Scouting in Louisiana
Encyclopedia
Scouting in Louisiana 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.
Until 1974, some southern councils of the Boy Scouts of America were racially segregated
. (The Old Hickory council did not integrate until 1974.) Negro Troops, as they were officially known, were sometimes given little support from Districts and Councils. Some Scouting executives and leaders believed that black scouts and leaders would be less able to live up to the ideals of the Boy Scouts.
In the days of segregation, five of the seven Louisiana councils maintained a separate summer camp for Negro scouts and the other two ran a special session at the regular council camp in order that black scouts would not be denied a camping program. In the period 1957-1967, each of the "Negro Scout Camps" were closed and the regular councils camps were integrated. Negro camps in Louisiana were: Camp Pioneer (Norwela Council), Camp Britton (Ouachita Valley Council), Camp Chenier (Evangeline Area Council), Indian Village Scout Camp (New Orleans Area Council), and Camp Carver (Istrouma Area Council).
local councils in Louisiana.
serves 4800+ youth in five Parish
es of Southwest Louisiana
. The Council is divided into three districts: Pioneer District serves Lake Charles
, Louisiana, and Jeff Davis Parish
; Cypress Knee District serves Calcasieu
and Cameron
Parishes; Thunderbird District serves Beauregard
and Vernon
Parishes.
The Staff typically includes a Scout Executive, District Director and two District Executives. Support Staff includes an office staff and Camp Ranger.
The Council's Camp is Camp Edgewood, located near DeQuincy
, Louisiana.
lodge for the Southeast Louisiana Council. Chilantakoba Lodge works as an integral part of the Southeast Louisiana Council in serving Scouting in Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemine, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Bernard, Saint Charles, Saint James, Saint Tammany, and Terrebonne Parishes, as well as a portion of Mississippi
.
The lodge is governed by a group of Youth (under 21) elected and appointed officers, with the aid of Lodge Adult Advisers, appointed by the Council Scout Executive (Supreme Chief of the Fire). The elections are held annually, and the Officers serve from January 1 to December 31, unless provided for otherwise by the Supreme Chief of the Fire.
The Lodge Officers are elected annually by the membership of the Lodge. Each Chapter is allotted 10 votes for each position, and the votes are allocated via Chapter caucus.
The Committee Chairmen are appointed by the Lodge Chief, with the approval of the Lodge Executive Committee. An asterisk (*) following the committee name indicates a Lodge Standing Committee, those committees without an asterisk are Operating Committees, and are created by the Lodge Vice Chiefs each year to aid them in the execution of their duties. All Operating Committees and their respective chairman must be approved by the Lodge Executive Committee.
The Chapter Chiefs are elected by the members of their Chapters and serve until their successors are elected. All Chapter Chiefs serve as members of the Lodge Executive Board. Here are the names of the six Chilantakoba Lodge Chapters:
Before the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Chilantakoba Lodge was the largest Order of the Arrow Lodge in its Section. The membership peaked around 600, but following the storm fell to nearly 100. The Council's camp, and much of the area it serves, was impacted severely. There were downed trees, damaged buildings, destroyed trails, and loss of many other assets on the Council's property. Members of Chilantakoba Lodge helped in the resurrection of the Council Camp, Salmen Scout Reservation, and helped to staff the summer program, putting on three weeks of Boy Scout summer camp. It is this level of dedication, and desire to serve, that has caused Chilantakoba Lodge to produce two Lodge Chiefs who have later gone on to receive the Distinguished Service Award, the highest award for service to the Order.
It was formed by the merger of Girl Scout Council of Southeast
Louisiana and Girl Scouts-Audubon Council in April 2008.
Headquarters: New Orleans, Louisiana
Website: http://www.gsle.org
Service Center:
Camps:
Girl Scouts Silver Waters Council in January 2008.
Headquarters: Lafayette, Louisiana
Website: http://www.girlscoutspinestogulf.org
Camps:
Early history (1910-1950)
The first BSA Troop in Louisiana was founded in 1912 in Lake Charles, LA. Troop 1 of the Calcasieu area Council was the first troop west of the Mississippi and was led by Scoutmaster Seaman A. Mayo. Today Troop 1 is Troop 5 of First United Methodist Church, Lake Charles Louisiana.Until 1974, some southern councils of the Boy Scouts of America were racially segregated
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
. (The Old Hickory council did not integrate until 1974.) Negro Troops, as they were officially known, were sometimes given little support from Districts and Councils. Some Scouting executives and leaders believed that black scouts and leaders would be less able to live up to the ideals of the Boy Scouts.
In the days of segregation, five of the seven Louisiana councils maintained a separate summer camp for Negro scouts and the other two ran a special session at the regular council camp in order that black scouts would not be denied a camping program. In the period 1957-1967, each of the "Negro Scout Camps" were closed and the regular councils camps were integrated. Negro camps in Louisiana were: Camp Pioneer (Norwela Council), Camp Britton (Ouachita Valley Council), Camp Chenier (Evangeline Area Council), Indian Village Scout Camp (New Orleans Area Council), and Camp Carver (Istrouma Area Council).
Scouting in Louisiana today
There are seven Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
local councils in Louisiana.
Louisiana Purchase Council
- Formed by the merger between the Ouachita Valley and Attakapas Councils
Calcasieu Area Council
The Calcasieu Area Council, Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
serves 4800+ youth in five Parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es of Southwest Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. The Council is divided into three districts: Pioneer District serves Lake Charles
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
, Louisiana, and Jeff Davis Parish
Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana
Jefferson Davis Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Jennings. As of 2000, its population was 31,435. Jefferson Davis Parish is named after the president of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, Jefferson Davis. It is located in southwestern...
; Cypress Knee District serves Calcasieu
Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
Calcasieu Parish[p] is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Lake Charles. As of 2010, the parish population was 192,768...
and Cameron
Cameron Parish, Louisiana
Cameron Parish is the parish with the most land area in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Cameron and as of 2010, the population was 6,839...
Parishes; Thunderbird District serves Beauregard
Beauregard Parish, Louisiana
Beauregard Parish [p] is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Beauregard Parish was formed on 1 January 1913. The parish seat is DeRidder. As of 2000, the population was 32,986. Beauregard Parish is part of the DeRidder Micropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Fort Polk...
and Vernon
Vernon Parish, Louisiana
Vernon Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Leesville and as of 2000, the population was 52,531....
Parishes.
The Staff typically includes a Scout Executive, District Director and two District Executives. Support Staff includes an office staff and Camp Ranger.
The Council's Camp is Camp Edgewood, located near DeQuincy
DeQuincy, Louisiana
DeQuincy is the northernmost city in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,398 at the 2000 census. DeQuincy is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:DeQuincy is located at ....
, Louisiana.
- Thunderbird District
- Pioneer District
- Cypress Knee District
Evangeline Area Council
- Acadia District
- Attakapas District
- Beau Bassin District
- Chitimacha District
- Coushatta District
Istrouma Area Council
Istrouma Area Council serves Scouts in Louisiana and Mississippi.Chilantakoba Lodge
Chilantakoba Lodge serves as the Order of the ArrowOrder of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America . It uses American Indian-styled traditions and ceremonies to bestow recognition on scouts selected by their peers as best exemplifying the ideals of Scouting. The society was created by E. Urner Goodman, with the...
lodge for the Southeast Louisiana Council. Chilantakoba Lodge works as an integral part of the Southeast Louisiana Council in serving Scouting in Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemine, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Bernard, Saint Charles, Saint James, Saint Tammany, and Terrebonne Parishes, as well as a portion of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
.
Lodge Organization
The lodge is governed by a group of Youth (under 21) elected and appointed officers, with the aid of Lodge Adult Advisers, appointed by the Council Scout Executive (Supreme Chief of the Fire). The elections are held annually, and the Officers serve from January 1 to December 31, unless provided for otherwise by the Supreme Chief of the Fire.
Lodge Officers
The Lodge Officers are elected annually by the membership of the Lodge. Each Chapter is allotted 10 votes for each position, and the votes are allocated via Chapter caucus.
- Lodge Chief
- Past Lodge Chief
- First vice Chief (Ceremonies)
- Second vice Chief (Service)
- Third vice Chief (Training)
- Treasurer
- Secretary
- Scribe
Lodge Committees
The Committee Chairmen are appointed by the Lodge Chief, with the approval of the Lodge Executive Committee. An asterisk (*) following the committee name indicates a Lodge Standing Committee, those committees without an asterisk are Operating Committees, and are created by the Lodge Vice Chiefs each year to aid them in the execution of their duties. All Operating Committees and their respective chairman must be approved by the Lodge Executive Committee.
- Brotherhood Committee*
- Vigil Committee*
- Elections Committee*
- Publications Committee*
- OA Troop/Team Representative Committee
- Camping Committee
- Indian Affairs(dance team) Committee
Chapters
The Chapter Chiefs are elected by the members of their Chapters and serve until their successors are elected. All Chapter Chiefs serve as members of the Lodge Executive Board. Here are the names of the six Chilantakoba Lodge Chapters:
- Apeli Chapter **
- Cataouatche Chapter
- Chitimacha Chapter
- Choctaw Chapter
- Houmas Chapter
- Tchoupitoulas Chapter
-
- Apeli Chapter is the result of a merge of the Acolapissa and Muskhoghea chapters, due to the council's merging of the districts following Hurricane Katrina.**
Hurricane Katrina, and the Chilantakoba Tradition of Service
Before the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Chilantakoba Lodge was the largest Order of the Arrow Lodge in its Section. The membership peaked around 600, but following the storm fell to nearly 100. The Council's camp, and much of the area it serves, was impacted severely. There were downed trees, damaged buildings, destroyed trails, and loss of many other assets on the Council's property. Members of Chilantakoba Lodge helped in the resurrection of the Council Camp, Salmen Scout Reservation, and helped to staff the summer program, putting on three weeks of Boy Scout summer camp. It is this level of dedication, and desire to serve, that has caused Chilantakoba Lodge to produce two Lodge Chiefs who have later gone on to receive the Distinguished Service Award, the highest award for service to the Order.
Girl Scouting in Louisiana
Two Girl Scout Councils serve Louisiana.Girl Scouts Louisiana East
Girl Scouts Louisiana East serves some 16,000 girls in 23 parishes.It was formed by the merger of Girl Scout Council of Southeast
Louisiana and Girl Scouts-Audubon Council in April 2008.
Headquarters: New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
Website: http://www.gsle.org
Service Center:
- Baton Rouge, LA
Camps:
- Camp Marydale is 400 acres (1.6 km²) in St. Francisville, LA
- Camp Whispering Pines is 600 acres (2.4 km²) in Independence, LA. It includes a 23 acres (93,077.8 m²) lake.
- Camp Covington is 23 acres (93,077.8 m²) in Covington, LA. It was founded in 1927.
- McFadden Cabin is located in City Park (New Orleans)
Girl Scouts of Louisiana - Pines to the Gulf
It was formed by the merger of Bayou Girl Scout Council, Girl Scouts Pelican Council, andGirl Scouts Silver Waters Council in January 2008.
Headquarters: Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
Website: http://www.girlscoutspinestogulf.org
Camps:
- Camp Bon Temps is 106 acre (0.42896716 km²) in Breaux Bridge, LouisianaBreaux Bridge, LouisianaBreaux Bridge is a city in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population is 8,139 as of the 2010 census. It is part of the Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area....
- Camp Wawbansee is 140 acre (0.5665604 km²) in Arcadia, LouisianaArcadia, LouisianaArcadia is a town in and the parish seat of Bienville Parish in north Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,041 at the 2000 census....
- Camp Indian Creek is in Chatham, LouisianaChatham, LouisianaChatham is a town in Jackson Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 623 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ruston Micropolitan Statistical Area.Southwest of Chatham is Caney Lake and the Jimmie Davis State Park.'-Geography:...