Scouting in Kentucky facts for kids
Scouting in Kentucky has a long and exciting history, starting way back in the 1910s! It has helped thousands of young people learn important skills and have fun. Kentucky is special because it's the home state of Daniel Carter (Uncle Dan) Beard, one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America.
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Early Days of Scouting (1908–1950)
Many people believe the very first Boy Scout troop in the United States started in Burnside, Kentucky. This was in 1908, even before the Boy Scouts of America officially began! A woman named Mrs. Myra Greeno Bass started a troop of 15 boys. She used official Boy Scout materials she got from England. Today, a sign in Burnside calls it the "Birthplace of Boy Scouts in America."
Another early troop, Boy Scouts of America Troop 1, began in Frankfort, Kentucky in 1909. It was started by Stanley A. Harris. This troop was first part of the British Boy Scouts. Even though its original papers were lost in a fire, Troop 1 is still active today!
In other Kentucky towns like Danville, new troops started in December 1911. Some of these early troops, like Troop 1 and Troop 2, are still active today as Troop 326 and Troop 27. Many smaller Scouting groups eventually joined together. For example, several councils merged to create the Blue Grass Council in 1927 in Lexington.
Girls also had early Scouting groups in Kentucky. In July 1911, an unofficial group of 8 girls formed a patrol in Louisville. The first official Girl Scout troops in Kentucky were started in Scottsville in 1917.
In the past, some Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups were separated by race. This was due to state and local rules at the time. However, the Boy Scouts of America began to change these rules. The Louisville Area Council was one of the first to start including all Scouts. By 1959, they welcomed their first Black Boy Scout Troops. The Girl Scouts of the USA also worked hard to end segregation. One of the first camps to welcome all girls, Camp Shantituck in Kentucky, became integrated in 1956.
Scouting in Recent Times (1950–1990)
The National Scouting Museum used to be in Murray, Kentucky, at Murray State University. It later moved to Texas. Many Kentuckians have achieved great things in Scouting. For example, Mike Walton from Rose Terrace was a state representative for Exploring, a program for older Scouts.
Hazen A. Dean (1889–1984) was a very special Scoutmaster from Owensboro, KY. He led BSA Troop 24 for over 50 years! In 1983, he received an award for 70 continuous years of service to Scouting. He helped 86 Scouts earn the top rank of Eagle Scout. This was the most in the U.S. at that time! A part of the Boy Scout camp Wildcat Hollow was named in his honor.
Scouting in Kentucky Today
Today, there are six main Boy Scout councils that serve Kentucky. Two of these councils have their main offices in Kentucky: the Blue Grass Council and the Lincoln Heritage Council. The other four councils are based in nearby states like Ohio, West Virginia, and Tennessee.
Blue Grass Council
The Blue Grass Council serves many areas in Kentucky. It is divided into several smaller areas called districts:
- Elkhorn District
- Lake Cumberland District
- Lonesome Pine District
- Mountain Laurel District
- Palisades District
- Shawnee District
Buckskin Council
The Buckskin Council helps Scouts in parts of Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Dan Beard Council
The Dan Beard Council serves Scouts in Ohio and Kentucky.
Lincoln Heritage Council
The Lincoln Heritage Council is a large council. It serves 64 counties across four states: Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Tennessee.
Middle Tennessee Council
This council covers parts of Trigg and Christian Counties in Kentucky. These areas are part of Fort Campbell.
Simon Kenton Council
The Simon Kenton Council serves Scouts in Ohio and Kentucky, including Greenup County in Kentucky. This council was formed by combining several smaller councils.
Girl Scouting in Kentucky
There are two main Girl Scout councils in Kentucky today.
Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana
Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana helps nearly 20,000 girls. It covers 64 counties in western Kentucky, southern Indiana, and a small part of Tennessee.
- Headquarters: Louisville, Kentucky
- Website: Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana
This council has several camps where girls can have adventures:
- Camp Barren Ridge near Glasgow, KY
- Camp Bear Creek on Kentucky Lake
- Camp Pennyroyal in Utica, Kentucky
- Camp Shantituck in Shepherdsville, KY
- Camp Twin Ridges in Vine Grove, KY
- Camp Whippoorwill in Madison, Indiana
- Houchens Program Center near Bowling Green, KY
- Stem Adventure Center near Laconia, IN
Girl Scouts of Kentucky's Wilderness Road Council
Kentucky's Wilderness Road Council serves 25,000 Girl Scouts. It covers 67 counties in Central and Eastern Kentucky, and Lawrence County, Ohio.
- Headquarters: Lexington, Kentucky
- Website: Girl Scouts of Kentucky's Wilderness Road
This council also has many great camps:
- Camp Cardinal in Carter County, Kentucky. This camp is great for hiking and is close to Carter Caves State Resort.
- Camp Judy Layne in Morgan County, Kentucky. Here, girls can enjoy a swimming pool with water slides, a climbing tower, a zipline, and hiking trails.
- Camp Richard Clark in Clark County, Kentucky. This historic camp used to be a health spa in the 1850s.
- Camp Shawano in Fayette County, Kentucky. Located near the Kentucky River, this camp offers different types of camping and a 40-foot climbing tower with a zipline.
See also
- List of Eagle Scouts (Boy Scouts of America)
