Scouting in Georgia (U.S. state)


Scouting in Georgia 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 state is home to many milestones for the Scouting movement. The Girl Scout Birthplace is located in Savannah, and President Jimmy Carter served as a Scoutmaster in Plains, Georgia.

Boy Scouts of America

History

Dating back to 1920, Boy Scouts of America was prominent in Georgia. Until 1974, some southern councils were racially segregated. Colored Troops, as they were officially known, were given little support from Districts and Councils. Some Scouting executives and leaders believed that Colored Scouts and Leaders would be less able to live up to the ideals of Scouting.

Historic councils

Boy Scouts of America today

There are eleven active local BSA councils that serve Scouts in Georgia. Active councils, districts, and lodges are shown in green.

Atlanta Area Council

The Atlanta Area Council encompasses 13 counties in northern Georgia. The council office is currently located in Atlanta, Georgia.

Central Georgia Council

The Central Georgia Council serves 24 counties in central Georgia.

Chattahoochee Council

The Chattahoochee Council serves Scouts in Georgia and Alabama, with the Council office located in Columbus, Georgia. Active from 1964 to present, the council's name refers to the Chattahoochee River, which flows through Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.
OA lodge: chartered 1941 and still active. Absorbed Hiawassee Lodge #333 in 1963. Absorbed Wehadkee Lodge #273 in both 1964 and 1990.
Cherokee Area Council serves Scouts in Tennessee and Georgia, with the council office located in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The John Ross District serves Northwest Georgia Walker, Catoosa and Dade Counties.
Website: www.CherokeeAreaBSA.com.
offers year-round and summer camping opportunities, www.Skymont.org.

Coastal Georgia Council

The Council office of the Coastal Georgia Council is located in Savannah, Georgia. It was formed on March 1, 2014 when the Coastal Empire Council and the Okefenokee Area Council merged.
Districts
Tomo-Chi-Chi Lodge #119 chartered 1938 and merged with Pithlako Lodge with the 2014 merger into I-Tsu-La Lodge.
Flint River Council is headquartered in Griffin, Georgia.

Georgia-Carolina Council

Name active from 1941 to currently active. Council office located in Augusta, Georgia, includes districts in South Carolina and Georgia. Website:
OA lodge: chartered 1936 and still active.
Name active from 1935 to currently active. Council office located in Pendergrass, Georgia.
Districts:
OA lodge: chartered in 1943 and still active.
Camps:
Northwest Georgia Council serves Scouts in northwest Georgia.

South Georgia Council

Suwannee River Area Council

The , active from 1924 to present, encompasses 13 counties in north Florida and south Georgia. The Council Service Center and central headquarters are in Tallahassee, Florida.

Girl Scouting today

The Girl Scout Birthplace is located in Savannah, Georgia, which was the Gordon family home that now provides tours to thousands of Scouts every year. Upon Juliette Gordon Low's death in 1927, she willed her carriage house, eventually named The Girl Scout First Headquarters, to the local Savannah Girl Scouts for continued use.
In 2008 the eight Girl Scout Councils in Georgia merged to form two councils. In addition Girl Scouts of Moccasin Bend headquartered in Tennessee covers Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker Counties in northwestern Georgia.

Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia

Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia was formed on May 1, 2008 by the merger of eight previous councils:
Girl Scouts, Central Savannah River Council;
Girl Scouts of Concharty Council;
Girl Scouts of Middle Georgia;
Girl Scouts of Northeast Georgia;
Girl Scouts of Southwest Georgia;
and The Girl Scout Council of Savannah, Georgia.
Though some counties in these old councils were moved to Girl Scouts
of Greater Atlanta. This council also covers part of South Carolina and Russell County in Alabama.
Headquarters: Lizella, Georgia

Website: http://www.gshg.org/
Camps:
The following camps were closed in 2016 and either sold or their lease ended
Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta serves about 42,000 girls and 17,000
adult volunteers in 34 counties of Greater Atlanta and a portion of
Polk County Tennessee. It was formed in 2008 by the merger of
Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia and Girl Scouts of Pine Valley
Council.
Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia

Website: http://www.girlscoutsatl.org/
Camps: