Scouting in Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Scouting in Minnesota 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.
local councils serving Minnesota
. In addition, the Northern Tier National High Adventure Bases
of the BSA is located in Minnesota.
. Ranging from Nevis
and Park Rapids
in the northwest to Elk River
in the southeast, the council serves 46 communities in the area.
Central Minnesota Council is made up of four districts:
, Minnesota.
to Winona MN
to Owatonna MN
and is bordered to the south by Iowa and the east by Wisconsin.
In Rochester alone, there are more than 2,000 Scouts, including 26 Cub Scout packs (grades first through fifth) and more than 20 Boy Scout troops (sixth grade through age 18). For older youth, Venturing is a high adventure outdoor program while Explorer Posts partner with firms like the Mayo Clinic, Cascade Veterinary Hospital, Gold Cross Ambulance, and Rochester Police to offer career development activities (age 14 through 21, coed).
Gamehaven Scouting consists of these districts:
, Northern Star Council was formed from the merger of Viking Council and Indianhead Council in 2005.
, and parts of South Dakota, northwest Minnesota and northeast Montana
.
in Hubbard County, Minnesota
. Founded by Herman Stern in 1946, Camp Wilderness is a 2400 acres (10 km²) camp. On August 18, 2006, the camp celebrated its 60th Anniversary by opening the Butler Wilderness Outpost, a Cub Scout camp for the scouts to attend. Camp Wilderness is, in area, the largest Boy Scout camp owned and operated by an area Scouting Council, although the National Council owns the much-larger Philmont Scout Ranch
in New Mexico
, and the slightly larger Charles L. Sommers Canoe Base, also located in Minnesota
.
, Iowa
and Minnesota.
, Minnesota. The camp is unique in design and concept; unlike most Boy Scout camps, which emphasize the troop method, Cuyuna utilizes the patrol method. Campsites are arranged for boys to sleep and eat as patrols with a central troop assembly area. Patrols draw their rations from a central Commissary
and cook all of their meals together except for two Camp-wide meals, on Sunday and Friday nights.
Lodge is Ka'niss Ma'ingan Lodge #196.
. Serves a large portion of northwestern Minnesota and Rock County in southwestern Minnesota.
Headquarters: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Web Site: http://www.gsdakotahorizons.org
the northern half of Minnesota and northwest corner of Wisconsin.
Northern Pine and Land of Lakes Councils joined together Jan. 1, 2008
to form Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and Pines.
Headquarters: Waite Park, Minnesota
Website: http://www.gslakesandpines.org
Camps:
Headquarters: St. Paul, Minnesota
Website: http://www.girlscoutsrv.org
Camps:
Girl Scout Council Websites
Boy Scouting in Minnesota today
There are eight 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 serving Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. In addition, the Northern Tier National High Adventure Bases
Northern Tier National High Adventure Bases
The Northern Tier National High Adventure Bases are a collection of high adventure bases run by the Boy Scouts of America in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of Minnesota, Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park, Manitoba's Atikaki Provincial Wilderness Park and points beyond...
of the BSA is located in Minnesota.
Central Minnesota Council
CMC is headquartered in Sartell, MinnesotaSartell, Minnesota
Sartell is a city in Benton and Stearns counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is part of the St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 15,876 at the 2010 census, making it St. Cloud's most populous suburb and the largest city in the central Minnesota region after St...
. Ranging from Nevis
Nevis, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 364 people, 162 households, and 109 families residing in the city. The population density was 388.9 people per square mile . There were 199 housing units at an average density of 212.6 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 96.98% White, 1.10%...
and Park Rapids
Park Rapids, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,276 people, 1,476 households, and 788 families residing in the city. The population density was 547.5 people per square mile . There were 1,616 housing units at an average density of 270.1 per square mile...
in the northwest to Elk River
Elk River, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,447 people, 5,664 households, and 4,400 families residing in the city. Recent estimates show the population at 21,329 as of 2005. The population density was 385.5 people per square mile . There were 5,782 housing units at an average density of 135.5 per...
in the southeast, the council serves 46 communities in the area.
Central Minnesota Council is made up of four districts:
Parker Scout Reservation
Central Minnesota Council is home to Parker Scout Reservation, which was established in 1941 by Clyde Parker. The Camp sits on 256 acres (1 km²) of wooded land on North Long Lake north of BrainerdBrainerd, Minnesota
Brainerd is a city in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,590 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Crow Wing County and one of the largest cities in Central Minnesota...
, Minnesota.
Gamehaven Council
Gamehaven Scouting serves seven counties in southeast Minnesota. From its council office located in Rochester MN, its area ranges from Red Wing MNRed Wing, Minnesota
Red Wing is a city in Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States, on the Mississippi River. The population was 16,459 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Goodhue County....
to Winona MN
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
to Owatonna MN
Owatonna, Minnesota
Owatonna is a city in Steele County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 25,599 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Steele County. Owatonna is home to the Steele County Fairgrounds, which hosts the Steele County Free Fair in August....
and is bordered to the south by Iowa and the east by Wisconsin.
In Rochester alone, there are more than 2,000 Scouts, including 26 Cub Scout packs (grades first through fifth) and more than 20 Boy Scout troops (sixth grade through age 18). For older youth, Venturing is a high adventure outdoor program while Explorer Posts partner with firms like the Mayo Clinic, Cascade Veterinary Hospital, Gold Cross Ambulance, and Rochester Police to offer career development activities (age 14 through 21, coed).
Gamehaven Scouting consists of these districts:
Blue Ox Lodge
Gamehaven Scouting is supported by Blue Ox Lodge #26 of the Order of the Arrow.Gamehaven Paddles
Gamehaven Scouting has volunteers who are certified by the American Canoe Association in both canoeing and kayaking. Youth awards and leader training is available on request to in-council, other councils, and to the public. Our kayak fleet ranges from recreational kayaks appropriate for Webelos Scouts to kayaks suitable for training for Lake Superior and Seabase trips. Gamehaven provides solo canoe training with Wenonah Argosy solo canoes as well as traditional tandem canoeing. Check out the Google Group called Gamehaven Paddles.Gateway Area Council
Gateway Area Council serves Scouts in Wisconsin and Minnesota.Northern Star Council
Located in Saint Paul, MinnesotaSaint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, Northern Star Council was formed from the merger of Viking Council and Indianhead Council in 2005.
Northern Lights Council
As of 2006, Northern Lights Council serves all of North DakotaNorth Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, and parts of South Dakota, northwest Minnesota and northeast Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
.
Camp Wilderness
Northern Lights Council is home to Camp Wilderness (47.094°N 94.944°W), located on Bad Axe Lake near Emmaville, MinnesotaEmmaville, Minnesota
Emmaville is a small unincorporated community in Hubbard County, Minnesota, United States. The community is located at the intersection of County Roads 4 and 24 just in between Park Rapids and Lake George and features a gas station, convenience store and cafe...
in Hubbard County, Minnesota
Hubbard County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,376 people, 7,435 households, and 5,345 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile . There were 12,229 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
. Founded by Herman Stern in 1946, Camp Wilderness is a 2400 acres (10 km²) camp. On August 18, 2006, the camp celebrated its 60th Anniversary by opening the Butler Wilderness Outpost, a Cub Scout camp for the scouts to attend. Camp Wilderness is, in area, the largest Boy Scout camp owned and operated by an area Scouting Council, although the National Council owns the much-larger Philmont Scout Ranch
Philmont Scout Ranch
Philmont Scout Ranch is a large, rugged, mountainous ranch located near the town of Cimarron, New Mexico, covering approximately of wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Rocky Mountains of northern New Mexico...
in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and the slightly larger Charles L. Sommers Canoe Base, also located in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
Sioux Council
Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sioux Council serves Scouts in South DakotaSouth Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and Minnesota.
- Buffalo Ridge District serves Lincoln, Lyon, and Murray counties in Minnesota. Camp Shetek is located in Murray County on Lake ShetekLake ShetekLake Shetek is the largest lake in Murray County, Minnesota, located a few miles north-northwest of Currie. Shetek means "pelican".-Geography:...
near Currie, MinnesotaCurrie, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 225 people, 109 households, and 67 families residing in the city. The population density was 393.0 people per square mile . There were 127 housing units at an average density of 221.9 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.56% White, and 0.44%...
. - Prairie Hills District serves Pipestone, Nobles, and Rock counties in Minnesota.
Cuyuna Scout Camp
Twin Valley Council is home to Cuyuna Scout Camp, established as Camp Cuyuna in 1967. The Camp sits on 680 acres (2.8 km²) of wooded land surrounded by six lakes (Goodrich, Little Pickerel, Big Pickerel, Lily, Grass, Cranberry). Additionally, Lake Russell (originally Command Lake) sits entirely within the boundaries of Cuyuna Scout Camp. Cuyuna Scout Camp ("Cuyuna," for short) is located northeast of CrosslakeCrosslake, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,893 people, 899 households, and 623 families residing in the city. The population density was 73.8 people per square mile . There were 2,477 housing units at an average density of 96.6 per square mile...
, Minnesota. The camp is unique in design and concept; unlike most Boy Scout camps, which emphasize the troop method, Cuyuna utilizes the patrol method. Campsites are arranged for boys to sleep and eat as patrols with a central troop assembly area. Patrols draw their rations from a central Commissary
Commissary
A commissary is someone delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office; in a formal, legal context, one who has received power from a legitimate superior authority to pass judgment in a certain cause or to take information concerning it.-Word history:...
and cook all of their meals together except for two Camp-wide meals, on Sunday and Friday nights.
Voyageurs Area Council
Headquartered in Hermantown, Minnesota, Voyageurs Area Council serves Scouts in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Its 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 is Ka'niss Ma'ingan Lodge #196.
Girl Scouting in Minnesota Today
Three Girl Scout Councils serve Minnesota.Girl Scouts - Dakota Horizons
See Scouting in South DakotaScouting in South Dakota
Scouting in South Dakota 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 in South Dakota today:...
. Serves a large portion of northwestern Minnesota and Rock County in southwestern Minnesota.
Headquarters: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
Web Site: http://www.gsdakotahorizons.org
Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and Pines Council
Lakes and Pines Council serves 11,000 girls in 39 counties throughoutthe northern half of Minnesota and northwest corner of Wisconsin.
Northern Pine and Land of Lakes Councils joined together Jan. 1, 2008
to form Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and Pines.
Headquarters: Waite Park, Minnesota
Waite Park, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,568 people, 2,967 households, and 1,536 families residing in the city. The population density was 841.0 people per square mile . There were 3,065 housing units at an average density of 392.5 per square mile...
Website: http://www.gslakesandpines.org
Camps:
- Camp Roundelay is 620 acres (2.5 km²) near Minong, WisconsinMinong, WisconsinMinong is a village in Washburn County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 531 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Minong.U.S...
- Northern Lakes Canoe Base is 20 miles (32.2 km) north of Ely, MinnesotaEly, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 3,724 people, 1,912 households, and 916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,369.5 people per square mile . There were 1,912 housing units at an average density of 703.2 per square mile...
and near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area WildernessBoundary Waters Canoe Area WildernessThe Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness , is a wilderness area within the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota under the administration of the U.S. Forest Service... - Camp Shingobee Timbers is 170 acre (0.6879662 km²) in Chippewa National ForestChippewa National ForestChippewa National Forest is a National Forest located in northcentral Minnesota, United States, in the counties of Itasca, Cass, and Beltrami. Forest headquarters are located in Cass Lake, Minnesota. There are local ranger district offices in Blackduck, Deer River, and Walker.-History and...
near Walker, MinnesotaWalker, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 1,069 people, 449 households, and 258 families residing in the city. The population density was 734.3 people per square mile . There were 517 housing units at an average density of 355.1 per square mile... - Camp Sanderson is 33 acres (133,546.4 m²) near Spicer, MN.
Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys
In partnership with 18,000 adult volunteers, the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys helps nearly 45,000 girls each year—in all or portions of 49 counties in southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.Headquarters: St. Paul, Minnesota
Website: http://www.girlscoutsrv.org
Camps:
- Camp Elk River is 1200 acres (4.9 km²) near Zimmerman, MN.
- Camp Lakamaga is near Marine, MN.
- Camp Northwoods is 420 acres (1.7 km²) near Mason, WI.
- Camp Singing Hills is 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) near Waterville, MN
- Camp Whispering Hills is near Houston, MN
Scouting museums in Minnesota
- Many Point Scout Camp History Center
- North Star Museum of Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting, North Saint Paul, Minnesota
External links
Boy Scout Council Websites- Central Minnesota Council
- Gamehaven Council
- Northern Star Council
- Sioux Council
- Twin Valley Council
- Voyageurs Area Council
Girl Scout Council Websites