Editing Scouting in Florida

{{Short description|none}}
'''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.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}

==Recent history (1950-1990)==
{{Empty section|date=May 2010}}

==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>

==Girl Scout of the USA in Florida today==
{{Infobox WorldScouting
|name=Girl Scouting in Florida
|image=Florida-gsusa.svg
|caption=Map of Girl Scout Councils in Florida
}}
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<br />
[https://www.citrus-gs.org/ Website]

Camps
*Celia Lane Little House in Orlando.
*Mah-Kah-Wee Program Center is {{convert|250|acre|ha}} near [[Chuluota, Florida|Chuluota]].
*Riverpoint Program Center is {{convert|24|acre|ha}} 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 County|Alachua]], 
[[Baker County, Florida|Baker]], 
[[Bay County, Florida|Bay]],
[[Bradford County, Florida|Bradford]], 
[[Calhoun County, Florida|Calhoun]],
[[Clay County, Florida|Clay]], 
[[Columbia County, Florida|Columbia]], 
[[Dixie County, Florida|Dixie]], 
[[Duval County, Florida|Duval]],
[[Escambia County, Florida|Escambia]], 
[[Flagler County, Florida|Flagler]], 
[[Franklin County, Florida|Franklin]],
[[Gadsden County, Florida|Gadsden]],
[[Gilchrist County, Florida|Gilchrist]], 
[[Gulf County, Florida|Gulf]],
[[Hamilton County, Florida|Hamilton]],
[[Holmes County, Florida|Holmes]],
[[Jackson County, Florida|Jackson]],
[[Jefferson County, Florida|Jefferson]],
[[Lafayette County, Florida|Lafayette]],
[[Leon County, Florida|Leon]],
[[Levy County, Florida|Levy]], 
[[Liberty County, Florida|Liberty]],
[[Madison County, Florida|Madison]],
[[Nassau County, Florida|Nassau]], 
[[Okaloosa County, Florida|Okaloosa]],
[[Putnam County, Florida|Putnam]], 
[[Santa Rosa County, Florida|Santa Rosa]],
[[St. Johns County, Florida|St. Johns]], 
[[Suwannee County, Florida|Suwannee]],
[[Taylor County, Florida|Taylor]],
[[Union County, Florida|Union]]
[[Wakulla County, Florida|Wakulla]],
[[Walton County, Florida|Walton]],
and [[Washington County, Florida|Washington]]).

Headquarters: [[Jacksonville, Florida]]<br />
[https://www.gsgateway.org/ Website]

Camps:
*Camp Kateri is {{convert|550|acre|ha}} 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<br />[https://www.gsgcf.org/ Website]

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]]<br />
[https://www.gssef.org website]

====Camps====

'''Camp Welaka'''  is a {{convert|640|acre|ha|adj=on}} camp in [[Jonathan Dickinson State Park]] in [[Tequesta, Florida|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, Florida|Clewiston]] is a {{convert|640|acre|ha|adj=on}} camp with a {{convert|13|acre|ha|adj=on}} 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 {{convert|13|acre|ha|adj=on}} camp situated in [[Parkland, Florida|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 [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Dade County]] in 1923.  The council was chartered in 1929 and its founder was Judge [[Edith Atkinson]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sarasotahistoryalive.com/history/articles/san-remo/|title=San Remo |website=Sarasota History Alive|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-31}}</ref>

[https://www.girlscoutsfl.org website]

====Camps====

'''Camp Wesumkee''' belongs to the [[Girl Scouts of the USA]], and is part of the Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida,<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.girlscoutsfl.org/en/camp/our-camp-properties.html| title = Our Camp Properties| work = Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida | date=2020-08-08}}</ref> serving Miami, Florida. It is located on [[West Summerland Key]] in the Lower [[Florida Keys]], covering over {{convert|10|acre|ha}} 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 {{convert|20|acre|ha}}. 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 {{convert|11|acre|ha}}, 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]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://floridatrailblazer.com/2019/02/21/abandoned-girl-scout-camp-in-withlacoochee-state-forest | title=Abandoned Girl Scout Camp in Withlacoochee State Forest (Camp Withlacoochee) | date=21 February 2019 }}</ref>

Headquarters: Tampa, Florida<br />
[https://www.gswcf.org/ Website]

==International Scouting units in Florida==
[[Asociación de Scouts de Cuba|Cuban]] Scouting in exile exists to this day in [[Miami, Florida|Miami]] as part of the Boy Scouts of America, where [[Cuban-American]] Scouts are instrumental in annual [[Abraham Lincoln|Lincoln]]-[[José Martí|Martí]] celebrations.

==See also==
{{Portal|Scouting}}

*[[Scouting in Alabama]]
*[[Scouting in Georgia (U.S. state)|Scouting in Georgia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

{{Scouting in the United States}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scouting In Florida}}
[[Category:Youth organizations based in Florida]]
[[Category:Scouting in the United States|Florida]]
[[Category:Southern Region (Boy Scouts of America)]]