Editing Scouting in Florida (section)

==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===

{{Main|Scouting in Alabama#Alabama-Florida Council}}

'''Alabama-Florida Council''' serves Scouts in [[Alabama]] and Florida, with the council office located in [[Dothan, Alabama]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.bsa3.org | title= Alabama-Florida Council}}</ref>

OA Lodge: Cowikee Lodge #224<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.bsa3.org/224 | title= Cowikee Lodge #224}}</ref>

===Central Florida Council===
{{Main|Central Florida Council}}
'''Central Florida Council''' serves Scouts in [[Orange County, Florida|Orange]], [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola]], [[Seminole County, Florida|Seminole]], [[Lake County, Florida|Lake]], [[Brevard County, Florida|Brevard]], [[Volusia County, Florida|Volusia]] and [[Flagler County, Florida|Flagler Counties]].  Its headquarters is located in [[Apopka, Florida]], and its primary Scout camp is Camp La-No-Che in [[Paisley, Florida|Paisley]].

OA lodge: [http://www.tipisa.org/main/news.php Tipisa Lodge 326]

=== Greater Tampa Bay Area Council ===
{{Main|Greater Tampa Bay Area Council}}
{{Infobox WorldScouting
|name=Greater Tampa Bay Area Council
|image=
|type=council
|owner=[[Boy Scouts of America]]
|headquarters=[[Tampa, Florida]] 
|location=
|country=United States
|coords=
|f-date= 5/01/2016
|defunct=
|founders=
|founder=
|members=
|chiefscouttitle=President
|chiefscout=Peter Collins
|chiefscouttitle2=Council Commissioner
|chiefscout2=
|chiefscouttitle3=Scout Executive
|chiefscout3= Mike Butler (eff March 1, 2022)}}
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.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.wcfcbsa.org/document/plan-of-merger-document/158287 |title= WCFC BSA Plan of merger document  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408224600/http://www.wcfcbsa.org/document/plan-of-merger-document/158287 |archive-date=8 April 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

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, Florida|Odessa]], Camp Soule in [[Clearwater, Florida|Clearwater]], Flaming Arrow Scout Reservation in [[Lake Wales, Florida|Lake Wales]], and Sand Hill Scout Reservation in [[Brooksville, Florida|Brooksville]]. There are also two smaller facilities at Bigfoot Wilderness Camp near [[Dade City, Florida|Dade City]], and Camp Alafia in [[Lithia, Florida|Lithia]]. The Scout office is in [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://tampabayscouting.org/ | title= tampabayscouting.org}}</ref>

OA Lodge: [https://uhtoyehhuttee.org/ Uh-To-Yeh-Hut-Tee Lodge 89]

===Gulf Coast Council===
{{Main|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: [http://www.yustaga385.com/ Yustaga Lodge #385] whose patches can be seen [http://yustaga_385.tripod.com here.]

===Gulf Stream Council===
{{Main|Gulf Stream Council}}
'''Gulf Stream Council''' is in southeast [[Florida]] with the headquarters in [[Palm Beach Gardens, Florida|Palm Beach Gardens]]. The council serves youth in the eastern portion of South Florida from the [[Broward County|Broward]]/[[Palm Beach County|Palm Beach]] line north to the [[Brevard County|Brevard]]/[[Indian River County]] line and west into the eastern portions of [[Highlands County|Highlands]], [[Glades County|Glades]] and [[Hendry County|Hendry]] counties.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://gulfstreamcouncil.org/geography.asp | title=Gulf Stream Council}}</ref>

OA Lodge: {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070224132239/http://www.aal-pa-tah237.org/ Aal-pa-tah Lodge 237]}}

===North Florida Council===

{{Main|North Florida Council}}
The [http://www.nfcscouting.org 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: [http://www.stjohnsriverbase.org St. Johns Riverbase at Echockotee]
on Doctors Lake in Orange Park, and [https://web.archive.org/web/20080614151844/http://www.campshands.org/index.htm Camp Shands] near Hawthorne.

OA Lodge - [http://www.echockotee.org/ Echockotee Lodge]

===South Florida Council===
{{Main|South Florida Council}}
{{Infobox WorldScouting
|name=South Florida Council
|image=
|type=council
|owner=[[Boy Scouts of America]]
|headquarters= 
|location=
|country=United States
|coords=
|f-date=  
|defunct=
|founders=
|founder=
|members=
|chiefscouttitle=President
|chiefscout= 
|chiefscouttitle2=Council Commissioner
|chiefscout2=
|chiefscouttitle3=Scout Executive
|chiefscout3= Jeff Berger}}

The '''South Florida Council''', is in South [[Florida]] in [[Broward County|Broward]], [[Miami-Dade County|Miami-Dade]], and [[Monroe County, Florida|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: [http://www.O-shot-caw.org O-shot-caw Lodge 265]

===Southwest Florida Council===
{{Main|Southwest Florida Council}}
{{Infobox WorldScouting
|name=Southwest Florida Council
|image=
|type=council
|owner=[[Boy Scouts of America]]
|headquarters= 
|location=
|country=United States
|coords=
|f-date=  
|defunct=
|founders=
|founder=
|members=
|chiefscouttitle=President
|chiefscout= 
|chiefscouttitle2=Council Commissioner
|chiefscout2=
|chiefscouttitle3=Scout Executive
|chiefscout3= 
}}

'''Southwest Florida Council''' serves [[Collier County|Collier]], [[Lee County, Florida|Lee]], [[Charlotte County, Florida|Charlotte]], [[Manatee County|Manatee]], [[Sarasota County|Sarasota]], and parts of [[DeSoto County, Florida|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&nbsp;— 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 {{convert|100000|lb|abbr=on}} 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 [http://www.swflcouncilbsa.org]

OA Lodge: Osceola #564, website [http://www.osceola564.org]

===Suwannee River Area Council===
{{Infobox WorldScouting
|name=Suwannee River Area Council
|image=File:Boy Scouts of America, Suwannee River Area Council, Tallahassee.JPG
|type=council
|owner=[[Boy Scouts of America]]
|headquarters= 
|location=
|country=United States
|coords=
|f-date=  1924
|defunct=
|founders=
|founder=
|members=
|chiefscouttitle=President
|chiefscout= 
|chiefscouttitle2=Council Commissioner
|chiefscout2=
|chiefscouttitle3=Scout Executive
|chiefscout3= 
}}

The '''Suwannee River Area Council''', active from 1924 to present, encompasses 13 counties in north [[Florida]] and south [[Georgia (U.S. state)|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====
[[File:SWLkTalquin-Oct2007.JPG|thumb|left|Lake Talquin, as viewed from Wallwood Scout Reservation on the north shore, looking to the southwest, October 2007.]]
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 {{convert|500|acre|km2}} 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.semialacheelodge.org|title=Semialachee Lodge}}</ref>