Scouting and Guiding in Alabama

Scouting in Alabama 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.

Boy Scouting in Alabama

In the 1990s, the Boy Scouts of America went through a restructuring in an attempt to reduce manpower, and in several states small historic Councils were merged into a larger supercouncil. The new Greater Alabama Council is an example of such a supercouncil.

There are eight BSA local councils serving Scouts in Alabama today.

• Alabama-Florida Council
• Black Warrior Council
• Chattahoochee Council
• Choctaw Area Council
• Greater Alabama Council
• Gulf Coast Council
• Mobile Area Council
• Tukabatchee Area Council

Girl Scouting in Alabama

There are six Girl Scout council offices in Alabama.

• Girl Scouts of Cahaba Council, Birmingham, Alabama. http://www.cahabagirlscoutcouncil.org
• Cottaquilla Council of Girl Scouts, Anniston, Alabama. http://www.cottaquilla.org
• Girl Scouts of The Deep South Council, Mobile, Alabama. http://www.girlscoutsds.org
• Girl Scouts of North Alabama, Inc., Huntsville, Alabama. http://www.girlscoutsofnorthalabama.org
• Girl Scouts of South Central Alabama, Inc., Montgomery, Alabama. http://www.gssca.org
• Tombigbee Girl Scout Council, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. http://www.girlscoutstombigbee.org

Scouting Activities

Recreational Camps

• Camp Jack Wright (GAC) - located in the Roupes Valley, adjacent to Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park.