Scouting in Mississippi 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)
In 1909, Dr. Cran, the Local Episcopal Minister, and Mr. C.H. Hamilton organized Troop 19 in Brookhaven, Mississippi. In 1910, the unit was officially recognized by the local scout office in Vicksburg. Troop 19 became Troop 119 after the Andrew Jackson Council was formed. It was sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church until 1938/39 when it was then sponsored by "The Men's Bible Class" First United Methodist church where it has remained. The Troop has been continuously chartered since 1910 and is as old as the incorporated Boy Scouts of America.
In 1912, one year after the Boy Scout movement came from England to the United States, George F. Maynard, Sr. founded the first troop in Tupelo — Troop 1. Scout units were soon founded in other cities such as Picayune, Corinth and Oxford.
The
Yazoo County Council was founded in 1919, and closed in 1922. The
Southwest Mississippi Council (#303) was founded in 1923, and closed in 1928. The
South Mississippi Area Council (#705) was founded in 1925, and closed in 1928. The
Meridian Council (#302) was founded in 1920, and in 1935 changed its name to the
Choctaw Area Council (#302).
The
Pine Burr-Hattiesburg Area Council (#304) was founded in 1927, changing its name to the
Pine Burr Area Council (#304) in 1935. The
East Mississippi Area Council (#691) was founded in 1926, changing its name to the
Pushmataha Area Council (#691) in 1936. The
Yocona Area Council (#748) was founded in 1926.
The
Jackson Council (#301) was founded in 1918, changing its name to the
Hinds and Rankin Counties Council (#301) in 1922. The
Vicksburg Council (#304) was founded in 1919. The Hinds and Rankin Counties and Vicksburg councils merged to become the
Kickapoo Area Council (#301) in 1927. In 1930, the
Andrew Jackson Area Council (#303) was merged, and it merged with the Kickapoo Area Council (#301) in 1937 to become the
Andrew Jackson Council (#303).
Recent history (1950-1990)
Scouting has continued to thrive in Mississippi. There are eight Boy Scout councils and two Girl Scout councils that serve the state.
Scouting in Mississippi today
There are eight
Boy Scouts of America
Scouting America is the largest scouting organization and one of the largest List of youth organizations, youth organizations in the United States, with over 1 million youth, including nearly 200,000 female participants. Founded as the Boy Sco ...
(BSA) local councils that serve
Mississippi
Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...
.
Andrew Jackson Council
The Andrew Jackson Council serves Scouts in the area surrounding the state capital.
History
The
Jackson Council (#301) was founded in 1918, changing its name to the
Hinds and Rankin Counties Council (#301) in 1922. The
Vicksburg Council (#304) was founded in 1919. The Hinds and Rankin Counties and Vicksburg councils merged to become the
Kickapoo Area Council (#301) in 1927. In 1930, the
Andrew Jackson Area Council (#303) was merged, and it merged with the Kickapoo Area Council (#301) in 1937 to become the
Andrew Jackson Council (#303).
Organization
The council has five districts:
* Natchez Trace District: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties
* Big Creek District: Copiah, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pike, and Walthall Counties
* Strong River District: Scott, Rankin and Simpson Counties
* Four Rivers District: Hinds, Issquena, Sharkey, and Warren Counties
* North Trace District: Attala, Holmes, Leake, Madison and Yazoo Counties
Camps
*Hood Scout Reservation
Order of the Arrow
* Sebooney Okasucca Lodge
Chickasaw Council
The Chickasaw Council serves Scouts in
Tennessee
Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...
and
Arkansas
Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...
, as well as Mississippi. The ''Delta Area Council'' of west Mississippi and their Koi Hatachie lodge 345, Order of the Arrow, merged into Chickasaw Council in the early 1990s.
Choctaw Area Council
The Choctaw Area Council serves youth in east Mississippi and west
Alabama
Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...
, with the council office located in
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the List of municipalities in Mississippi, eighth most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi, with a population of 35,052 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi, ...
. The Choctaw Area Council camp is ''Camp Binachi'', and the council's name refers to the
Choctaw
The Choctaw ( ) people are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States, originally based in what is now Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The Choctaw language is a Western Muskogean language. Today, Choct ...
nation.
History
The
Meridian Council (#302) was founded in 1920, and in 1935 changed its name to the
Choctaw Area Council (#302).
Organization
* Bobashela District
* Seminole District
Order of the Arrow
*Ashwanchi Kinta Lodge
Istrouma Area Council
The Istrouma Area Council serves Scouts in
Louisiana
Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...
and Mississippi.
Pine Burr Area Council
The Pine Burr Area Council serves youth in 17 counties in southeast and southern Mississippi, from headquarters in
Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg is a city in the U.S. state of Mississippi, located primarily in Forrest County (where it is the county seat and most populous city) and extending west into Lamar County. The city population was 48,730 in 2020, making it the 5th m ...
.
History
The
Pine Burr-Hattiesburg Area Council (#304) was founded in 1927, changing its name to the
Pine Burr Area Council (#304) in 1935.
Organization
*Singing River District
*Spanish Trail District
*Tall Pine District
*Tung Belt District
*Twin Rivers District
*Chickasawhay District
Scoutreach Division
Camps
*Camp Tiak
Pushmataha Area Council
Pushmataha Area Council serves Calhoun, Chickasaw, Monroe, Webster,
Oktibbeha, Clay,
Lowndes, Winston, Choctaw and
Noxubee counties in north Mississippi. Camp Seminole is the Pushmataha Area Council camp. Pushmataha Area Council merged and is now part of Natchez Trace Council.
Southeast Louisiana Council
The Southeast Louisiana Council serves Scouting in Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemine, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Bernard, Saint Charles, Saint James, Saint Tammany, and
Terrebonne Parish
Terrebonne Parish ( ; French: ''Paroisse de Terrebonne'') is a parish located in the southern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana. At the 2020 census, the population was 109,580. The parish seat is Houma. The parish was founded in 1822. Terr ...
es in Louisiana. The camp property known as Salmen Scout Reservation is located in Kiln, Mississippi.
Yocona Area Council
The Yocona Area Council of northeast Mississippi is headquartered in
Tupelo
Tupelo commonly refers to:
* Tupelo (tree), a small genus of deciduous trees with alternate, simple leaves
* Tupelo, Mississippi, the county seat and the largest city of Lee County, Mississippi
Tupelo may also refer to:
Places
* Tupelo, Arka ...
. It serves Alcorn, Tishomingo, Prentiss, Itawamba, Lee, Pontotoc, Tippah, Union, Benton, Marshall, Lafayette, and Yalobusha counties. The ''Chicksa Lodge'' serves local
Arrowmen. Yocona Area Council merged and is now part of Natchez Trace Council.
Girl Scouting in Mississippi
There are two
Girl Scout
A Scout, Boy Scout, Girl Scout or, in some countries, a Pathfinder is a participant in the Scout Movement, usually aged 10–18 years, who engage in learning scoutcraft and outdoor and other special interest activities. Some Scout organization ...
councils in Mississippi.
Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi
Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi serves some 10,000 members in 45 counties of south and central Mississippi.
It was formed by the merger of Girl Scouts of Gulf Pines Council and Girl Scout Council of Middle Mississippi in 2009.
;Headquarters:
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Mississippi, most populous city of the U.S. state of Mississippi. The city sits on the Pearl River (Mississippi–Louisiana), Pearl River and is locate ...
:Website:
;Service centers
*
Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg is a city in the U.S. state of Mississippi, located primarily in Forrest County (where it is the county seat and most populous city) and extending west into Lamar County. The city population was 48,730 in 2020, making it the 5th m ...
*
Gulfport
*
Meridian
Meridian or a meridian line (from Latin ''meridies'' via Old French ''meridiane'', meaning “midday”) may refer to
Science
* Meridian (astronomy), imaginary circle in a plane perpendicular to the planes of the celestial equator and horizon
* ...
;Camps
*Camp Iti Kana is including a lake near
Wiggins. Its name is from the
Choctaw
The Choctaw ( ) people are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States, originally based in what is now Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The Choctaw language is a Western Muskogean language. Today, Choct ...
language and means friendship.
*Camp Wahi is in
Brandon, MS
Girl Scouts Heart of the South
See
Scouting in Tennessee for full information. In Mississippi serves girls in northern counties.
;Headquarters:
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...
:Website:
;Mississippi service centers
*
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1860, the population was 37,923 at the United States Census, 2020, 2020 census. It is the List of municipalities in Mississippi, 7th-most populous ...
;Mississippi camps
*Camp Tik-A-Witha is (including a lake) of woods and sand dunes near
Van Vleet, MS
See also
*
Camp Fire
A campfire is a fire at a campsite.
Campfire or Camp Fire may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Campfire'' (James Blundell album) (2017)
* ''Campfire'' (Kasey Chambers album) (2018)
* ''Campfire'' (Rend Collective album) (2012)
* "Camp ...
External links
*, Tulpe Lodge of the
Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow (OA) is the honor society of Scouting America, composed of Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Promise, Scout Oath and Scout Law, Law in their daily lives as elected by their peers. It was founded as a camp fr ...
went to
Waveland, Mississippi
Waveland is a city located in Hancock County, Mississippi, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico. It is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city of Waveland was incorporated in 1972. As of the 2010 ...
, as part of the
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a powerful, devastating and historic tropical cyclone that caused 1,392 fatalities and damages estimated at $125 billion in late August 2005, particularly in the city of New Orleans and its surrounding area. ...
relief effort
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scouting In Mississippi
Youth organizations based in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...
Southern Region (Boy Scouts of America)