Scouting and Guiding in Florida

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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.

Girl Scouting in Florida

There are ten Girl Scout council offices in Florida.

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


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

  1. 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.
  2. 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 /