Scouting in West Virginia
BSA Councils Serving West Virginia
 Scouting portal

Scouting in West Virginia has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.

Early history (1909-1950)

Camp Waldo Schmitt

In 1920, the Fairmont Council was founded. It closed in 1922.

In 1921, the Morgantown Council was founded. It closed in 1923.

In 1922, the Grafton Council was founded. It closed in 1923.

In 1923, the New River District Council (#615) was founded. It closed in 1923.

In 1928, the Mountaineer Area Council was founded.

In 1925, the McDowell County Council (#707) was founded. It changed its name to the Southern West Virginia Council (#707) in 1928.

In 1925, the Charleston Council (#617) was founded. It changed its name to the Charleston Area Council (#617) in 1929.

In 1926, the Logan County Council (#756) was founded. It changed its name to the Logan-Boone Area Council (#756) in 1930. It merged into the Logan-Boone-Mingo Area Council (#756) in 1935.

In 1930, the Kentucky-West Virginia Council (#626) was founded. It merged into the Logan-Boone-Mingo Area Council (#756) in 1934. It changed its name to the Cornstalk Council (#756) in 1953. It changed its name to the Chief Cornstalk Council (#756) in 1954. It merged into the Buckskin Council (#617) in 1990.

In 1929, the Charleston Area Council (#617) was founded. It changed its name to the Buckskin Council (#617) in 1949.

In 1946, the Appalachian Council (#673) was founded. It merged into the Southern West Virginia Council (#707) in 1955. It changed its name to the Appalachian Council (#707) in 1956. In 1991, the council merged into the Buckskin Council (#617).

In 1949, the Buckskin Council (#617) was founded.

In 1919, the Parkersburg Council (#618) was founded. It changed its name to the Kootaga Area Council (#618) in 1933. In 1990, it merged into the Allohak Council (#618).

In 1916, the Clarksburg Council (#616) was founded. It changed its name to the Clarksburg Area Council (#616) in 1936. It changed its name to the Central West Virginia Council (#616) in 1941. In 1990, it merged into the Allohak Council (#618).

In 1916, the Wheeling Council (#619) was founded. It changed its name to the Wheeling and Moundsville Council (#619) in 1923. It changed its name to the Wheeling Area Council (#619) in 1925. It changed its name to the Huroquois Council (#619) in 1926. It changed its name to the National Trail Council (#619) in 1966. It changed its name to the Ohio River Valley Council (#619) in 1991.

In 1919, the Huntington Council (#672) was founded. It changed its name to the Huntington Area Council (#672) in 1924. It changed its name to the Tri-State Area Council (#672) in 1935.

Recent history (1950-present)

Opening Ceremony of the 2013 National Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve.

In 1990, the Allohak Council (#618) was created from the merger of the Central West Virginia Council (#616) and the Kootaga Area Council (#618).

The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, often shortened as Summit Bechtel Reserve (SBR) and The Summit, located in Mount Hope, West Virginia, near Beckley,[1] is one of four facilities managed by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The Summit is the home of the national Scout jamboree, The Paul R. Christen National High Adventure Base, The James C. Justice National Scout Camp, and the Thomas S. Monson Leadership Excellence Complex. The main site is 10,600 acres (43 km2) in size, with additional properties along the New River Gorge totaling around 14,000 acres. The facility hosted the 2013 National Scout Jamboree.[1]

Boy Scouts of America in West Virginia today

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

Allohak Council

Allohak Council
OwnerBoy Scouts of America
HeadquartersParkersburg, West Virginia
LocationWest Virginia and Ohio
Founded1990
Website
allohak.org
 Scouting portal

The Allohak Council was created in 1990 but was disbanded on December 31, 2018.

It was composed of six districts and served West Virginia and Ohio. The council headquarters was in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

History

Parkersburg Council #618
founded 1919		Marietta Council #464
founded 1917		Clarksburg Council #616
founded 1916
Washington County Council #464
renamed 1922
Kootaga Area Council #618
renamed 1933		Southeastern Ohio Council #464
renamed 1923		Clarksburg Area Council #616
renamed 1936
Central West Virginia Council #616
renamed 1941
Kootaga Area Council #618
merged 1942
Allohak Council #618
merged 1990

Split of Council

Buckskin Council
Mountaineer Council
Simon Kenton Council
Muskingum Valley Council

Camps

Camp Kootaga entrance sign.

Camp Kootaga is located in Wirt County, WV. It serves as the summer camp for the Allohak Council. The camp is located on approximately 600 acres of forest land along the Hughes River. Each year 5 weeks of summer camp are conducted at Camp Kootaga. Camp Kootaga has 14 campsites.

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

Camp Mahonegon, sitting of approximately 500 acres in Upshur County, is the second camp in the Allohak Council. Though no longer used as an active summer camp, Mahonegon has remained an active part of the council. It is used for many council events yearly, and continues to be a focal point for scouting activity. The First Summer Camp was held in 1948. The last Summer Camp was held in 1980.[2] Camp Mahonegon was put up for sale when the Allohak Council was dissolved.

Buckeye Council

Main article: Buckeye Council

Buckeye Council serves Scouts in Ohio and West Virginia.

Buckskin Council

Buckskin Council
OwnerBoy Scouts of America
HeadquartersCharleston, West Virginia
LocationKentucky, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia
Website
http://www.buckskin.org
 Scouting portal

Main article: Buckskin Council

Buckskin Council serves Scouts in Scouts in Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.[3]

Organization

The council is divided into several districts:

Mountaineer Area Council

Mountaineer Area Council
OwnerBoy Scouts of America
HeadquartersFairmont, West Virginia
LocationWest Virginia
Founded1928
Website
macbsa.org
 Scouting portal

The Mountaineer Area Council serves Scouts of Monongalia, Marion, Preston, Taylor, Barbour, Tucker, Randolph, Upshur, Harrison, Doddridge, Gilmer, and Lewis counties in North Central West Virginia. It is the only council in the state to exclusively serve counties of West Virginia.[4]

History

The Mountaineer Area Council (#615) was founded 1928.

January 1, 2019 included the acquisition of eight counties to the council's territory, to include twelve counties total. The former Stonewall Jackson and Highland Districts of the Allohak Council joined the Mountaineer Area Council after the dissolution of the Allohak Council. [1]

Organization

Camps

Order of the Arrow

Menawngihella Lodge #550[7]

Ohio River Valley Council

Ohio River Valley Council
OwnerBoy Scouts of America
HeadquartersWheeling, West Virginia
LocationWest Virginia and Ohio
Founded1991
Website
orvc-bsa.org
 Scouting portal

Ohio River Valley Council serves Scouts in West Virginia and Ohio.[8]

History

Wheeling Council #619
founded 1916
Wheeling and Moundsville Council #619
renamed 1923
Wheeling Area Council #619
renamed 1925
Huroquois Council #619
renamed 1926
Fort Steuben Area Council #459
founded 1929
National Trail Council #619
renamed 1966
Ohio River Valley Council #619
merged 1991

Districts

Camps

Order of the Arrow

Onondaga Lodge 36[9]

Laurel Highlands Council

Main article: Laurel Highlands Council

Laurel Highlands Council served Scouts in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Shenandoah Area Council

Main article: Shenandoah Area Council

Shenandoah Area Council serves Scouts in Virginia and West Virginia.

Stonewall Jackson Area Council

Stonewall Jackson Area Council
OwnerBoy Scouts of America
HeadquartersWaynesboro, Virginia
LocationVirginia and West Virginia
Founded1926
Website
http://bsa-sjac.org/
 Scouting portal

Main article: Stonewall Jackson Area Council

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

Organization

The council is part of Area 7 of the Southern Region of the BSA. The council service center is in Waynesboro, Virginia and employs seven paid professional Scouters and an office staff. SJAC is divided into four districts:

Girl Scouting in West Virginia

Girl Scouting in West Virginia
Map of Girl Scout Councils in West Virginia
 Scouting portal

There are two Girl Scout councils in West Virginia.

Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital

Main article: Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital

In October 2009 the old Shawnee Council of West Virginia joined with the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital as part of the nationwide reorganization.[10]

West Virginia Service Center: Martinsburg, West Virginia

Other Girl Scout Camps

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

Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council

Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council
HeadquartersCharleston, West Virginia
CountryUnited States
Website
bdgsc.org
 Scouting portal

Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council[11] serves more than 20,000 girls in 61 counties in West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia, and Maryland.

Field Offices

Camps

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Scouting in West Virginia.

References

  1. ^ a b "Boy Scouts to Bring World-Class Center of Scouting Excellence to West Virginia". Boy Scouts of America. November 18, 2009. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  2. ^ "Allohak – free new pics and videos".
  3. ^ Wyatt, W. Joseph (January 2004). Buckskin Boys: A History of the Buckskin Council, 1919-2004. Pictorial Histories Publishing Company. ISBN 1575101149.
  4. ^ "Mountaineer Area Council, BSA".
  5. ^ "Mountaineer Area Council, BSA".
  6. ^ "Mountaineer Area Council, BSA".
  7. ^ "Mountaineer Area Council, BSA".
  8. ^ "Ohio River Valley Council, BSA".
  9. ^ "Onondaga Lodge 36". The Order of the Arrow Lodge of the Ohio River Valley Council
  10. ^ "A Girl Scout Story - June 2009". Girl Scouts of Shawnee Council. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  11. ^ "Girls Scouts of Black Diamond Council". Most of the info in this section is taken from here.
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