Scouting in Iowa

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Scouting in Iowa
BSA councils serving Iowa
GSUSA councils serving Iowa
 Scouting portal

Scouting in Iowa 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 (1910-1960)

Ned's 1912 Tenderfoot Certificate

The earliest verifiable evidence of

Scout Executive from Des Moines. The executive started the ceremony by announcing that one of the very earliest scouts registered in the State of Iowa was present and would assist in the presentation. He then called Ned forward to assist in his son's ceremony.[citation needed
]

Beyond his Tenderfoot certification, Ned remained active in Troop 1 and when older, participated as an assistant scout leader. While serving in that role, Ned befriended and mentored younger scout

Stanley Engineering in Muscatine. Max also founded the Stanley Center for Peace and Security which seeks to mitigate climate change and address global violence and atrocities.[citation needed
]

Scouting began in

Scout House on, and give $1000 to construct a building suitable for the Scout program.[1]

A parcel of land was bought from H. K. and Christian Gronbeck on October 14, 1916, for the sum of $840.00. The building was let to Peterson Builders for the Scout House 240 by 48 feet and 12 foot high. The completed cost for the building was $935.00. The First Scoutmaster was Reverend Norstad and his assistants were professors from the then Jewell Lutheran College [Wikidata]. F. H. Ferbitz became Scoutmaster in October 1923 with 28 Scouts under his leadership. A Fife and Drum Corp was also started at that time and the grounds were cleaned and the building painted. A basketball league was formed which consisted of four teams. After the basketball games, the boys would have what they referred to as, "a feed." These feeds were paid for by the continued contributions of Mrs. Strong up to the time of her death on November 27, 1923.[1]

In 1937, the

Buffalo Bill Area Council (#176) in 1928. It merged into the Illowa Council (#133) in 1967.[2]

In 1920,

In 1918,

In 1919,

In 1920, the

Shenandoah Council was founded, folding in 1921.[2]

In 1919,

Southwest Iowa Council (#175), eventually merging into the Mid-America Council in 1965.[2]

In 1918, the

Marshalltown Council was founded, folding in 1919.[2]
In 1918, the
Webster City Council was founded, folding in 1919.[2]
In 1918, the
Red Oak Council was founded, folding in 1920.[2]

Recent history (1960-2010)

During the 1950s and 60s eastern Iowa was home to the

Camp Minneyata, was outside of Dixon on the Wapsipinicon River and featured a canoe base, swimming pool, and lodge hall. The Order of the Arrow Lodge was the "Golden Eagle" Lodge, No. 313.[citation needed
]

The

Prairie Gold Area Council (#179) that had been located in Sioux City, Iowa.[3][2]

In 1918, the

Fort Madison Council (#180) was founded, and closed in 1928.[2]

In 1917, the

Southeast Iowa Council (#171) in 1929. The Southeast Iowa Council merged into the Mississippi Valley Council (#141) in 1993.[2]

Councils

There are eight BSA local councils serving Iowa.

Hawkeye Area Council

Hawkeye Area Council (#172)
HeadquartersCedar Rapids, Iowa
Founded1952
Website
hawkeyebsa.org

The Hawkeye Area Council serves Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Jones, Johnson, Linn, and Washington counties within Eastern Iowa. It Currently has two districts, Northern Lights and Southern Prairie.

History

In 1916, the

Cedar Rapids Council was founded, folding in 1919.[2]

In 1924, the

Iowa City Council (#181) was founded, changing its name to the Iowa City Area Council (#181) in 1924. In 1941 the council changed its name to the Iowa River Valley Council (#181) in 1941.[2]

In 1952, the

Organization

Camps

Order of the Arrow

  • Cho-Gun-Mun-A-Nock Lodge[7]

Illowa Council

Illowa Council (#133)
HeadquartersDavenport, Iowa
Founded1967
Website
illowabsa.org
 Scouting portal

Headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, the Illowa Council serves Scouts in western Illinois and eastern Iowa in the Quad Cities area. Konepaka Ketiwa Lodge #38 (part of Section C-3A) is the Order of the Arrow lodge that serves this council.

In 1937, the

Buffalo Bill Area Council (#176) in 1928. It merged into the Illowa Council (#133) in 1967.[2]

  • Hoover District
  • Inali District
  • Kittan District
  • Mesquakie District
  • Saukenuk District

Mid America Council

Headquarterd in Nebraska, the Mid-America Council offers programs in 58 counties in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. The council has several camps, including the Little Sioux Scout Ranch.

Mid-Iowa Council

Mid-Iowa Council (#177)
HeadquartersDes Moines, Iowa
Website
www.scoutingiowa.org
 Scouting portal

The Mid Iowa Council serves the area of the state capital, Des Moines.[8]

In 1914 the

Boone County Council (#170) was formed, merging into the Story County Council (#169) in 1926.[2]

In 1914 the

Mahaska-Poweshiek-Jasper Counties Council (#183) was formed, merging into the Des Moines Area Council (#177) in 1926.[2]

In 1932, the

Tall Corn Area Council (#169) merged to become the Tall Corn Area Council (#177).[2]

In 1927 the

Newton City Council (#778) was formed, changing its name to the Tri-Valley Council (#778) in 1929. Newton City merged into the Tall Corn Area Council (#177) in 1931.[2]

In 1924 the

Central Iowa Council (#658) in 1925. In 1942 Central Iowa merged with the Tall Corn Area Council (#177).[2]

In 1919 the

Ottumwa Council (#194) was formed, changing its name to the Southern Iowa Area Council (#184) in 1928.[2]

In 1970,

Tall Corn Area Council (#177) merged to become the Mid-Iowa Council (#177).[2]

Mississippi Valley Council

This council is headquartered in Quincy, Illinois, and is served by Black Hawk Lodge #67. This council serves Scouts in Illinois and Iowa.

Northeast Iowa Council

Northeast Iowa Council (#178)
HeadquartersDubuque, Iowa
Website
www.scoutsiowa.com

The Northeast Iowa Council is headquartered in

Dubuque, IA and serves the counties of Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton, and Allamakee, as well as the cities of East Dubuque and Bellevue. Camp C.S. Klaus is the resident summer camp facility of the Northeast Iowa Council, and is located just west of Colesburg, Iowa.[2]

In 1915 the

Dubuque Council (#178) was formed, changing its name to the Dubuque Area Council (#178) in 1934. The council changed its name to the Northeast Iowa Council
(#178) in 1935.

In 1918 the

Clinton Area Council (#174) in 1927. The Clinton Area Council changed its name to the Macquarie Area Council (#174) in 1937.[2]

Sioux Council

The Sioux Council serves Scouts in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota.

Winnebago Council

Winnebago Council (#173)
HeadquartersWaterloo, Iowa
Website
www.winnebagobsa.org

The Winnebago Council (#173) is a council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Winnebago Council serves Scouts BSA, Cub Scouts, adult volunteers and Venturers in 17 counties located in North Central Iowa. Including: Black Hawk, Grundy, Butler, Franklin, Wright, Hancock, Winnebago, Worth, Cerro Gordo, Mitchell, Floyd, Bremer, Chickasaw, Howard, Winneshiek, Fayette, and Buchanan.

In 1918, the

Jesup Council was founded, folding that same year.[2]

In 1918, the

Oelwein Council was founded, folding that same year.[2]

In 1918, the

Charles City Council was founded, folding in 1920.[2]

In 1922, the

Cedar Falls Council was founded, folding in 1924.[2]

In 1920, the

Wapsipinicon Area Council (#186) in 1929. The council merged into the Winnebago Council (#173) in 1973.[2]

In 1918, the

Cerro Gordo County Council (#173) in 1922, and changing its name again to the North Iowa Council (#173) in 1928. The council changed its name in 1939 to the Winnebago Council (#173).[2]

Girl Scouting in Iowa

Girl Scouting in Iowa
Map of Girl Scout Council in Iowa

There are two Girl Scout councils in Iowa, realigned from nine former councils.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois

As part of a national realignment the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois formed in April 2007 by combining four former councils. It serves some 20,000 girls.[9]

Council headquarters
Rock Island, Illinois
Service centers
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dubuque, Iowa, Waterloo, Iowa, and West Burlington, Iowa.
History

The former councils are:

  • Conestoga Council of Girl Scouts
    Waterloo, Iowa
  • Girl Scouts of Little Cloud Council, Inc.
    Dubuque, Iowa
  • Girl Scouts of Mississippi Valley
    Rock Island, Illinois and Cedar Rapids, Iowa
  • Girl Scouts of Shining Trail Council, Inc.
    West Burlington, Iowa
Camps

The council has three camps:

  • Camp Liberty (formerly Camp Conestoga) is 340 acres (1.4 km2) in New Liberty, Iowa. It was established in 1947.
  • Camp Little Cloud is 154 acres (0.6 km2) in Epworth, Iowa.
  • Camp L-Kee-Ta established in 1945 is 150 acres (0.6 km2) in Danville, Iowa
  • Camp Tahigwa was in Dorchester in Allamakee County, Iowa and had 315 acres (1.3 km2). Tahigwa was established in 1967. This camp was sold in 2017.

Currently, Camp Liberty is the designated resident camp program for girls throughout eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. Camp Little Cloud and Camp L-Kee-Ta are used by troops and groups for events and both day and overnight outdoor adventures.

Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa

Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa covers 74 counties including 71 in central and western Iowa, one county in Nebraska, and one and one-half counties in South Dakota. As part of the national realignment, Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa was created in October 2007 from the merger of five councils.

Headquarters
Des Moines, Iowa
Service centers
Des Moines, Iowa, Council Bluffs, Iowa, Mason City, Iowa, and Sioux City, Iowa.[10]
History

The five former councils are:

  • Girl Scouts of Lakota Council
    Fort Dodge, Iowa
  • Moingona Girl Scout Council
    Des Moines, Iowa
  • Nishnabotna Girl Scout Council of Southwest Iowa, Inc.
    Council Bluffs, Iowa
  • Girl Scout Council of North Iowa
    Mason City, Iowa
  • Sioux Trails Girl Scout Council
    Sioux City, Iowa[11][12]
Camps

The council operates five residence camps.

Former camps

In the 1970s the Caravan Trails Girl Scout Council owned Camp Strother in Eldon, Iowa.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b "A Troop of Boy Scouts of America is formed in Jewell". Jewell Historical Society. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Hook, James; Franck, Dave; Austin, Steve (2003). An Aid to Collecting Selected Council Shoulder Patches with Valuation.
  3. ^ "Our Council". Mid-America Council.
  4. ^ "Northern Lights District". Hawkeye Area Council.
  5. ^ "Southern Prairie District". Hawkeye Area Council.
  6. ^ "Camping". Hawkeye Area Council.
  7. ^ "Cho-Gun-Mun-A-Nock Lodge". Hawkeye Area Council.
  8. ^ "Mid-Iowa Council".
  9. ^ "Join - Volunteer | Girl Scouts of E IA and W IL". www.girlscoutstoday.org.
  10. ^ "Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa". www.girlscoutsiowa.org.
  11. ^ "Girl Scouts plan to hang onto Joy Hollow". Le Mars Daily Sentinel. October 14, 2010.
  12. ^ "Public meeting to focus on future of Joy Hollow Camp". Le Mars Daily Sentinel. August 20, 2010.
  13. ^ "News, Sports, Jobs - Messenger News".
  14. ^ "Girl Scout Camps in Iowa". www.vintagegirlscout.com.

External links