Scouting and Guiding in California

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Scouting in California 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)

Many Scouts in California prior to the charter of the BSA were the youth auxiliary of the California Highway Patrol (similar to Law Enforcement Explorers, while others belonged to the Peace Scouts of California, another pre-BSA Scouting association.

Recent history (1950-1990)

Camp Cherry Valley on California's Santa Catalina Island.

The 1953 National Scout Jamboree was held at Irvine Ranch, California. Jamboree Road in Newport Beach, California, commemorates the site of the 1953 Jamboree.

The 1973 National Order of the Arrow Conference was held at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

On May 1, 2006, Old Baldy Council merged into the San Gabriel Valley Council and the California Inland Empire Council.

Boy Scouting in California today

  • See also California Eagles Nest - individuals who have made significant contributions to scouting in California.

BSA Councils in California

There are twenty-four Boy Scouts of America local councils in California.

ID# Council Name Office Status FB Link OA Lodge Notes
001 022 Alameda Council Oakland Active FB LINK Kaweah Lodge 379 One of the seven smallest councils in BSA and one of six serving the San Francisco Bay Area.
002 045 California Inland Empire Council Inland Empire Active FB Link Cahuilla Lodge 127] all of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties
003 491 Crater Lake Council Central Point OR Active FB OA Southern & Central Oregon and Northern parts of California. (Redwood, Siskiyou and Modoc Counties)
xxx xxx Desert Pacific Council Renamed See San Diego-Imperial Council
xxx xxx Forty-Niner Council 1997 Merger See Greater Yosemite Council
004 047 Golden Empire Council Sacramento Valley Active FB Link Amangi Nacha 047 serves a large section of Northern California, primarily the Sacramento Valley and the northern Sierra Nevada mountains.
005 033 Greater Los Angeles Area Council Los Angeles Active FB Tuku'ut Lodge 141 Combines the LA region and the San Gabriel Valley in 2015.
006 059 Greater Yosemite Council Modesto Active FB Link Toloma Lodge 64 Modesto, Stockton, Calaveras and San Joaquin Regions.
007 238 Las Vegas Area Council Las Vegas Active FB Nebagamon Lodge 312 Covers Southeastern corner of California including Needles and Blythe.
008 032 Long Beach Area Council Long Beach Active FB Tribe of Tahquitz
xxx xxx Los Angeles Area Council 2015 Merger Merged with San Gabriel Valley Council to create Greater Los Angeles Area Council.
009 053 Los Padres Council Santa Barbara Active FB Chumash Lodge Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties on the Central Coast.
010 035 Marin Council Marin Co Active FB Talako Lodge North SF Bay Area
xxx xxx Monterey Bay Area Council 2012 Merger See Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council
011 023 Mount Diablo Silverado Council Contra Costa CA Active FB Wolfeboro Pioneers Contra Costa County, Lake County, Napa County, Solano County and northern Alameda County.
012 239 Nevada Area Council Reno NV Active FB Tannu Lodge covers Northeastern California and most of Northern Nevada
xxx xxx Old Baldy Council San Gabriel 2006 Merger Split and merged into San Gabriel Valley Council and California Inland Empire Council.
013 039 Orange County Council So. Calif Active FB Wiatava Lodge
014 031 Pacific Skyline Council San Mateo County Active FB Ohlone Lodge serving youth in the San Mateo County and Santa Clara County regions. It was created in 1994 from a merger of the San Mateo and Stanford Area Councils.
015 042 Piedmont Council Piedmont CA Active FB Hungteetsepoppi Lodge Not to be confused with Piedmont County NC in North Carolina of the same name.
016 041 Redwood Empire Council Santa Rosa CA Active FB Orca Lodge Covers Sonoma and Mendocino Counties in Northern California. Founded 1919.
017 049 San Diego-Imperial Council San Diego Active FB Tiwahe Lodge covers all of San Diego and Imperial Counties.
018 028 San Francisco Bay Area Council San Leandro CA Active FB Achewon Nimat Lodge
xxx xxx San Gabriel Valley Council 2015 Merger Merged with Los Angeles Area Council to create Greater Los Angeles Area Council.
xxx xxx Santa Clara County Council 2012 Merger Merged into Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council
019 055 Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council Monterey CA Active FB Saklan Lodge serving Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, San Benito County, and Monterey County.
020 030 Southern Sierra Council Bakersfield CA Active FB Yowlumne Lodge Covers Kern, Inyo and Mono Counties.
021 057 Ventura County Council Camarillo CA Active FB Topa Topa Lodge
022 058 Verdugo Hills Council Glendale CA Active FB Spe-Le-Yai Lodge
023 051 Western Los Angeles County Council Van Nuys CA Active FB Malibu Lodge Covers Northern and Western L.A. County

BSA Scout Camps in California

Camping is at the heart and pride of the Scouting program. Activities include everything from day and weekend camps, unit and family campouts, to long-term camps and high adventure trips. Scout camps operated by BSA council units located in or closeby to California:

Camp Name Council Status Location Notes
Ahwahnee Scout Reservation
Anza Scout Camp
Arataba Scout Camp California Inland Empire Council Closed Barton Flats CA closed in 1960
Berrysea Scout Camp
Balboa Scout Camp San Diego-Imperial Council Urban Base Camp San Diego CA Urban setting in scenic Balboa Park, adjacent to San Diego Zoo. Visit historic sites and nearby attractions. (Council HQ)
Big Horn Scout Camp Greater Los Angeles Area Council Active Summer Camp Program Lake Arrowhead Large traditional mountain summer camp with shooting sports and equestrian ranch.
Boulder Creek Scout Reservation Pacific Skyline Council
Cabrillo Beach Youth Waterfront Sports Center Greater Los Angeles Area Council Aquatics Center San Pedro CA provides a unique aquatics and beach camping experience
Cedarbrook Scout Camp Alameda Council Closed Closed in 1999.
Chanwanakee
Chesebrough Scout Reservation Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council Active Castle Rock State Park Year round camp connected to major backpacking trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Circle B Scout Ranch Old Baldy Area Council Closed Lake Isabella Open from the late 1950's until 1974,
Cutter Scout Reservation
Cherry Valley Greater Los Angeles Area Council Aquatic Base
Summer Camp
Santa Catalina Island Located on the leeward side two coves north of Two Harbors at Cherry Cove.
Conestoga
Crescent M
Cutter Scout Reservatons Pacific Skyline Council
Dimond-O
Echo
Ed Barrer
Emerald Bay Western Los Angeles County Council Aquatic Base
Summer Camp
Catalina Island operating since 1925
Emerson Scout Camp California Inland Empire Council Summer Camp Idyllwild CA Operated since 1919 - Oldest operating Scout Camp in California.
Fiesta Island Youth Aquatic Center San Diego-Imperial Council Summer Camp San Diego CA Popular Sea Base located adjacent to Sea World San Diego in Mission Bay, San Diego
Firestone Scout Reservation Greater Los Angeles Area Council Active Diamond Bar CA Cubland and Scout World camping facilities and shooting ranges.
Forest Lawn Scout Reservation Greater Los Angeles Area Council Active Lake Arrowhead AKA Camp Big Horn.
Fleischmann Scout Camp Nevada Area Council Summer Camp Mount Lassen Volcanic Park Located in the Cascade Mountains.
French
Harvey West
Helendade Scout Camp California Inland Empire Council Closed 2018 Running Springs CA Partially burned in the California October 2007 fires
Herms Scout Camp Mount Diablo Silverado Council Urban Base Camp El Cerrito CA Base camp for touring historic sites and attractions in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Hi-Sierra Scout Camp Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council Active Summer Camp Program Tuolumne County Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and set in a historical logging camp, Hi-Sierra embraces this living history opportunity by immersing Scouts in a fully themed mountain man town.
Holcomb Valley Scout Camp Greater Los Angeles Area Council Active Big Bear Located north of Big Bear Lake in the old mining district of Belleville on the site of the old Hitchcock Ranch and close to the Pacific Crest Trail.
Hubert Eaton Scout Reservation Greater Los Angeles Area Council Active Lake Arrowhead AKA Camp Big Horn.
Irvine Ranch Orange County Council Active Irvine Regional Park Outdoor Education Center with overnight educational programs. Science, Shooting Sports, Academics, Mining and more.
I-Yee-Que
Josepho Western Los Angeles County Council Active Opened in 1941, Rhe 110-acre camp is located in the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles County.
Jubilee Scout Ranch Western Los Angeles County Council Closed Closed in 2003
Log Cabin Wilderness Camp Los Angeles Area Council Active Inyo N.F. A high adventure base camp located in the Inyo National Forest, near the Tioga Pass Road on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada bordering the Hoover Wilderness and Yosemite National Park.
Kern Scout Camp
Kit Carson Scout Camp
Lassen Scout Camp Golden Empire Council Active Norther Butte Co. Overnight horse treks in the Sierra Nevadas.
Camp Lindblad Mount Diablo Silverado Council Closed Santa Cruz Mtns Sold in 2017
Log Cabin Wilderness Camp Greater Los Angeles Area Council Hi-Adventure Base Lee Vining CA Eastern Sierra adventure base camp.
Long Beach Sea Base Long Beach Area Council Sea Base Long Beach CA hosts traditional aquatics summer camp and many Sea Scouting adventure treks. Frequent host of the International Sea Scout Cup Race.
Lost Valley Orange County Council Summer Camp Borrego Desert Desert hi-adventure program
Makualla Scout Camp Crater Lake Council Active Summer Camp
Hi-Adventure Base
Crater Lake OR Features both a traditional summer camp program and hi-adventure whitewater rafting, caving, mountain biking and several tall mountain hikes.
Marin Sierra Scout Camp Marin Council Active Summer Camp
Hi-Adventure Base
Chubb Lake 320-acre camping facility in Tahoe National Forest.
Masonite Navarro Redwood Empire Council Active Navarro CA Located near Navarro in Mendocino County, CA.
Mataguay Scout Camp San Diego-Imperial Council Active Summer Camp NE San Diego County Located near Palomar Mountain and Lake Henshaw. Popular features include Glider rides, equestrian trips and quick access to backpacking on Pacific Crest Trail.
McConnell Scout Camp Greater Yosemite Council Active Livingston CA Located on the banks of the beautiful Merced River and used for Council Trainings, Cub Resident Camps and Unit Campouts. Home of the Yosemite Klondike Derby.
Mensinger Scout Camp Greater Yosemite Council Summer Camp Stanislaus National Forest Features deep Merit Badge classes in all-day format instead of traditional hour-by-hour program.
Camp Minkalo
Camp Mirimichi HA Base
Camp Mirimichi
Camp Nejedly
Newport Sea Base Orange County Council Aquatic Hi-Adventure Newport Harbor Serves a variety of oceangoing adventures.
Camp Noyo Redwood Empire Council Active Mendocino County Located on the Noyo River in Mendocino County, CA.
Camp O'Hara
Camp Okihi
Camp Oljato Pacific Skyline Council Active Huntington Lake Located at Huntington Lake in Lakeshore, CA and was founded in 1941 as a Jewish boys' singing camp.
Oso Lake Scout Camp Orange County Council Open O'Neill Regional Park features a 100-acre lake for fishing, camping and shooting sports.
Camp Pacifico
Camp Pahatsi
Pardee Scout Sea Base Western Los Angeles County Council Active Marina Del Rey
Pendola Scout Reservation Greater Yosemite Council Active Stanislaus National Forest Home of Camp Mensinger and Pendola Sierra Adventure Base.
Pico Blanco Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council Active Summer Camp Program Big Sur Beautiful Coastal Forest Setting
Camp Pomponio
Rancho Alegre Los Padres Council Closed
Fire Damage
Lake Cachuma Elevation 2200 feet in the wooded oak foothills of Los Padres National Forest. Features Lifeguard Academy and year round Outdoor School. This camp was severely damaged in the Whittier Fire of 2018 and is temporarily closed.
Rancho Los Flores Orange County Council Closed Camp Pendleton USMC
Rancho Los Mochos
Camp Riggs
(AKA: Elk River Scout Camp)
Crater Lake Council Primitive Camp Eureka CA former logging camp located in the redwoods near Eureka California
Camp Robert Cole Golden Empire Council Active Truckee Lake Beautiful High Sierra wilderness adventure camp near Lake Truckee.
Camp Rokili Orange County Council Closed Barton Flats
Camp Royaneh
Schoepe Scout Reservation
AKA: Lost Valley
Orange County Council Summer Camp Borrego Desert Includes desert hi-adventure programs
Sierra North HA
Camp Silverado Mount Diablo Silverado Council Closed Silver Lake CA
Soap Creek Greater Yosemite Council Sierra Adventure Base Stanislaus N.F. Backpacking, BMX and Canoe Treks in the .
Stockton Sea Scout Base
Tahquitz Scout Camp Long Beach Area Council Summer Camp San Bernardino Mountains sits on one square mile of pristine forest land next Mount San Gorgonio, tallest mountain peak in SoCal.
Camp Tamarancho Marin Council Active Fairfax CA 480 acres of meadows, redwood- and oak-forested campsites. Famous for world-class bike trails.
Three Falls Camp
Trask Scout Reservation Greater Los Angeles Area Council Wilderness Camp Monrovia Canyon
Verdugo Pines
Camp Whitsett Western Los Angeles County Council Active Sequoia National Forest
Winton Scout Camp Golden Empire Council Summer Camp Bear River Combination wilderness and aquatic camp with overnight canoe treks on Bear River Reservoir in the Central Sierra Nevada mountains.
Wolfeboro Scout Camp Mount Diablo Silverado Council Active Summer Camp / Fall Camp Stanislaus National Forest High Sierra Boy Scout camp with watersports, rock climbing and shooting sports.
Camp Wolverton Western Los Angeles County Council Active Located in the Sequoia National Park
Wente Scout Reservation San Fransico Bay Area Council Active 2200 Acres located in hills outside of Willits, CA
Will J. Reid Reservation Long Beach Area Council Closed Sold to developer in 2013.

Girl Scouting in California

International Scouting in California

California Hi-Adventure

Camp Name Council Status Location Notes
Cherry Valley Greater Los Angeles Area Council Aquatic Base
Summer Camp
Santa Catalina Island Located on the leeward side two coves north of Two Harbors at Cherry Cove.
Fiesta Island Youth Aquatic Center San Diego-Imperial Council Summer Camp San Diego CA Popular Sea Base located adjacent to Sea World San Diego in Mission Bay, San Diego
Lava Beds National Monument Volcano Modoc County located in northeastern California, on the northeastern flank of Medicine Lake Volcano and has the largest total area covered by a volcano in the Cascade Range. Here are found numerous lava tube caves, with 25 having marked entrances and developed trails for public access and exploration.
Pacific Crest Trail 3000 mile trail California From Mexican border, up the length of California, across Oregon and Washington, to the Canadian border. It provides numerous opportunities for both shorter and longer backpacking trips and high adventure training.
Redwood National and State Parks Nature Park Humboldt County a group of four parks, together, protect 45% of all remaining coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) old-growth forests. These trees are the tallest and one of the most massive tree species on Earth.
Camp Winton Golden Empire Council BSA Aquatics Base Bear River Combination wilderness and aquatic camp with overnight canoe treks on Bear River Reservoir in the Central Sierra Nevada mountains.

Scouting by County

Alameda / Alpine / Amador / Butte / Calaveras / Colusa / Contra Costa / Del Norte / El Dorado / Fresno / Glenn / Humboldt / Imperial / Inyo / Kern / Kings / Lake / Lassen / Los Angeles / Madera / Marin / Mariposa / Mendocino / Merced / Modoc / Mono / Monterey / Napa / Nevada / Orange / Placer / Plumas / Riverside / Sacramento / San Benito / San Bernardino / San Diego / San Francisco / San Joaquin / San Luis Obispo / San Mateo / Santa Barbara / Santa Clara / Santa Cruz / Shasta / Sierra / Siskiyou / Solano / Sonoma / Stanislaus / Sutter / Tehema / Trinity / Tulare / Tuolumne / Ventura / Yolo / Ventura

See also

External links and references