Scouting in Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scouting in Maryland |
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Maryland Girl Scouts
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Memorial Day in Takoma Park
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Scouting in Maryland has a long and exciting history, starting way back in the 1910s! For over a hundred years, Scouting has helped millions of young people in Maryland learn new skills and have amazing adventures. While times have changed, the heart of Scouting has always been about outdoor fun and helping others.
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How Scouting Started in Maryland (1910-1950)
Scouting began in Maryland almost as soon as the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was created. A very important person named Robert S. Garrett from Baltimore helped start the BSA National Council in 1910. He was a leader in Baltimore, a generous person, an explorer, and even an Olympic champion! Mr. Garrett was a key part of the BSA for many years.
The very first Boy Scout Troops in Baltimore got their official papers on September 9, 1910. Before that, Robert Garrett and another leader, Laurance Eddy, made sure that eight Scouts from Mount Washington Troop 1 went to the first-ever national Boy Scout camp in New York.
The Maryland Council of Boy Scouts of America officially started on May 9, 1911. Its first office was in Baltimore. Soon, people started calling it the "Baltimore Council." In the early years, the Baltimore Council worked closely with other groups that helped the community.
Over time, more local Scout councils were created across Maryland. Some of the early councils included ones in Frostburg, Westminster, Salisbury, and Frederick. These local groups helped Scouting grow all over the state.
The Order of the Arrow, a special honor society within Scouting, started its Nentico Lodge in Maryland in 1922. The national meeting for the Order of the Arrow was even held in Baltimore, Maryland in 1923! Also, the Rodney Scout Reservation, a popular camp, was set up in 1921.
Boy Scouts of America Today
Today, there are six local Boy Scouts of America (BSA) councils that serve young people in Maryland. All of these councils are part of the Northeast Region of the BSA.
Baltimore Area Council
| Baltimore Area Council #220 | |||
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Baltimore Area Council
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| Owner | Boy Scouts of America | ||
| Headquarters | Baltimore, MD | ||
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| Website baltimorebsa.org |
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The Baltimore Area Council works with about 800 community groups to offer Scouting programs to more than 35,000 young people every year! They also have Scout Shops where you can get all your Scouting gear.
In 2008, the Baltimore Area Council planned ten big events to celebrate the Boy Scouts of America's 100th Anniversary in 2010. These included a huge camporee at Fort McHenry and special flag ceremonies.
In 2009, the council officially adopted the Star-Spangled Banner Flag (the one that inspired the national anthem) as its own official flag. This was done to get ready for the 200th anniversary of the battle at Fort McHenry in 2014, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner".
How the Baltimore Area Council is Organized
The Baltimore Area Council is divided into seven smaller areas called districts. Each district helps support the Scout troops and packs in its local community:
- Arrowhead District (Western Baltimore County)
- Carroll District (Carroll County)
- Fort McHenry District (Baltimore City)
- Gunpowder Falls District (Eastern Baltimore County)
- Harford District (Harford County)
- National Pike District (Howard County)
- River Hawk District (Anne Arundel County)
Scout Camps
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The Baltimore Area Council runs the Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation, often just called "Broad Creek." This big camp has two main parts: Camp Saffran for older Scouts (Scouts BSA and Venture Scouts) and Camp Spencer for younger Cub Scouts. A lake called Lake Straus was made in the 1940s by damming a part of the Broad Creek. More than 20,000 Scouts and adults visit Broad Creek every year!
Del-Mar-Va Council
The Del-Mar-Va Council serves Scouts in Delaware and the parts of Maryland and Virginia that are on the eastern side of the Chesapeake Bay.
One of its main camps is Rodney Scout Reservation, also known as Camp Rodney. It's located near North East, Maryland. This camp is huge, covering about 900 acres (3.6 square kilometers)! It's next to Elk Neck State Park and has parts that look right over the Chesapeake Bay, which is perfect for water activities. Much of Rodney's land is protected so it will always be a natural space for Scouting.
Laurel Highlands Council
The Laurel Highlands Council serves young people in the Pittsburgh area, and also in Allegany and Garrett Counties in Maryland.
National Capital Area Council
The National Capital Area Council (NCAC) is a very large and old council, started in 1911. It serves Scouts in Washington, D.C., many counties in Maryland and Virginia, and even the United States Virgin Islands. The NCAC is known for its excellent training and support for Scout groups. It's one of the biggest councils in the entire country!
Chester County Council
The Chester County Council serves Scouts in Chester County, Pennsylvania and a small part of Cecil County, Maryland. Their Camp Horseshoe is located right on the border between these two states.
Mason-Dixon Council
| Mason-Dixon Council #221 | |||
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| Owner | Boy Scouts of America | ||
| Headquarters | Hagerstown, MD | ||
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The Mason-Dixon Council serves southern parts of Pennsylvania and nearby Washington County in Maryland.
Their main camp is Sinoquipe Scout Reservation, which means "Builder of Men." It's a large, forested camp with a 10-acre (40,000 square meter) lake, located in a quiet area of Pennsylvania.
How the Mason-Dixon Council is Organized
The Mason-Dixon Council has three districts:
- Great Cove District (Fulton County, PA)
- Washington County District (Washington County, MD)
- Tuscarora District (Franklin County, PA)
Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow lodge for the Mason-Dixon Council is called Guneukitschik Lodge No. 317.
Girl Scouts of the USA
| Girl Scouting in Maryland | |||
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Map of Girl Scout Councils in Maryland
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Four different Girl Scout Councils serve girls in Maryland. Only one of these councils has its main office in Maryland.
Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council
This council serves Girl Scouts in Garrett County, Maryland.
Girl Scouts of Central Maryland
| Girl Scouts of Central Maryland | |||
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| Headquarters | Baltimore, Maryland | ||
| Country | United States | ||
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This is the only Girl Scout council with its headquarters in Maryland, located in Baltimore, Maryland. It helps over 30,000 girls in Baltimore City and several surrounding counties like Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Howard Counties.
This council created a special program called "Girl Scouts Beyond Bars." This program helps mothers who are in prison stay connected with their daughters by letting them participate in Girl Scout activities together. This important program has been copied by about 25 other Girl Scout Councils across the country!
Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay Council
This council serves Girl Scouts who live on the Delmarva Peninsula in Maryland.
Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital
This council supports Girl Scouts in several Maryland counties, including Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's, Frederick, St. Mary's, Allegany, and Washington.
International Scouting in Maryland
In the summer of 2006, a large international Polish Scout Jamboree was held in Maryland. Thousands of Scouts, mainly from Polish Scouting groups in Canada and the United States, attended. It took place at the Baltimore Area Council's Broad Creek Scout Reservation, in the area known as Camp Spencer.
See also
- Scouting in the District of Columbia
- Scouting in Virginia
