Scouting and Guiding in Florida
Scouting in Florida 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 (1910-1950)
Until 1948, some southern councils of the Boy Scouts of America 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 the Boy Scouts. The National Office began a program of integrating local councils in 1940, which was largely complete in 1948.
Recent history (1950-1990)
Boy Scouting in Florida
There are nine Boy Scouts of America local councils in Florida. In addition, the Florida National High Adventure Sea Base of the BSA is located in Florida.
- Alabama-Florida Council
- Central Florida Council
- Gulf Coast Council
- Gulf Ridge Council
- Gulf Stream Council
- North Florida Council
- South Florida Council
- Southwest Florida Council
- Suwannee River Area Council
- West Central Florida Council
Girl Scouting in Florida
There are ten Girl Scout council offices in Florida.
- Girl Scout Council of The Apalachee Bend, Inc., Tallahassee, FL, http://www.gscab.org/
- Girl Scouts of Broward County, Inc., Oakland Park, FL http://www.browardgirlscouts.org/
- Girl Scouts of Citrus Council, Inc., Orlando, FL http://www.citrus-gs.org/
- Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, Inc., Jacksonville, FL http://www.girlscouts-gateway.org/
- Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc., Sarasota, FL http://www.girlscoutsgulfcoastfl.org/
- Heart of Florida Girl Scout Council, Inc., Lakeland, FL http://www.hfgsc.org/
- Girl Scouts of Northwest Florida, Inc., Pensacola, FL http://www.gsnwfl.org/
- Girl Scouts of Palm Glades Council, Inc., Jupiter, FL http://www.gspgc.org/
- Girl Scouts of Suncoast Council, Inc., Tampa, FL http://www.girlscoutsofsuncoastcouncil.org/
- Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida, http://www.girlscoutsfl.org/
Other Girl Scout Camps
Camp Choee in Miami serves mainly as a day camp, though it has over-night capabilities, accommodating over 250 day campers across its 20 acres. Facilities include a large air-conditioned building with kitchen, pool with bath house, craft lodge, fire circles, and four air-conditioned cabins. The original cabins were destroyed during Hurricane Andrew; the replacement cabins have their own toliets and showers, and house 16 people each. The camp is in a fairly urban location, and is made up of open grassy areas and pine scrub.
Camp Mahachee is located in a rich tropical hammock (ecology), and serves as both a day camp and an over-night camp. It covers over 11 acres, has 8 cabins housing 10 people each, and areas for tents. There are also several fire circles, a butterfly garden, and a natural coral rock "maze."
Coral Gables Little House is on the register of historical places. It's located near Venetian Pool, and is used for day activities and meetings.
South Miami Little House is used for troop meetings and camping, accommodating 20 people over-night or 40 people for day activities.
International Scouting units in Florida
Cuban Scouting in exile exists to this day in Miami as part of the Boy Scouts of America, where Cuban-American Scouts are instrumental in annual Lincoln-Martí celebrations.
Scouting Activities
- See also Florida State Parks
| Camp Name | Council | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baden Powell Scout Reservation | North Florida Council | Active | Camp Shands is located on the nearly 900 acres of the Baden Powell Scout Reservation near Melrose, FL. |
| Bronson Charter Camp | |||
| Camp Alaflo | |||
| Camp Big Heart | |||
| Camp Chautauqua | |||
| Camp Clear Lake | |||
| Camp Coacoochee | |||
| Camp Echockotee | North Florida Council | Active | The St. Johns River Base at Echockotee is the starting point for RiverQuest rafting and kayak programs, hosts Aquatics Camp each summer, provides a location for training and activities of our council Aquatics Committee and is a popular destination for year round camping for Scouting units. |
| Camp Everglades | |||
| Camp Flying Eagle | |||
| Camp Howard | Closed | Open in the 1960s, Camp Howard was located in Longwood, Florida, close to, if not exactly where the upscale community of Heathrow is located today. | |
| Williams Scout Reservation | Central Florida Area Council | Active | Williams Scout Reservation and Camp La-No-Che located on the North shore of Lake Norris in Paisley, FL. |
| Camp Lone Oak | |||
| Camp Loxahatchee | |||
| Camp Miles | |||
| Camp Osprey | |||
| Camp Owen Brorein | |||
| Camp Reed | |||
| Camp Sawyer | |||
| Camp Sebring | |||
| Camp Semialachee | |||
| Camp Shands | North Florida Council | Active | Camp Shands is located on the nearly 900 acres of the Baden Powell Scout Reservation near Melrose, FL. |
| Camp Soule | |||
| Camp Stine | |||
| St. Johns River Base at Echockotee | North Florida Council | Active | The St. Johns River Base at Echockotee is the starting point for RiverQuest rafting and kayak programs, hosts Aquatics Camp each summer, provides a location for training and activities of our council Aquatics Committee and is a popular destination for year round camping for Scouting units. |
| Camp Tanah-keeta | |||
| Charles H. Topmiller Canoe Base | |||
| Flaming Arrow Scout Reservation | Gulf Ridge Area Council | Active | Located outside of Lake Wales, Florida. |
| Florida National HA Sea Base | |||
| La-No-Che Scout Reservation | |||
| McGregor Smith Scout Reservation | Closed | Closed | Also known as Camp Lone Oak, in in 2004 the the 4,964-acre site, located at East Boy Scout Road in Inverness, Florida was purchased and managed as part of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. In 2012 the camp was closed and dismantlement. |
| Negro Camp | |||
| Rocky Pine Scout Camp | |||
| Ro-Pa-Co | |||
| Sand Hill Scout Reservation | West Central Florida Area Council | Active | 1,212 acres in the central Florida region, located near Brooksville, Florida |
| Snapper Creek Camp | |||
| Spanish Trail Scout Reservation | Gulf Coast Council | Active | Opened in 1961 the Spanish Trail Scout Reservation included the Yustaga Lodge. |
| Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation | |||
| Wallwood Boy Scout Reservation | |||
| Winn Dixie Scout Reservation |
Traditional Boy Scout Camps
Traditional summer camps feature a week long scouting adventure, educational, camping and merit badge program. They are usually available for youth group and family camping the rest of the year
- Camp Alaflo - (Alabama-Florida Council) primary summer camp facility located in Coffee County AL. Over 600 acres of rolling hills, tall pines, two aquatics lakes and true southern hospitality.
- Spanish Trail Scout Reservation (Gulf Coast Council) - one of the largest wilderness boy scout camp in the southeast. Located near Pensacola FL with canoeing, fishing and swimming.
Recreational Camps
High Adventure Bases
State Landmarks and Museums
Historic Adventure Trails
Scouting by County
The U.S. state of Florida is divided into 67 counties. Find family and scout friendly outdoor activities in your county:
Alachua /
Baker /
Bay /
Bradford /
Brevard /
Broward /
Calhoun /
Charlotte /
Citrus /
Clay /
Collier /
Columbia /
DeSoto /
Dixie /
Duval /
Escambia /
Flagler /
Franklin /
Gadsden /
Gilchrist /
Glades /
Gulf /
Hamilton /
Hardee /
Hendry /
Hernando /
Highlands /
Hillsborough /
Holmes /
Indian River /
Jackson /
Jefferson /
Lafayette /
Lake /
Lee /
Leon /
Levy /
Liberty /
Madison /
Manatee /
Marion /
Martin /
Miami-Dade /
Monroe /
Nassau /
Okaloosa /
Okeechobee /
Orange /
Osceola /
Palm Beach /
Pasco /
Pinellas /
Polk /
Putnam /
St. Johns /
St. Lucie /
Santa Rosa /
Sarasota /
Seminole /
Sumter /
Suwannee /
Taylor /
Union /
Volusia /
Wakulla /
Walton /
Washington /
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