippi was formed in Texas.

The Girls Scouts' Camp Texlake was dedicated in 1949.

Early history (1910–1950)

In 1912, the Alamo Council formed (#583), changing its name in 1918 to the San Antonio Council (#583). In 1925, the council changed its name to the Alamo Area Council (#583). In 1912, the Austin Council (#564) was founded and changed its name to the Austin-Travis County Council (#564) in 1924. It changed its name again in 1928 to the Austin Area Council. In 1934, the council changed its name to the Capitol Area Council (#564). [3] In 1913, the Houston Council (#576) formed, changing its name in 1923 to Harris County Council (#574). It changed to Houston Area Council (#576) in 1927, changing again to Sam Houston Area Council in 1936. In 1913, the Midland Council was founded and closed in 1914. In 1913, the Rosenberg Council was founded and closed. In 1915, the Dallas County Council (#571) was formed as the Dallas Council (#571). It changed its name to the Circle Ten Council (#571) in 1928. In 1915, the El Paso Council (#573) was formed. In 1924 it changed it name to the El Paso County Council (#573). In 1928, it changed its name again to the El Paso Area Council (#573). EPAC changed its name to the Yucca Council (#573) in 1937 In 1915, the Waco Council was founded and closed in 1919. In 1917, the Corpus Christi Council was founded and closed in 1923. In 1918, the Bay City Council was founded and closed in 1920. In 1918, the Kingsville Council (#575) was founded and closed in 1924. In 1918, the Paris Council (#580) was formed, changing its name to the Lamar County Council (#580) in 1925. In 1928, the council renamed itself again to the Lone Star Area Council (#580). In 1955, the council became the NeTseO Trails Council. In 1919, the Beaumont Council (#565) was founded and changed its name to the Beaumont Area Council (#565) in 1934. In 1942 the council changed its name to the Trinity-Neches Council (#565). In 1970, Trinity-Neches merged into the Three Rivers Council (#578) with the Sabine Area Council. In 1919, the Port Arthur Council (#578) was founded and was merged into Sabine Area Council (#578) in 1929. In 1919, the Galveston Council (#574) formed, changing its name in 1925 to Galveston County Council (#574). It changed to Bay Area Council (#574). In 1919, the Nacogdoches Council was founded and closed in 1920. In 1919, the Texarkana Council (#584) was formed, changing its name to the Texas-Arkansas Council (#584) in 1928. In 1936, the council changed its name to the Caddo Area Council (#584). In 1920, the Brazos Valley Council (#566) was founded and closed in 1926. In 1920, the Fort Worth Council (#582) was formed, changing its name to the Tarrant County Council (#582) in 1922. In 1927, the council changed its name to the Fort Worth Area Council (#582), and again to the Longhorn Council in 1949. In 1920, the Laredo Council was formed, merging into the Webb County Council (#700). In 1920, the Mount Pleasant Council (#577) was founded and closed in 1924. In 1920, the Waxahachie Council (#586) was founded and closed in 1927. In 1920, the Webb County Council (#700) formed. In 1924, the Laredo Council formed, merging into Webb County Council in 1922. In 1925, Webb County Council changed its name to the Aztec Council (#700) in 1927. In 1933, the Aztec Council (#700) merged into Gulf Coast Council. In 1920, the Wichita Falls Council (#587) was formed, changing its name to the Wichita Area Council (#587) in 1927. It changed its name again in 1937 to the Northwest Texas Council (#587). In 1921, the Orange County Council (#578) was founded and was merged into Sabine Area Council (#578) in 1929. In 1970, Sabine Area merged into the Three Rivers Council (#578) with the Trinity-Neches Council. In 1921, the Amarillo Council (#562) was founded and changed its name to Panhandle Area Council in 1924. In 1928, it changed its name to Amarillo Area Council. In 1939, the council changed its name to Llano Estacado Council (#562). In 1986 it merged with Adobe Walls to form the Golden Spread Council (#562). In 1921, the Brownwood Council was founded and closed in 1924. In 1921, the Cleburne Council was founded and closed in 1921. In 1921, the Cooke County Council (#570) formed. In 1921, the Denton Council formed, merging with Cooke County to become Mo-Co-Wi-De Council (#572) in 1924. In 1927 to council changed its name to the Cooke and Denton Area Council. It merged into the Fort Worth Area Council (#582) in 1928. In 1921, the Terrell Council was founded and closed in 1921. In 1922, the Abilene Council (#561) was founded and changed its name to the Chisholm Trail Council (#568) in 1926. The Chisholm Trail Council merged with the Comanche Trail Council in 2003 to form the Texas Trails Council (#561). In 1922, the Guadalupe Valley Area Council (#547) was founded and changed its name to Tonqua Area Council in 1924. The Tonqua Area Council folded in 1932. In 1922, the Tyler Council (#585) was founded and changed its name to Kickapoo Council in 1924. The Kickapoo Council folded in 1926. In 1922, the Webb County Council (#700) was formed. In 1927, the Webb County Council changed its name to the Aztec Council (#700). In 1933, the council merged into the Alamo Area Council (#583). In 1922, the Wellington Council (#579) was founded and closed in 1924. In 1923, the Buffalo Trail Council (#567) was founded. In 1923, the Collin County Council (#569) was formed, splitting between the Lone Star Area Council (#580) and the Circle Ten Council in 1927. In 1924 the Arrowhead formed. In 1928 half of the council merged into to the Alamo Area Council (#583). In 1924, the Arrowhead Council (#563) was founded and merged into the Austin Area Council (#564) in 1928. In 1924, the Falls-Milam-Robertson Area Council (#673) formed, merging into Harris County Council and McLennan County Council in 1926. In 1924, the Grayson County Council (#568) was founded, changing its name to the T-O Council (#568) in 1930. It dissolved in 1936. In 1924, the McLennan County Council (#662) was formed, changing its name to the Heart O' Texas Council (#662) in 1929. In 1924, the Navarro County Council (#676) was formed. It merged into the Circle Ten Council (#571) in 1927. In 1924, the Red River Valley Council (#563) was formed. It merged into the Circle Ten Council (#571) in 1947. In 1925, the Limestone County Council (#698) was formed, changing its name to the Limestone & Freestone Area Council (#698) in 1929, and merging into the Davy Crockett Council (#586) in 1930. In 1925, the South Plains Council (#694) was formed. In 1925, the Tr-An-Le-Ho Council (#586) was formed, merging into the Davy Crockett Council (#586) in 1930. In 1926, the Concho Valley Council (#741) was founded. In 1926, the Central Plains Council (#482) was formed, merging into the South Plains Council (#694) in 1929. In 1926, the Southwest Texas Council (#745) was formed, merging into the Concho Valley Council (#741) in 1929. In 1927, the Brownwood Council (#479) was founded and changed its name to Pecan Valley Council in 1928. In 1932, Pecan Valley merged into the Comanche Trail Council (#479) in 1932. In 1927, the Eastland County Council (#774) was founded and changed its name to Oil Belt Council in 1929. In 1932, Oil Belt merged into the Comanche Trail Council (#479). In 1927, the Lone Star Area Council (#569) was formed. It merged into the Circle Ten Council (#571) in 1928. In 1927, the Lone Star Area Council (#569) was founded and merged into the Grayson County Council (#568) in 1928. In 1927, the Rio Grande Council (#775) was formed as the Lower Rio Grande Valley Council (#775). It changed its name in 1947 to the current name. [3] In 1928, the Adobe Walls Council (#569) was founded and changed its name to Adobe Walls Area Council in 1934. In 1986 it merged with lano Estacado Council to form the Golden Spread Council (#562). In 1928, the Pine Tree Area Council (#585) was formed, merging into the East Texas Area Council (#586) in 1931. In 1928, the Quanah Parker Council (#559) was formed. In 1931 one half of the council merged into the Wichita Falls Council (#587). In 1928, the Tejas Council (#472) was formed, merging into the East Texas Area Council (#586) in 1931. In 1928, the Tex-Okla Council (#489) was founded and merged into the Adobe Walls Council (#569) in 1931. In 1928, the Southeast Panhandle Council (#563) was founded and merged into the Adobe Walls Council (#569) in 1931. In 1929, the Gulf Coast Council (#577) formed. In 1924, the Nueces Valley Council formed, merging into Gulf Coast Council in 1929. In 1929, the Lone Star Council (#580) was founded and closed in 1954. In 1930, the Davy Crockett Council (#586) was formed, merging into the East Texas Area Council (#586) in 1930. In 1933, the Sherman Council (#569) was formed. It changed its name to the Sherman Area Council (#566) in 1941. In 1966, the council changed its name again to the Texoma Valley Council (#566). It merged into the Circle Ten Council (#571) in 1947.

Boy Scouts of America in Texas

Boy Scouts of America in Texas
Map of approximate council boundaries
Owner	Boy Scouts of America

Texas is home to the BSA National Headquarters in Irving, Texas. The National Scouting Museum is also located in Irving.

There are twenty Boy Scouts of America local councils in Texas. All of Texas lies within the Southern Region, except for El Paso, Hudspeth and Parmer Counties, which are part of Western Region.^[3]

Alamo Area Council

Alamo Area Council (#583)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	San Antonio, Texas
Country	United States
Website alamoareabsa.org

The Alamo Area Council, BSA, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, serves a 13 county area in Texas.

Organization

Districts

• Texas Hills District
• Rough Rider District
• Diamondback District
• Summit District
• Memorial District
• Longhorn District
• Cimarron District
• Two Rivers District
• Armadillo District
• Victory District

The council is composed of:

Old Districts

• Broken Arrow District
• Cherokee District
• Eagle District
• El Dorado District
• Four Rivers District
• Galaxy District
• Keystone District
• Mission Tejas District
• Phoenix District
• Sioux District
• Aztec District
• Tomahawk District

These twelve no longer have their old names, except Galaxy.

Camps

Alamo Area Council operates two camps: McGimsey Scout Park, where Cub Scout Day Camp is held during the summer, as well as other events throughout the year, and Bear Creek Scout Reservation, where Boy Scout resident camp and Webelos resident camp are held during the summer, as well as other events through the year.

Order of the Arrow

• Aina Topa Hutsi #60^[4]

Bay Area Council

Bay Area Council (#574)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	Galveston, Texas
Country	United States
Website bacbsa.org

Organization

• Coastal District Bay Area Council
• Cradle of Texas District
• Thunderbird District
• Northern Star District

Order of the Arrow

• Wihinipa Hinsa Lodge

Buffalo Trail Council

Buffalo Trail Council (#567)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	Midland, Texas
Country	United States
Website buffalotrailbsa.org

The Buffalo Trail Council comprises five Districts serving West Texas.

Organization

• Chaparral District - Martin and Midland counties
• Comanche Trails District - Andrews, Ector, Loving, Ward, and Winkler counties
• Big Bend District - Brewster, Culberson, Jeff Davis, Presidio, and Reeves counties
• Lone Star District - Borden, Glasscock, Howard, Mitchell, Scurry and Sterling counties
• Scoutreach District

Caddo Area Council

Headquartered in Texarkana, Texas, the Caddo Area Council (#584) serves Scouts in Northeast Texas and Arkansas.^[5]

The Longhorn District serves Bowie and Cass counties in Northeast Texas.

Capitol Area Council

Capitol Area Council (#564)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	Austin, Texas
Country	United States
Scout Executive	Jon Yates
Website bsacac.org

The Capitol Area Council serves Scouts and Scouting volunteers in 15 Central Texas counties surrounding Austin. The Council currently serves 24,000 youth, and is led by the current CEO (Scout Executive), Jon Yates.

Organization

• Armadillo District
• Bee Cave District
• Blackland Prairie District
• Chisholm Trail District
• Colorado River District
• Hill Country District
• Live Oak District
• North Shore District
• Sacred Springs District
• San Gabriel District
• Thunderbird District
• Waterloo District

Camps

• Lost Pines Scout Reservation - Bastrop County, Texas
• Griffith League Scout Ranch - Bastrop County, Texas
• Camp Alma McHenry - near Giddings, Texas
• Camp Green Dickson - near Gonzales, Texas
• Smilin V -- Liberty Hill (Williamson County), Texas
• Roy D. Rivers Wilderness Camp - Near Smithville, Texas

Order of the Arrow

• Tonkawa #99
  • First chartered by the National Council in January 20, 1937 by Joe Lindsay, Jr. and Joe Lindsay, Sr., Tonkawa Lodge #99 started as Tejas Lodge but was later changed to Tonkawa in 1938 with lodge 72 already having the name. Tonkawa Lodge #99 was proudly had one of its members become the Order of the Arrow National Chief in 2011, Jonathan "Bunker" Hillis. Currently Tonkawa Lodge #99 has 12 Chapters that are aligned and named with the above-mentioned Districts.

Circle Ten Council

Circle Ten Council (#571)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	Dallas, Texas
Country	United States
Founded	1913
Website circle10.org

The Circle Ten Council serves BSA units in North Texas and a portion of Oklahoma. Its service area encompasses all or parts of Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, Rains, Rockwall and Van Zandt Counties in Texas as well as Bryan County in Oklahoma. Founded in 1913 and based in Dallas, approximately 50,000 youth and 15,000 adults participate in Scouting through the council each year.

The council has four camps - Camp Wisdom, Camp James Ray, Clements Scout Ranch / Camp Trevor Rees-Jones and Camp Constantin / Jack D. Furst Aquatics Base. The Order of the Arrow is represented by Mikanakawa Lodge.

Conquistador Council

The Conquistador Council (No. 413), with its office in Roswell, New Mexico, primarily oversees BSA units in southeast New Mexico. However, Parmer County, Texas is included in the council territory because of its proximity to Clovis, New Mexico. There are currently no units actually chartered in Parmer County. The area is part of El Llano Grande District. The Kwahadi Lodge #78 of the Order of the Arrow serves local Arrowmen.

East Texas Area Council

East Texas Area Council (#585)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	Tyler, Texas
Country	United States
Founded	1930
Website etexscouts.org

The East Texas Area Council was formed in 1930 through the merger of the Davey Crockett Council, the Pine Tree Area Council, and the Tejas Council. It serves 17 counties in Texas.

Organization

• Dogwood District
• Five Rivers District
• Golden Eagle District
• Tomahawk District
• Wo Ha Li District

Camps

• George W. Pirtle Scout Reservation (Camp Pirtle)

Order of the Arrow

• Tejas Lodge 72

Golden Spread Council

The Golden Spread Council (#562) serves Scouts in the Panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma. Its service area includes all or part of 23 counties in Texas and three counties in Oklahoma.

Longhorn Council

Longhorn Council (#662)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	Hurst, Texas
Country	United States
Website longhorncouncil.org

The Longhorn Council serves Scouts in a 23 county area of North Texas and Central Texas. Its headquarters is in Hurst (near Fort Worth), with an additional service center in Waco.

Organization

The Council is organized into 20 districts:

• Aguila District, serving Soccer and Scouting^[6] units in Fort Worth
• Brazos Valley District, serving Young, Hood, Jack, and Palo Pinto Counties, and most of Parker County (except for Azle and Azle ISD).
• Chisholm Trail District, serving Falls, Milam, and Robertson Counties, and most of Bell County (except Killeen ISD and Florence ISD)
• Comanche Trails District, serving Freestone, Limestone, and Leon Counties
• Cross Timbers District
• Frontier Trails District
• Indian Nations District, serving McLennan County
• Lakeview District
• Leon Valley District, serving Coryell County and Killeen ISD and Florence ISD in Bell County
• Mustang District
• Roadrunner District
• Santa Fe District
• Silver Star District
• Tejas District
• Three Rivers District, serving Bosque, Hamilton, and Hill Counties
• Tonkawa District
• Topsanah District
• Trailblazer District, serving Tarrant County
• Trinity Trails District
• Woodbine District

Camps

• Worth Ranch
• Sid Richardson Scout Ranch
• Camp Tahuaya

Order of the Arrow

• Netopalis Sipo Schipinahck Lodge #209

NeTseO Trails Council

NeTseO Trails Council (#580)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	Paris, Texas
Country	United States
Website boyscoutsparistx580.org

NeTseO Trails Council serves Scouts in northeastern Texas (neT) and southeastern Oklahoma (seO) and has the Council Office in Paris, Texas on the west side of Loop 286.

Organization

• Two Rivers District
• Northern Star District
• White Oak District

Camps

• Camp Frederick H. Dierks, Wright City, Oklahoma
• "Hogue's Landing" a.k.a. Lynwood Hogue Scout Camp, Paris, TX

Order of the Arrow

• Loquanne Allangwh Lodge #428

Northwest Texas Council

Northwest Texas Council (#587)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	Wichita Falls, Texas
Country	United States
Website nwtcbsa.org

Based in Wichita Falls, the Northwest Texas Council serves almost 100 units in 12 Texas counties (Archer, Baylor, Clay, Cottle, Foard, Hardeman, King, Knox, Montague, Throckmorton, Wichita, and Wilbarger).

Organization

• Red River District
• Greenbelt District

Camps

• Camp Perkins - a gift from Mr. & Mrs. J. J. Perkins, is a primary campsite for the council. It is about 60 acres (240,000 m²) of camp grounds utilized by Northwest Texas Council as well as units of other councils chartering with them.

Order of the Arrow

• Wichita Lodge 35

Rio Grande Council

Rio Grande Council (#775)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	Harlingen, Texas
Country	United States
Founded	1926
President	Andrew Hagan
Council Commissioner	Harsha Puttaguta
Scout Executive	Ernesto Carballo Jr.
Website riograndecouncil.org

The Rio Grande Council (#775) was formed in 1927 as the Lower Rio Grande Valley Council (#775). It changed its name in 1947 to the current name.^[3] It covers 5 counties, including Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Starr & Zapata and it serves a membership of approximately, 4,000 youth and 1,500 adult leaders in the southern most parts of Texas.

Organization

The Rio Grande Council has four districts:

• Arrowhead District
• Tip-O-Tex District
• Arroyo District
• Rio Bravo District
• Soccer and Scouting District

Camps

• Laguna Station High Adventure Sea Base^[7] is located on South Padre Island. Campers can gain SCUBA certification.
• Camp Perry^[8] was established in 1927 and has continuously operated as a Boy Scout Camp longer than any other such camp in Texas. Situated on the banks of the Arroyo Colorado, it covers over 260 acres (1.1 km²). There are twelve campsites at Camp Perry.

Order of the Arrow

• Wewanoma Lodge

Sam Houston Area Council

Sam Houston Area Council (#576)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	Houston, Texas
Location	2225 N Loop W, Houston, Texas 77008-1311
Country	United States
Founded	1914
Scout Executive / CEO	Tom Varnell
Chief Operating Officer	Thomas Franklin
Chief Development Officer	Jim Rees
Website www.samhoustonbsa.org

The Sam Houston Area Council serves youth in 16 counties in southeast Texas. The council headquarters is in Houston.

Organization

Central Division

• Aldine Pathfinder District
• Tatanka District
• Antares District
• W.L. Davis District

East Division

• San Jacinto District
• Flaming Arrow District
• Raven District
• Skyline District

Frontier Division

• Arrowmoon District
• Brahman District
• David Crockett District
• George Strake District

North Division

• Iron Horse District
• Phoenix District
• Soaring Eagle District
• Tall Timbers District
• Orion District

South Division

• Aquila District
• Brazos District
• North Star District
• Thunder Wolf District
• Twin Bayou District

West Division

• Copperhead District
• Big Cypress District
• Mustang District
• Texas Skies District

Learning for Life Division

• Exploring - North District
• Exploring - South District
• Learning for Life - Curriculum
• STEM Scouts

Camps

• Camp Strake was a Boy Scout Camp in Southern Montgomery County, Texas off of I-45. The camp closed in December 2014. Camp Strake is moving to a rural site in the Sam Houston National Forest, between New Waverly and Coldspring near the community of Evergreen in order to create a 21st-century Scouting experience for Scouts and their leaders.^[9]
• El Rancho Cima Scout Reservation, a 2,680 acre mountain ranch purchased in 1953. It is located on the Blanco River near Wimberley, Texas in the Devil's Backbone of the Texas Hill Country. El Rancho Cima contains three main areas. ^[10] -
  • Cockrell River Camp - primarily an aquatics themed scout camp, it will be temporarily closed for the 2016 season due to significant flood damage caused by the heavy rains earlier in the year.
  • Walter Scout Camp at Horseshoe Bend - a major western themed scout camp but also offers a unique Animal Science Merit Badge program and the Rough Riders High Adventure treks.
  • Hamman High Adventure Base at Ironwheel Mesa.
• Camp Brosig is located seven miles north of Sealy, Texas. This camp is used primarily for weekend camping at district / council activities.
• Bovay Scout Ranch is located off SH 6, just south of Navasota, Texas. Bovay Scout Ranch contains the McNair Cub Adventure Camp and the Tellepsen Scout Camp.

OA Lodges

• Colonneh Lodge #137

International exchanges

Houston Scouts have an international relationship with Scouts in Chiba, Japan.

South Plains Council

The South Plains Council (#694) serves the area around Lubbock.

South Texas Council

South Texas Council (#577)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	Corpus Christi, Texas
Country	United States
Website southtexasbsa.org

The South Texas Council of Corpus Christi, Texas, was renamed from the Gulf Coast Council in 2003.

Organization

• Aztec District
• Coastal Bend North District
• LaSalle District
• Coastal Plains District
• Brush District
• Venado District

Camps

• Camp Karankawa
• Camp Huisache

Order of the Arrow

• Karankawa Lodge 307

Texas Southwest Council

Texas Southwest Council (#741)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	Albuquerque, New Mexico
Country	United States
Website http://cvcbsa.org/

The Concho Valley Council was renamed to Texas Southwest Council in February 2011.^[11]

Organization

• Concho Valley District (former Amangi Trail District)
• Amistad District
• Permian Basin District
• Winter Garden District

Camps

• Camp Sol Mayer
• Camp Fawcett
• Baden Powell Park

Order of the Arrow

Wahinkto Lodge 199

Texas Trails Council

Texas Trails Council (#561)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	Abilene, Texas
Country	United States
Website texastrailsbsa.org

The Texas Trails Council was formed in 2003 by the consolidation of the Chisholm Trail Council and the Comanche Trail Council.

Organization

• Old Comanche Trail District
• Pecan Valley District
• Buffalo Mountain District

Camps

• Camp Billy Gibbons
• Camp Tonkawa

Order of the Arrow

• Penateka Lodge

Three Rivers Council

Three Rivers Council (#578)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	Beaumont, Texas
Country	United States
Website 3riversbsa.org

Organization

• Big Thicket District
• Sabine District
• Spindletop District
• Trinity District

Camps

• Camp Urland Scout Reservation

Order of the Arrow

• Hasinai Lodge

Yucca Council

Yucca Council (#573)
Owner	Boy Scouts of America
Headquarters	El Paso, Texas
Country	United States
Website yuccabsa.org

Yucca Council serves Scouts in Texas and New Mexico.

Organization

• Chamizal District no longer exists
• Geronimo District
• Mescalero District
• Polaris District
• Sunshine District
• Wapaha District
• White Sands District
• Mission Trails District no longer exists

Camps

• Black Range Cavalcade
• Camp Dale Resler

Order of the Arrow

• Gila Lodge

Other scouting associations for boys in Texas

• In 1997, the leaders of a Scout troop in Fort Worth, Texas contacted the Baden-Powell Scout Association in the United Kingdom to inquire about a possible affiliation. The Chief Commissioner of the Baden-Powell Scouts in England issued a Branch Warrant to the Fort Worth group in 1998. The unit operated under a dual status from 1998 until January 2002, at which time the troop divided, and the 1st Tarrant Group was officially established solely as a Baden-Powell Scout Association unit.^[12]

Girl Scouts of the USA in Texas

Girl Scouting in Texas
Map of Girl Scout Councils in Texas

There are 8 Girl Scout councils in Texas.

Girl Scouts of Central Texas

Girl Scouts of Central Texas
Headquarters	Austin, TX
Country	United States
Website gsctx.org

Girl Scouts of Central Texas (GSCTX) serves 46 counties and includes the former councils of: Girl Scouts — Bluebonnet Council, Girl Scouts — El Camino Council, Girl Scouts — Heart of Texas Council, Girl Scouts — Lone Star Council. In 2015, the Girl Scouts of Central Texas served 17,000 girls, ages 5–17 years, and over 12,000 adult volunteers. The council runs three residential camps. These are: Camp Texlake, Camp Woodlake and Camp Kachina. It also runs two primitive camps: Camp Dixie Alliso and Camp Howdy.

Camps

Camp Texlake comprises 455 acres (1.84 km²) on Lake Travis. It was assigned to the former Girl Scouts — Lone Star Council by the Lower Colorado River Authority, and was dedicated on July 17, 1949. That summer nearly 400 girls attended camp. The dining facility overlooks Lake Travis itself. The council houses ten horses at this site as well as encouraging watersports. The camp can accommodate 335 overnight guests in a variety of situations.

Camp Woodlake is on the shores of Lake Brownwood.

Camp Kachina is on the shores of Lake Belton. It covers a total of 114 acres (0.46 km²). Activities include archery, tomahawk throwing, sailing, and water sports.

GSCTX serves girls with programming that is fun, high-quality, relevant, innovative, and meaningful. Program areas include STEM, Financial Literacy, Bullying Prevention, Outdoors, Travel, and many special interest troops such as Outdoor Adventure, Robotics, Harp Ensemble, and Mariners.

Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest – Southern New Mexico & West Texas

Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest – Southern New Mexico & West Texas
Headquarters	El Paso, Texas
Country	United States
Website gsdsw.org

Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest brings together Girl Scouts of the Permian Basin, Girl Scouts of the Rio Grande and Girl Scouts - Zia Council. The merger on May 1, 2009 is part of the realignment of Girl Scout councils nationwide.(see Scouting in New Mexico).

Organization

Service Centers: Midland, TX; Odessa, TX; Alamogordo, NM; Artesia, NM; Carlsbad, NM; Deming, NM; Hobbs, NM; Las Cruces, NM; Roswell, NM; Silver City, NM;

Camps

Camp Mitre Peak is located in the Davis Mountains between Alpine and Fort Davis. There are three cabins, known as Kickapoo, Apache, and Seminole, located in Fern Canyon. There are also three tent units: Mescalero, Tonkawa, and Chippewa. These have views of Mitre Peak. The Janice Hill Mathews Amphitheater seats over 200 people and campfires are held here. The Pamela Catherine Haas Horseback Riding Arena, nicknamed Rebel Arena, gives girls the opportunity to participate in western riding and trail riding programs. The Laura Van Pelt Complex supports indoor activities. The complex consists of a pavilion and an educational building. The latter includes a kitchen and a darkroom. Alumni and supporters of the camp can join Troop Mitre.

Camps:

• Camp Pioneer in Sunland Park, NM
• Camp Mitre Peak in Fort Davis, TX

Girl Scouts - Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas

Headquarters: North Little Rock, Arkansas

Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas

Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas
Headquarters	Harlingen, Texas
Country	United States
Website gsgst.org

Formed by the merger of Girl Scouts Paisano Council and Girl Scouts — Tip of Texas Council in 2007.

Organization

Council Offices:

• Corpus Christi, TX
• McAllen, TX

Program Centers:

• Laredo, TX
• Victoria, TX

Camps

• Camp Bayview is 18 acres (73,000 m²) near Bayview, TX along the Resaca de los Cuates.^[13] There are cabins and bungalows to accommodate campers. There is a swimming pool, amphitheater and a covered pavilion.
• Camp Green Hill is spread over almost 50 acres (200,000 m²) and is located near Mathis, TX on Lake Corpus Christi. The site is mostly wooded. Small craft can be launched from the waterfront.

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas
Headquarters	Dallas, Texas
Country	United States
Website gsnetx.org

The Dallas Girl Scouts were established in December 1920 through the joint efforts of Mr. Elmer Scott and members of the Business and Professional Women’s Club. In 1963, the Dallas Girl Scouts merged with the Chisholm Trail Girl Scout Council and began serving 11 counties as the Tejas Girl Scout Council. In 2007, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas was born through the merger of Cross Timbers, Red River Valley, and Tejas Councils.

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas serves nearly 35,000 girls and 17,000 adults in 32 northeast Texas counties.

Camps

• Camp Bette Perot - A resident summer camp near Palestine, Texas, known for its equestrian program.
• Camp Rocky Point - A resident summer camp on Lake Texoma founded in 1952.
• Camp Whispering Cedars - 20 minutes from downtown Dallas
• Camp Kadohadacho - on Lake Texoma
• Camp Gambill - 54 acres (220,000 m²) near Paris, Texas. Initial bit donated in 1947 by John C. Gambill

Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council

Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council
Headquarters	Houston, Texas
Country	United States
Website gssjc.org

Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council was founded by Mrs. F. M. Law and Miss Corinne Fonde in 1922 in Houston.

Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council serves 26 counties in Southeast Texas, including Angelina, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, and Wharton.

Program Place and Goodykoontz Museum of Girl Scout History

The Program Place and Goodykoontz Museum of Girl Scout History opened in 2007. It is situated next to the headquarters building and is intended to function in harmony with the headquarters on the shared site. The Program Place includes a library, theater, Girl Scout shop, stage, café and a lounge for older girls, as well as a park with fire pit. The Goodykoontz Museum of Girl Scout History, in the same building, features a timeline from the start of the council in the 1920s until the present, and interactive displays. The building acquisition and renovation cost $5.6 million.^[14] The entrance canopy of the Program Place was designed and built by University of Houston graduate architecture students.^[15] The pavilion was represents a Girl Scout sash.^[16]

Camps

There are ten camps run by the council. Three of these form the Treelake Complex, a series of connected camps. Trails allow Girl Scouts to hike from Camp Misty Meadows to Camp Silver Springs via Camp Agnes Arnold.^[17]

Camp Agnes Arnold is a 479-acre (1.94 km²) camp near Conroe. Campers can be accommodated in tents, yurts, tree houses or cabin units. The camp offers canoeing and fishing on Shadow Lake. A nature trail encircles the lake. In total, there are 7 miles (11 km) of hiking and cycling trails on the site. The Ann Temple Allen Lodge is air-conditioned. The Nature Center was opened on 2008-04-12.^[18] The center has over 4,000 square feet (370 m²) of space and includes a workroom, classroom and exhibit hall, as well as overnight accommodations for two naturalists. A glass wall makes an indoor observation deck. There is also a pillared observation deck. Wood from around the site was used to build the center. The Council received the 2008 Excellence in Wood Design Award from the Texas Forestry Association (TFA) for the Nature Center.^[19] In total, there are 7 miles (11 km) of hiking and cycling trails on the site. The Ann Temple Allen Lodge is air-conditioned.

Camp Camwood covers 100 acres (0.40 km²) in Hockley. It is only operational during the daytime.

Camp Casa Mare is a year-round camping facility for Girl Scouts ages 8–17 years old. It is located on Galveston Bay in Seabrook, Texas and under ownership of the Girl Scouts San Jacinto Council. Camp Casa Mare was founded in 1958^[20] and has offered sailing programs, aquatics, and sporting activities, not to mention performing arts and academic classes. Fencing is also offered to campers at this site.

The Galveston Boat Club (GBC) is a two storey building on Galveston Island. Visitors sleep on the floor on the second storey. Adult leaders can be accommodated in a separate small building. The GBC is in a residential area. Visitors primarily use the GBC to visit the island's attractions.

Camp Misty Meadows is a 328-acre (1.33 km²) wooded camp located in Conroe. The main attraction of this camp is its horse riding facilities. In 2007, there was a herd of forty horses. Visitors sleep in cabins or dormitories.

Camp Myra S. Pryor includes air-conditioned cabins and a camping area. The activity center is also air-conditioned.

Camp Robinwood is a 206-acre (0.83 km²) camp in Willis. Campers are accommodated in platform tents, cabins or dorms. Swimming and canoeing is conducted on Lake Ann, a man-made reservoir donated to the camp by a family whose daughter, a Brownie Scout named Ann Winchell, died at age nine. There is also an outdoor swimming pool.

Camp Silver Springs is a wooded 131-acre (0.53 km²) camp located in Conroe.

Camp Whispering Pines is a 93-acre (380,000 m²) site located in Garrison. Swimming, canoeing and rope assisted hill climbing are all on offer at this site.

Camp Wind-A-Mere is located in Alvin. The Tejas unit had two teepees. These were destroyed in Hurricane Ike, but will be replaced. The Caddo unit has platform tents. Pine Meadows and the Chickasaw site are camping areas. During Hurricane Ike, a great oak tree fell on the lodge and half the building was declared unsafe and unrepairable.^[21]

Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas

Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas
Headquarters	Sally Cheever Girl Leadership Center
Location	San Antonio, Texas
Country	United States
Website girlscouts-swtx.org

Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas serves more than 19,000 girls and was established in 2007 from the San Antonio Area council plus a large section of the old El Camino council.

Organization

Counties served: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Frio, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, and Wilson from the San Antonio Area jurisdiction, Edwards, Dimmit, Kimble, Kinney, Maverick, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, and Zavala from El Camino Council jurisdiction, Comal, Gonzales, and Guadalupe from Lone Star Council jurisdiction, and Karnes from Tip of Texas Council, now Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas jurisdiction.

Service Centers:

• Avenida Guadalupe Girl Scout Center in San Antonio, TX

Camps

• Camp La Jita is 236 acres (96 ha) on the Sabinai River near Utopia, TX. The land for it was donated in 1946 by the John F. Camp family.^[22] Campers sleep in cabins. An equestrian program is offered at this camp. La Jita means precious possession.
• Camp Mira Sol is 47 acres (19 ha) overlooking the Guadalupe River and is near Waring, TX.

Houses:

• Del Ro Girl Scout House in Val Verde county.
• Eagle Pass Girl Scout Educational Center in Maverick county
• Kerrville Girl Scout House in Kerr county
• New Braunfels Girl Scout Hous in Comal county
• Seguin Girl Scout House in Guadalupe county
• Uvalde Girl Scout House in Uvalde county

Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains

Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains
Headquarters	Fort Worth, Texas
Country	United States
Website gs-top.org

Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains serves over 24,000 girls and 9,000 adult volunteers. It was formed by the merger in January 2008 of Girl Scouts of Caprock Council, Girl Scouts-Five Star Council, Girl Scouts Norcentex Council, and Girl Scouts Circle T Council. The first Girl Scout troop in Fort Worth was formed in 1924.

Organization

Regional Offices:

• Abilene, TX
• Amarillo, TX
• Lubbock, TX
• Wichita Falls, TX

Service Centers:

• Clarendon, TX
• Plainview, TX

Camps

• Camp Kiwanis
• Camp Rio Blanco
• Camp Timberlake
• Stevens Ranch
• Camp Mel Davis
• Camp Boothe Oaks

Scouting museums in Texas

• Fred H. Poppe Museum^[23] Amarillo, Texas
• Goodykoontz Museum of Girl Scout History,^[24] Houston, Texas
• National Scouting Museum, Irving, Texas
• Worth Ranch Museum,^[25] Palo Pinto, Texas

Further reading

• McNabb, Peter (1987). I go to prepare a trail for you; a History of Mikanakawa Lodge. Wolfe City, Texas: Hennington Publishing Co. 
• Mikanakawa Lodge Operations Manual. Circle 10 Council. 2006. 

See also

• Alfred Michael "Chief" Venne
• Asociación de Scouts de México, A.C.
• Roy Williams (Scouting)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Scouting in Texas.

• Circle 10 Council
• West Texas Scouting History
• Girl Scouts of the USA - San Jacinto Council

References