| 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.
Scouting began inJewell, Iowa, due to the generosity of Mrs. Carrie A. Strong. Mrs. Strong had resided in Jewell and moved to California, but due to her interest in the town even after relocation, she gave the town of Jewell its first step in Scouting. In 1916, Mrs. Strong came back to Jewell for her annual visit went before the city fathers to tell them that she would provide the fund to buy and build aScout 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 thenJewell 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]
During the 1950s and 1960s eastern Iowa was home to theBuffalo Bill Area Council (#176) spanning an area from Dubuque to Muscatine. The council office was located in Davenport. The summer camp,Camp Minneyata, was outside of Dixon on theWapsipinicon River and featured a canoe base, swimming pool, and lodge hall. TheOrder of the Arrow Lodge was the "Golden Eagle" Lodge, No. 313.[citation needed]
TheMid-America Council (#326) was formed from a merger of theCovered Wagon Council (#326) and theSouthwest Iowa Council (#175) in 1965. In 2000 the council merged with thePrairie Gold Area Council (#179) that had been located in Sioux City, Iowa.[2][3]
In 1918, theKeokuk Council was founded, folding in 1919. In 1920, theFort Madison Council (#180) was founded, and closed in 1928.[3]
In 1917, theBurlington Council (#171) was founded, changing its name toSoutheast Iowa Council (#171) in 1929. The Southeast Iowa Council merged into theMississippi Valley Council (#141) in 1993.[3]
There are eight BSA local councils servingIowa.
| Hawkeye Area Council (#172) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | ||
| Founded | 1952 | ||
| Website hawkeyebsa | |||
TheHawkeye 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.
In 1916, theCedar Rapids Council was founded, folding in 1919.[3]
In 1924, theLinn County Council (#172) was founded, changing its name to the Cedar Rapids Area Council (#172) in 1927. In 1941 the council changed its name to the Waubeck Area Council (#172) in 1941. In 1920, theIowa 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.[3]
In 1952, theWaubeck Area Council (#172) and theIowa River Valley Council (#181) merged to form theHawkeye Area Council (#172).[3]
| Illowa Council (#133) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Davenport, Iowa | ||
| Founded | 1967 | ||
| Website illowabsa | |||
| Scouting portal | |||
Headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, theIllowa Council serves Scouts in westernIllinois and eastern Iowa in theQuad Cities area. Konepaka Ketiwa Lodge #38 (part of Section C-3A) is the Order of the Arrow lodge that serves this council.
In 1937, theMesquakie Area Council (#174) was founded, merging into the Buffalo Bill Area Council (#176) in 1958. In 1915, theDavenport Council (#176) was founded, changing its name toBuffalo Bill Area Council (#176) in 1928. It merged into the Illowa Council (#133) in 1967.[3]
Headquartered in Nebraska, theMid-America Council offers programs in 58 counties inNebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. The council has several camps, including theLittle Sioux Scout Ranch.
| Mid-Iowa Council (#177) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Des Moines, Iowa | ||
| Website www | |||
| Scouting portal | |||
TheMid Iowa Council serves the area of the state capital, Des Moines.[8]
In 1914 theAmes Council (#169) was formed, changing its name to the Story County Council (#169) in 1923. The council changed its name again in 1930 to the Tall Corn Area Council (#169). In 1924 theBoone County Council (#170) was formed, merging into the Story County Council (#169) in 1926.[3]
In 1914 theDes Moines Council (#177) was formed, changing its name to the Polk and Jasper Counties Council (#177) in 1926. In 1927,Polk and Jasper Counties Council (#177) changed its name to theDes Moines Area Council (#177) in 1927. In 1924 theMahaska-Poweshiek-Jasper Counties Council (#183) was formed, merging into the Des Moines Area Council (#177) in 1926.[3]
In 1932, theDes Moines Area Council (#177) and theTall Corn Area Council (#169) merged to become the Tall Corn Area Council (#177).[3]
In 1927 theNewton 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.[3]
In 1924 theMarshall and Tama Counties Council (#658) was formed, changing its name to theCentral Iowa Council (#658) in 1925. In 1942 Central Iowa merged with the Tall Corn Area Council (#177).[3]
In 1919 theOttumwa Council (#194) was formed, changing its name to the Southern Iowa Area Council (#184) in 1928.[3]
In 1970,Southern Iowa Area Council (#184) andTall Corn Area Council (#177) merged to become theMid-Iowa Council (#177).[3]
This council is headquartered inQuincy, Illinois, and is served by Black Hawk Lodge #67. This council serves Scouts inIllinois and Iowa.
| Northeast Iowa Council (#178) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Dubuque, Iowa | ||
| Website www | |||
The Northeast Iowa Council is headquartered inDubuque, 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 ofColesburg, Iowa.[3]
In 1915 theDubuque Council (#178) was formed, changing its name to the Dubuque Area Council (#178) in 1934. The council changed its name to theNortheast Iowa Council (#178) in 1935.
In 1918 theClinton Council (#174) was formed, changing its name to theClinton Area Council (#174) in 1927. The Clinton Area Council changed its name to the Macquarie Area Council (#174) in 1937.[3]
The Sioux Council serves Scouts inSouth Dakota, Iowa andMinnesota.
| Winnebago Council (#173) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Waterloo, Iowa | ||
| Website www | |||
TheWinnebago 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, theJesup Council was founded, folding that same year.[3]
In 1918, theOelwein Council was founded, folding that same year.[3]
In 1918, theCharles City Council was founded, folding in 1920.[3]
In 1922, theCedar Falls Council was founded, folding in 1924.[3]
In 1920, theWaterloo Council (#186) was founded, changing its name inWapsipinicon Area Council (#186) in 1929. The council merged into the Winnebago Council (#173) in 1973.[3]
In 1918, theMason City Council (#173) was founded, changing its name inCerro 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 theWinnebago Council (#173).[3]
| Girl Scouting in Iowa | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Map of Girl Scout Council in Iowa | |||
There are twoGirl Scout councils in Iowa, realigned from nine former councils.
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]
The former councils are:
The council has three camps:
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 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.
The five former councils are:
The council operates five residence camps.
In the 1970s the Caravan Trails Girl Scout Council owned Camp Strother in Eldon, Iowa.[14]
