Scouting in Oklahoma
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Scouting in Oklahoma 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.
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[edit] Early history (1909-1950)
The first Boy Scout troop in America is claimed to have been organized in Pawhuska, in May 1909 by John F. Mitchell. Pawhuska is in the Cherokee Area Council.
[edit] Recent history (1950-present)
[edit] Scouting in Oklahoma today
There are seven Boy Scouts of America local councils based in, or providing services within, the state of Oklahoma.
[edit] Arbuckle Area Council
The Boy Scouts of America Arbuckle Area Council maintains offices in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and serves youth and their families in Pontotoc, Murray, Johnston, Garvin, Coal, Atoka, Carter, Love and Marshall counties in southern Oklahoma. The Arbuckle Area Council provides a web presence for its membership and other interested persons.
[edit] Districts
- Chickasaw District
- Harry Miller District
- Washita District
[edit] Camp Properties
[edit] OA Lodge
[edit] Cherokee Area Council
The Boy Scouts of America Cherokee Area Council maintains an office in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and serves youth and their families in northeastern Oklahoma. The Cherokee Area Council provides a web presence for its membership and other interested persons.
[edit] Districts
- Grand Lake District
- Osage Hills District
[edit] Camp Properties
- Camp Cherokee - Outside of Grove, Oklahoma
- Camp McClintock - Outside of Bartlesville, Oklahoma
[edit] OA Lodge
- Washita Lodge #288
[edit] Cimarron Council
The Boy Scouts of America Cimarron Council maintains an office in Enid, Oklahoma, and serves youth and their families in northwestern and north central Oklahoma. The Cimarron Council provides a web presence for its membership and other interested persons. Cimarron Council was established in June of 2005 following the mergers of the Great Salt Plains Council (Enid) and the Will Rogers Council (Ponca City). At the time of the merger there were also discussions with Cherokee Council (Bartlesville) but they opted out of further discussions.
[edit] Districts
Colonel George W. Miller founded the 101 Ranch in northern Oklahoma in 1893. He and his wife Molly, sons Joe, Zack and George Jr. along with daughter, Alma helped establish what became known as the "Largest Diversified Farm and Ranch in America".
The Miller family also fielded the 101 Wild West Show and traveled the United States and the world from 1905 to 1931. Pioneers in movie making, some of the first western movies were filmed on the 101 Ranch located in north central Oklahoma. Presidents and celebrities from around the world were entertained at the ranch and the family home, known as the "White House" which in addition to headquarters for the vast empire of more than 110,000 acres (440 km²) was a palace on the Oklahoma prairie.
The headquarters site was listed as an Oklahoma Historical Site, placed on the National Register of Historic Places and became a National Historic Landmark in 1975.
Enid is home to Vance Air Force Base and is said to have been named by a railroad official after a character in Tennyson's "The Idylls of the King." It is a town that was born overnight as the result of the largest land run in history. At noon on Sept 16, 1893, hundreds of thousands of land seekers charged into the Cherokee Outlet seeking free land and a new start in life. They came on horseback and in horse-drawn wagons and buggies. Some rode trains into the Outlet. There were even a few who made the race on bicycles or on foot. Droves of settlers lined up at the land office that afternoon and for days afterwards to file their claims for land in a place to be called Enid.
The Pawnee Bill District takes its name from Major Gordon W Lillie. Named White Chief of the Pawnee by the Pawnee Indians. Growing up, Buffalo Bill Cody was Pawnee Bill's boyhood hero. From the 1890s to the 1930s, Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show was the biggest and the best of all the touring Wild West Shows. Pawnee Bill's wife, May Lillie, became an expert marksman and she starred in Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show. In the glory days of Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show, they carried a cast and crew of 645 people, over 400 horses and steers, a herd of 20 buffalo, the world's largest power plant or generator, and a 21-foot oven. All of this was loaded on a specially designed train and they toured the world for over 30 years.
Today's Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show is a reenactment of the Original Wild West Show that toured the world from the 1890s to the 1930s. Pawnee Bill's Mansion in Pawnee, Oklahoma is now a Museum and host to the Original Wild West Show. Pawnee Bill was a major supporter of Scouting, offering the Pawnee Bill Ranch in his will to the Boy Scouts of America.
[edit] Camp Properties
The Will Rogers Scout Reservation, named for Will Rogers, one of Oklahomas favorite sons, is the premier camping facility of the Cimarron Council. The camp consists of approximately 340 hilly acres of oak and hickory forest with its northern boundary being bluffs overlooking the Arkansas River. The camp features a centralized dining hall with regional shower facilities and program areas. There are archery, shotgun, and rifle ranges, a boat dock and pond, swimming pool, and several camping areas. It is located near Cleveland, Oklahoma.
The camp is mostly developed for a farm operation with no developed campsites although there are some picnic tables out in the fields by the lakes. The lake here has two houses on it, (yes we really mean on top of the lake). One is a three story A frame house that has 3 bedrooms. The other is set up as an office facility. There is a program barn for training and above that is a big room for conferences, banquets, or other ceremonies. There are other lakes but this one is the most improved. The camp has an Airport hangar and runway as well.
Camp Renfrew is located 1-mile (2 km) north of Boiling Springs State Park 4½ miles east of Woodward, Oklahoma. This camp is named after R. O. Renfrew, the first District Chairman of this part of the council. This 20 acre beautiful, rustic and wooded camp has plenty of firewood. Camp Renfrew makes a great camp for troops needing a base camp for Alabaster Caverns 23 miles (37 km) away, a stop over to Philmont or for a weekend camp. Currently the camp is only approved for Troop, Team, and Venture Crew use.
Camp Nescatauga is located 4 miles (6 km) on Highway 64 and north 1½ miles from Alva, Oklahoma. This camp is real rustic with no facilities and should only be used for Wilderness Survival type camping in small groups.
[edit] OA Lodge
[edit] Golden Spread Council
Golden Spread Council serves Scouts in Texas and Oklahoma.
[edit] Indian Nations Council
The Boy Scouts of America Indian Nations Council maintains offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and serves most of eastern Oklahoma. The Indian Nations Council provides a web presence for its membership and other interested persons.
[edit] Districts
- Bokchito District
- Creek Nation District
- Eagle District
- Neosho District
- Indian Chiefs District (No longer active, disbanded into Sequoyah and Twin Arrows in 2004)
- Oka Tuli District
- Sac and Fox District
- Sequoyah District
- Twin Arrows District
[edit] Camp Properties
- Camp Garland, Locust Grove, OK
- Camp Russell, Broken Arrow, OK
- Hale Scout Reservation, Talihina, OK
- Zink Scout Ranch, Sand Springs, OK
[edit] OA Lodge
Ta Tsu Hwa #138 "Home of the Red Bird"
[edit] Last Frontier Council
The Last Frontier Council, Boy Scouts of America delivers the promise of Scouting to youth through these programs: Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturing and Sea Scouts. The Last Frontier Councilweb site serves as a resource for parents, Scouts, Venturers and volunteer leaders.
The council operates six camps and is based in two service centerswhich are located in Lawton, Oklahoma and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Last Frontier Council supports its volunteer leaders, who deliver Scouting in twenty-four counties in central, western and southwestern Oklahoma.
[edit] Units
In Last Frontier Council, scouting units which have an online presence and have notified the council of their online presence are listed in the online units section of the council web site. Last Frontier Council, in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America, also makes available a scout unit locator feature to help prospective members or members new to the area find a scout unit.
[edit] History
[edit] Districts
The Baden-Powell District geographic territory covers Northwest Oklahoma City from Memorial Road on the North to Santa Fe Avenue on the East to County Line Road on the West, and along Reno Avenue on the South in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.
The Big Tepee District geographic territory includes the Capitol Hill area of southwest Oklahoma City and portions of northeast Oklahoma City and the eastern Oklahoma County communities of Midwest City, Del City, Jones, Harrah, and Choctaw. Also included are Crooked Oaks School District and Tinker Air Force Base. The district boundaries include, from I-40 and Santa Fe, traveling North on Santa Fe Ave. to 63rd St., East to Anderson Road then North to Memorial Road (which includes Jones) then East to the county line. Traveling South from Memorial Road to 89th St., then go West to County Line Road and then North on County Line Road to I-40. Travel East on I-40 from County Line Road to Santa Fe Ave.
The Black Beaver District geographic territory covers the Oklahoma communities of Lawton, Cache, Medicine Park, and all other communities in Comanche County, and all Caddo County communities except for those communities which are in the northern tip of Caddo County. Named for the former Black Beaver Council, when it was absorbed into the Last Frontier Council, the troop numbers of the council were augmented by making them all of the 4000 series (i.e. Black Beaver Council 327 became Last Frontier Council 4327).
The Canadian Valley District geographic territory includes all communities in Pottawatomie County, Seminole County, Hughes County and also the communities in the southern one-third of Lincoln County.
The Chisholm Trail District geographic territory includes all communities in Grady County except for a small area in the north eastern part of Grady County which is in Sooner District, all communities in Cotton County and Stephens County, all communities in Jefferson County except for a small portion in the southeast corner of Jefferson County. Chisholm Trail District also includes the city of Lindsay, Oklahoma which is located in Garvin County.
The Eagle District geographic territory covers all of Logan County and the north tip of Oklahoma County including Edmond from Memorial Road north and west to Macarthur. Communities served through Eagle District include NW Oklahoma City, Edmond, Guthrie, Crescent, Coyle, Luther, Langston and Mulhall/Orlando in Logan County and Oklahoma County. The town of Wellston in Lincoln County is also a part of Eagle District.
The Kickingbird District geographic territory covers all of Harmon County, Greer County, Kiowa County, Jackson County, and Tillman County in Oklahoma.
The Sooner District geographic territory in Oklahoma covers Norman, Moore, Little Axe, Washington, Goldsby and all other communities in Cleveland County; Purcell, Blanchard, Wayne, and all other communities in McClain County; Tuttle and some other communities in eastern Grady County.
The Western Plains District geographic territory in western Oklahoma includes all of Roger Mills County, Custer County, Beckham County, Washita County, and the northern tip of Caddo County in Oklahoma.
The Will Rogers District geographic territory includes all communities in Canadian County and western Oklahoma County from Portland Avenue and to the west and from NW 39th Street and to the south.
[edit] Camp Properties
- Diamond H Scout Ranch
Located near Lake Tenkiller, the Diamond H Scout Ranch is located in eastern Oklahoma. The camp property is currently undeveloped and restricted in use. Only primitive, weekend camping is presently available. Advanced reservations are required to visit the property.
- Dripping Springs
Camp Dripping Springs is an 80 acre property in western Oklahoma. The camp setting offers the opportunity for Scouts to practice tracking, track casting, star study, compass work, fishing, or tree identification.
- George Thomas
Camp George Thomas is located at the foot of the Wichita Mountains in Caddo County off State Highway 19. The camp is used for general unit camping by packs, troops, teams, crews and ships, for training courses, numerous district and council events, Cub - Webelos Scout Resident Camp, and the council's Cub-Webelos Fall Family Adventure (family weekend camping) opportunities each fall.
- Kickapoo
Camp Kickapoo, maintained since 1932, is the oldest camp property within the council. Located on the southwest edge of Oklahoma City at SW 119th and County Line Road, Kickapoo is available year round to Scout groups for overnight campouts, weekend campouts, and various training opportunities. Camp Kickapoo serves as the host location for several day camp weeks each summer and for the Kickapoo Kampers Family Overnight Adventures each fall.
- Sasakwa
Camp Sasakwa is situated near Holdenville, Oklahoma. the property is used for primitive, short-term camping only, offering a low-impact, high adventure setting. Advance reservations are required and all supplies and water must be carried in and all refuse must be carried out.
- Slippery Falls Scout Ranch
Slippery Falls Scout Ranch (SFSR) is located near Tishomingo. 'Slip' is the largest and the most developed of the six camping properties in the council. SFSR is the summer camp facility in the council for Boy Scouts and Venturers.
[edit] OA Lodge
- Order of the Arrow Ma-Nu Lodge 133 - means "white Buffalo"
[edit] NeTSeO Trails Council
NeTSeO Trails Council serves Scouts in Texas and Oklahoma.
[edit] Girl Scouting in Oklahoma
There are five Girl Scout council offices in Oklahoma.
Girl Scouts - Bluestem Council, Inc Bartlesville, Oklahoma[1]
Girl Scouts of Magic Empire Council, Inc Tulsa, Oklahoma[2]
Girl Scouts - Red Lands Council Oklahoma City, Oklahoma[3]
Sooner Girl Scout Council, Inc Chickasha, Oklahoma[4]
Girl Scouts Tiak Council, Inc Mcalester, Oklahoma[5]
[edit] Scouting museums in Oklahoma
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
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