| Scouting in Oklahoma | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Life size Boy Scout bronze statue located at the entrance of theOsage County Historical Museum | |||
.jpg) LibertyFest Parade | |||
 Scouting portal | |||
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.
The firstBoy Scout troop in America is claimed to have been organized inPawhuska, in May 1909 by John F. Mitchell. Pawhuska is in theCherokee Area Council.[1][2]
In 1917, theGuthrie Council was formed. It closed in 1918.[3]
In 1921, theMiami Council was formed. It closed that same year.
The Hobart Council (#476) was founded in 1922. It closed in 1925.
TheDurant Council was founded in 1921 and changed its name in 1923 to theKiamichi Area Council (#736).
In 1930, the Kiamichi Area Council (#736) dissolved with parts going toT-O Council,Lamar County Council,Red River Area Council and thePontotoc County Council.
In 1918, theArdmore Council (#468) was founded. It merged into theRed River Area Council (#468) in 1925.
In 1922, theGarvin and McClain Area Council (#475) was founded. It merged into theRed River Area Council (#468) in 1925.
In 1925, theRed River Area Council (#468) was founded. It changed its name to theChickasaw Council (#468) in 1930.
In 1930, theChickasaw Council (#468) was founded. It merged into the Arbuckle Area Council in 1946.
In 1920, thePontotoc County Council (#484) was founded. It merged into the Arbuckle Area Council in 1946.
In 1917, theBartlesville Council (#469) was founded. It changed its name to theCherokee Area Council (#469) in 1925.
In 1922, thePawhuska Council (#462) was founded. It changed its name to theOsage County Council in 1923.
In 1923, theOsage County Council (#482) was founded. It changed its name to theOsage and Pawnee Counties Area Council (#469) in 1925. In 1926, the council changes its name to thePawhuska Council (#482), which merged with theCherokee Area Council (#469) in 1928.
In 1927, theNortheastern Oklahoma Council (#566) was founded. It merged with theCherokee Area Council (#469) in 1929.
TheCherokee Area Council (#469) was founded in 1925.
TheStillwater Council was founded in 1916. It merged intoCimarron Valley Council (#473) in 1922.
TheCreek County Council was founded in 1922. It merged into Cimarron Valley Council (#473) in 1922.
TheCimarron Valley Area Council (#473) was founded in 1922. It merged in to the Will Rogers Council (#473) in 1948.
ThePonca City Council (#483) was founded in 1921, changing its name to theNoble-Kay Counties Council (#483) in 1926. Noble-Kay Counties changed its name to theNorthern Oklahoma Council (#483) in 1929. Northern Oklahoma changed its name to thePonca Area Council (#483) in 1931. Ponca Area changed its name to theNorthern Oklahoma Council (#483) in 1936. TheNorthern Oklahoma Council (#483) merged into the Will Rogers Council (#473) in 1948.
TheWill Rogers Council (#473) was founded in 1948. It merged in to the Cimarron Council (#473) in 2000.
TheNorthwest Oklahoma Council (#570) was founded in 1927. It merged in to the Great Salt Plains Council (#474) in 1928.
TheGreat Salt Plains Council (#474) was founded in 1927. It merged in to the Cimarron Council (#473) in 2000.
TheEnid Council was founded in 1921. It changed its name to theGarfield County Council (#474) in 1923.
TheShawnee Council (#485) was founded in 1919. It changed its name to thePottawatomie Rogers Council (#485) in 1922. It changed its name to theCanadian Valley Council (#485) in 1927.
TheJackson County Council was founded in 1920. It changed its name to theNavajo Mountain Area Council (#476) in 1925.
TheChickasha Council (#471) was founded in 1918. It changed its name to theGrady County Area Council (#471) in 1926. TheGrady County Council (#471) merged into theBlack Beaver Council (#471) in 1930.
TheStephens County Council (#487) was founded in 1921. It changed its name to theJefferson-Stephens Area Council (#487) in 1924. Jefferson-Stephens Area changed its name in 1930 to theJe-Ste-Co Council (#487). Je-Ste-Co merged intoBlack Beaver Council (#472) in 1932.
TheComanche County Council (#472) was founded in 1922. It changed its name to theBlack Beaver Area Council (#472) in 1925. TheBlack Beaver Area Council (#472) merged into theNavajo Mountain Area Council (#476) in 1927.
In 1925, theNavajo Mountain Area Council (#476) was founded. It merged into theBlack Beaver Council (#471) in 1930.
In 1917, theOklahoma City Council (#480) was founded.
In 1920, theNorman Council (#479) was founded. It merged into theOklahoma City Council (#480) in 1927.
In 1928, theOklahoma City Council (#480) merged into theOklahoma County Council (#480).
In 1927, theCa-Bla-Ki Council (#475) was founded. It merged into theOklahoma County Council (#480) in 1928.
In 1927, theWashita Valley Council (#470) was founded. It merged into theOklahoma County Council (#480) in 1933.
In 1927, theCanadian Valley Council (#485) was founded. It merged into theLast Frontier Council (#480) in 1947.
In 1930, theOklahoma County Council (#480) changed its name toCentral Oklahoma Council (#480). It merged into theLast Frontier Council (#480) in 1939.
In 1939, theLast Frontier Council (#480) was founded.
In 1911, theTulsa Council (#488) was founded. It changed its name to theTulsa County Council (#488) in 1922 after adding the remainder of Tulsa County. It changed its name to theTulsa Area Council (#488) in 1936 after adding Rogers and Mayes Counties. It changed its name to theIndian Nations Council (#488) in 1957 after merging with theCreek Nations Council.
In 1920, thePittsburg County Council (#477) was founded. It changed its name to theMcAlester Council (#477) in 1921.
In 1920, theSapulpa Council (#486) was founded. It changed its name to theCreek County Council (#486) in 1925.
In 1920, theDrumright Council was founded. It merged into theCreek County Council (#486) in 1922.
In 1927, theCreek County Council (#486) was founded. It merged intoCreek Nation Area Council (#481) in 1928.
TheCreek Nation Council (#481) was founded in 1928. It merged with theIndian Nations Council (#488) in 1957.
In 1922, theSouth Creek County Council (#470) was founded. It changed its name to theBristow Council (#488) in 1923. It merged into theOkmulgee Council (#481) in 1927.
In 1919, theOkmulgee Council (#481) was founded. It changed its name to theOkmulgee County Council (#481) in 1927.
In 1921, theMcAlester Council (#477) was founded. It changed its name to theChoctaw Area Council (#486) in 1926.
In 1917, theMuskogee Council (#478) was founded. It changed its name to theMuskogee Area Council (#478) in 1927. It changed its name to theEastern Oklahoma Area Council (#478) in 1949.
TheChoctaw Area Council (#477) was founded in 1926. It merged with theIndian Nations Council (#488) in 1971.
In 1928, theTex-Okla Council (#489) was founded and merged into theAdobe Walls Council (#569) in 1931.[3]
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TheEastern Oklahoma Area Council (#478) was founded in 1949. It merged with theIndian Nations Council (#488) in 1983.[3]
TheIndian Nations Council (#488) was founded in 1957.[3]
TheCimarron Council (#473) was founded in 2000 from the merger of the Will Rogers Council (#473) and the Great Salt Plains Council (#474).
TheBlack Beaver Council, founded in 1930, merged into the Last Frontier Council (#480) in 1996.
TheCimarron Council (#473), founded in 2000, merged into the Last Frontier Council (#480) in operationally on February 1st, 2025, and legally and formally on May 1st, 2025.
There are six Boy Scouts of America (BSA) local councils based in, or providing services within, the state ofOklahoma. All councils in Oklahoma are part of Council Service Territory 8.
| Arbuckle Area Council | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Boy Scouts of America | ||
| Headquarters | Ardmore, Oklahoma | ||
| Country | United States | ||
| Founded | 2005 | ||
| Website arbucklebsa.org | |||
| Scouting portal | |||
TheBoy Scouts of AmericaArbuckle Area Council maintains offices inArdmore, Oklahoma, and serves youth and their families in Pontotoc, Murray, Johnston, Garvin, Coal, Atoka, Carter, Love and Marshall counties in southern Oklahoma and the city ofRingling. The Arbuckle Area Council provides aweb presence for its membership and other interested persons.
Camp Simpson, southern Oklahoma's "slice of heaven." Home to Summer Camp and Winter Camp activities. Also available for year-round reservations. Motel room rentals, proms, weddings, family reunions, youth camps, church retreats, school outings.
| Cherokee Area Council (#469) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
_Council.jpg) Cherokee Area Council Headquarters | |||
| Owner | Boy Scouts of America | ||
| Headquarters | Bartlesville, Oklahoma | ||
| Country | United States | ||
| Founded | 1925 | ||
| Website cherokeebsa.org | |||
| Scouting portal | |||
The Boy Scouts of AmericaCherokee Area Council maintains an office inBartlesville, Oklahoma, and serves youth and their families in northeastern Oklahoma. The Council provides a web presence for its membership and other interested persons. Communities served by the council includePawhuska,Bartlesville,Nowata,Vinita,Grove,Miami, and many others in six northeastern counties of Oklahoma.
The Circle Ten Council serves youth in North Central Texas and the Southeast Oklahoma counties of Bryan, McCurtain, Choctaw, and the southern three quarters of Pushmataha.[5] Bryan County falls under the Texoma Valley District of the Council.[6]
TheGolden Spread Council serves Scouts inTexas and the Oklahoma Panhandle counties of Cimarron, Texas, and western half of Beaver. The Oklahoma counties fall in the Lone Wolf District.
| Indian Nations Council | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Owner | Boy Scouts of America | ||
| Headquarters | Tulsa, Oklahoma | ||
| Country | United States | ||
| Founded | 1911 | ||
| Website okscouts.org | |||
| Scouting portal | |||
TheIndian Nations Council maintains offices inTulsa and serves most of easternOklahoma. The Indian Nations Council provides a web presence for its membership and other interested persons.
The Council Scout Executive is Art Hawkins, who has held the position since 1 November 2021.
| Ta Tsu Hwa Lodge | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Owner | Indian Nations Council | ||
| Headquarters | Tulsa, Oklahoma | ||
| Country | United States | ||
| Founded | 1938 | ||
| Website tatsuhwa.org | |||
| Scouting portal | |||
The Ta Tsu Hwa Lodge (#138) was formed in 1938 under the name of "Yaqui". In 1957 Yaqui Lodge merged with the Checote Lodge (#154) due to the merger of the Tulsa Area Council and the Creek Nation Council, creating the Indian Nations Council. The new lodge was named the "Daw Zu" Lodge (#138). In 1959 the lodge was renamed "Ta Tsu Hwa," meaning "Red Bird". Between 1959 and the present day, the Lodge absorbed the "Oskihoma" Lodge (#320) and the "Ni-U-Kon-Ska" Lodge (#328) as the Indian Nations Council absorbed the Choctaw Area Council and the Eastern Oklahoma Council.
The distinctive "Red Bird" lodge flap of the Ta Tsu Hwa Lodge is shaped differently than the standard pocket flap.
| Last Frontier Council | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Owner | Boy Scouts of America | ||
| Headquarters | Oklahoma City,Oklahoma | ||
| Location | Central,Western, andSouthwestern Oklahoma | ||
| Country | United States | ||
| Founded | 1913 | ||
| Membership | 11,000 | ||
| Scout Executive | Jeff Woolsey | ||
| Council President | Bob Spinks | ||
| Council Commissioner | Rory Barneche | ||
| Website scoutingrocks.tv | |||
| Scouting portal | |||
TheLast Frontier Council operates ten camps and is based in three service centers which are located inEnid,Lawton andOklahoma City. Last Frontier Council supports its volunteer leaders, who deliver Scouting in all or parts of 42 counties in central, north-central, western and southwesternOklahoma.
The 101 District geographic territory covers the northern Oklahoma counties of Grant and Kay as well as a portion of Osage County.
Big Tepee District serves Scouts in Midwest City, Del City, Tinker AFB, Choctaw, Nicoma Park, Harrah, and South Oklahoma City.
Black Beaver District serves Scouts in Comanche, Cotton, Caddo, Grady, Stephens, Jefferson, Jackson, Tillman, Kiowa, Greer, and Harmon Counties.
The Black Kettle District serves Scouts in the Northwestern Oklahoma counties of Grant, Alfalfa, Major, Blaine, Dewey, Ellis, Woodward, Harper, Woods Counties.
Canadian Valley District serves Scouts in Pottawatomie, Seminole, Hughes, and Southern Lincoln Counties.
Chisholm Trail District serves Scouts in Kingfisher and Garfield Counties.
Eagle District serves Scouts in the communities of Edmond, Deer Creek, Luther, Jones, Wellston, and Logan County.
The Pawnee Bill District geographic territory covers the north-central Oklahoma counties of Noble, Payne, Pawnee, and Lincoln, as well as a portion of Creek County. The district is named in honor ofPawnee Bill and has retained its name through the mergers of the Will Rogers Council into the Cimarron Council and subsequently into the Last Frontier Council. Before Will Rogers Council, the areas the district serves were originally a council of its own, known as the Cimarron Valley Council until 1948. The Pawnee Bill District contains the historic 340-acre Will Rogers Scout Reservation within its boundaries.
Scissortail District serves Scouts across the North, South, and Northeast regions, including Spencer, Downtown OKC, Forest Park, Bethany, Warr Acres, Putnam City, and West OKC.
The Sooner District serves Scouts in Cleveland & McClain counties in southern Oklahoma.
The Western Plains District serves Scouts in Roger Mills, Beckham, Washita & Custer Counties along with the communities of Hydro, Hinton & Binger in Caddo County.
The Will Rogers District serves Scouts in Canadian County as well as the Geary, Minco, Tuttle, and Bridge Creek communities.
Located near Lake Tenkiller, the Diamond H Scout Ranch[8] is located in eastern Oklahoma. Diamond H is the largest property in the Last Frontier Council. 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.
Camp Dripping Springs[9] is an 80-acre (320,000 m2) 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.
Camp George Thomas[10] 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.
John Nichols Scout Ranch,[11] John Nichols Scout Ranch 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, John Nichols Scout Ranch is available year-round to Scout groups for overnight campouts, weekend campouts, and various training opportunities. Kickapoo serves as the host location for several day camp weeks each summer and for the Kickapoo Kampers Family Overnight Adventures each fall.Verna
Kerr Scout Ranch at Slippery Falls (KSR@SF)[12] is located nearTishomingo, Oklahoma. 'Slip' is the most developed of the six camping properties in the council. KSR@SF is the summer camp facility in the council for Boy Scouts and Venturers.
Camp Sasakwa[13] 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.
The Will Rogers Scout Reservation has been a Scouting property since the 1930s when it was called Camp Cee Vee Cee.[14] Named forWill Rogers, one of Oklahoma's favorite sons, it consists of approximately 340 acres (1.4 km2) of small hills of oak and hickory forest with its northern boundary being bluffs. 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, a central bath house, and several camping areas. It is located nearCleveland, Oklahoma.
Camp Williams consists of 145 acres (59 ha) with a small lake, a swimming pool, a southwestern adobe style mess hall, a trading post, a water front for boating activities, camp office, ranger cabin, and 11 well shaded camp sites. It is located nearCleo Springs andFairview.
| Southern Prairie Lodge No. 14 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | ||
| Membership | about 700 | ||
| Lodge Chief | Daeten Snelson and Saxon Shepard | ||
| Lodge Adviser | E.Z. Parnell | ||
| Staff Adviser | Chip Armishaw | ||
| Website http://www.southernprairie.org | |||
Southern Prairie Lodge No. 14 is the Order of the Arrow lodge corresponding to Last Frontier Council. It was formed on August 2, 2025 as the result of a merger between Ma-Nu Lodge No. 133 and Ema 'O Mahpe Lodge No. 14.
Ma-Nu Lodge No. 133 was originally chartered to the Central Oklahoma Area Council, Region 9 on August 20, 1938. One year later the Central Oklahoma Area Council rechartered as Last Frontier Council. This makes Ma-Nu Lodge one year older than Last Frontier Council. Over the next few decades there would be several mergers and reorganizations within the structure of both the Lodge and the Council.
As the area of the lodge expanded, the lodge began to need another form of organization. In 1963, Ma-Nu lodge set up Chapters with borders corresponding to the districts established by the Council. In 1950, Canadian Valley Council merged with Last Frontier Council and Shawnee Lodge 192 became part of Ma-Nu Lodge 133. Again in 1996 Black Beaver Council merged with Last Frontier Council and two years later Sekettummaqua Lodge 281 completed its merger with Ma-Nu bringing the number of members to near 1700 and the total number of Chapters to ten.
Although the literal translation of Ma-Nu is White Buffalo, the Osage word for white also meant Spirit, so Ma-Nu means Spirit Buffalo.[15]
Today, Ma-Nu Lodge has experienced a myriad of growth and development and continues to tweak its organizational structure to better meet the demands of today's program. There are currently seven Lodge Officers: The Lodge Chief; The Lodge Vice Chief of Program; The Lodge Vice Chief of Activities; The Lodge Vice Chief of Chapters; The Lodge Vice Chief of Inductions, The Lodge Vice Chief of Finance, The Lodge Vice Chief of Administration. There are also numerous Associate Lodge Advisers.
Ema 'O Mahpe Lodge No. 14 was founded on April 1, 2001, from the merger of Ah-Ska Lodge No. 213 (the White Elk) and Inola Lodge No. 148 (the Thunderbird). Ema 'O Mahpe is said to mean "Red Water" or "Red River", in reference to the Cimarron River which flows through the former Lodge and served as the namesake of Ema 'O Mahpe's council, Cimarron Council. The lodge totem of Ema 'O Mahpe was the coyote. Today, Ema 'O Mahpe is led by its Lodge Chief, with a Lodge Vice Chief, Lodge Secretary, Lodge Treasurer, and seven Lodge Chief–appointed committee chairs all helping run the Lodge's operations. The Lodge officers are assisted by the Lodge Adviser, two Associate Lodge Advisers, and other position-specific advisers. As of August 2025, the Lodge had 103 registered members across three active chapters.
Location: Oklahoma City, OklahomaLodge Totem: the American BisonFounding Date: August 2, 2025Current Active Membership: approximately 700
| Girl Scouting in Oklahoma | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Map of Girl Scout Councils in Oklahoma | |||
| Scouting portal | |||
There are five Girl Scout councils in Oklahoma.
In Oklahoma serves girls in Adair, LeFlore, and Sequoyah counties.
Serves girls in two northeastern Oklahoma counties.
Serves girls in the Oklahoma panhandle.
| Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Girl Scouts of the United States of America | ||
| Headquarters | Tulsa, Oklahoma | ||
| Country | United States | ||
| Founded | 1911 | ||
| Website www | |||
| Scouting portal | |||
Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma serves 15,000 girls and adult volunteers in thirty eastern Oklahoma counties. The first troop in Tulsa was in 1917 and the first council in 1923. The earliest known sale ofcookies by an individual Girl Scouts unit in the United States was by the Mistletoe Troop inMuskogee, Oklahoma in December 1917 at their local high school. The current council was formed on June 1, 2008 with the merger of Bluestem, Tiak, and Magic Empire councils.[16]
| Girl Scouts - Western Oklahoma | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Girl Scouts of the United States of America | ||
| Headquarters | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | ||
| Country | United States | ||
| Founded | 1911 | ||
| Website gswestok.org | |||
| Scouting portal | |||
Girl Scouts-Western Oklahoma serves girls in 39 western Oklahoma counties. It was formed by the merger of Red Lands and Sooner Councils in March 2008.
