Scouting in Florida is composed of

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) and Girl Scouts USA (GSUSA) local councils in

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

. 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)

In 1914, the BSA gave local councils the power to ban African Americans from Scouting. Until 1974, some southern councils of the Boy Scouts of America were still racially segregated.

Recent history (1950-1990)

Boy Scouts of America in Florida today

There are nine BSA local councils in

. In addition, the

Florida National High Adventure Sea Base Sea Base, formerly known as Florida National High Adventure Sea Base, is a high adventure base run by Scouting America in the Florida Keys. Its counterparts are Philmont Scout Ranch in northern New Mexico; Northern Tier in Ely, Minnesota, as ...

of the BSA is located in

Islamorada, Florida Islamorada (also sometimes Isla Morada) is an Incorporation (municipal government), incorporated village in Monroe County, Florida, United States. It is located directly between Miami and Key West on five islands—Tea Table Key, Lower Matecumbe ...

Alabama-Florida Council

Alabama-Florida Council serves Scouts in

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 ...

and Florida, with the council office located in

Dothan, Alabama Dothan is a city in and the county seat of Houston County, Alabama, Houston County in the U.S. state of Alabama. A slight portion of the city extends into Dale County, Alabama, Dale and Henry County, Alabama, Henry counties. It had a population ...

. OA Lodge: Cowikee Lodge #224

Central Florida Council

Central Florida Council serves Scouts in

Orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower ** Orange juice *Orange (colour), the color of an orange fruit, occurs between red and yellow in the vi ...

Osceola Osceola (1804 – January 30, 1838, Vsse Yvholv in Muscogee language, Creek, also spelled Asi-yahola), named Billy Powell at birth, was an influential leader of the Seminole people in Florida. His mother was Muscogee, and his great-grandfa ...

Seminole The Seminole are a Native American people who developed in Florida in the 18th century. Today, they live in Oklahoma and Florida, and comprise three federally recognized tribes: the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, ...

Lake A lake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixed body of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in a basin or interconnected basins surrounded by dry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from ...

, Brevard, Volusia and Flagler Counties. Its headquarters is located in

Apopka, Florida Apopka is a city in Orange County, Florida. The city's population was 54,873 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area. ''Apopka'' comes from Seminole word ''Ahapopka'' for "potato-eating ...

, and its primary Scout camp is Camp La-No-Che in Paisley. OA lodge
Tipisa Lodge 326

Greater Tampa Bay Area Council

The Greater Tampa Bay Area Council is the newest council in Florida and was formed by a merger of Gulf Ridge Council and

West Central Florida Council West Central Florida Council was the former Boy Scouts of America Council serving Pinellas County and west Pasco County in Florida, between 1917–2016. It merged with Gulf Ridge Council to form the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council on May 1, 201 ...

on May 1, 2016. The Greater Tampa Bay Area Council serves youth in Citrus, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sumter counties. The four main Scout camps are Camp Brorein in

Odessa ODESSA is an American codename (from the German language, German: ''Organisation der ehemaligen SS-Angehörigen'', meaning: Organization of Former SS Members) coined in 1946 to cover Ratlines (World War II aftermath), Nazi underground escape-pl ...

, Camp Soule in Clearwater, Flaming Arrow Scout Reservation in

Lake Wales Lake Wales is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 16,361 at the 2020 census. History Early history A survey by W.A. Williams and J ...

, and Sand Hill Scout Reservation in Brooksville. There are also two smaller facilities at Bigfoot Wilderness Camp near

Dade City Dade City, officially the City of Dade City, is a city in, and the county seat of Pasco County, Florida, United States. It is located in the Tampa Bay Area, northeast of Tampa and southwest of Orlando. The population was 7,275 as of the 2020 c ...

, and Camp Alafia in Lithia. The Scout office is in

Tampa Tampa ( ) is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. Tampa's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and t ...

. OA Lodge
Uh-To-Yeh-Hut-Tee Lodge 89

Gulf Coast Council

Gulf Coast Council serves Scouts in Florida and Alabama, with the council office located in

Pensacola, Florida Pensacola ( ) is a city in the Florida panhandle in the United States. It is the county seat and only incorporated city, city in Escambia County, Florida, Escambia County. The population was 54,312 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. ...

. The council's name refers to the

Gulf Coast of the United States The Gulf Coast of the United States, also known as the Gulf South or the South Coast, is the coastline along the Southern United States where they meet the Gulf of Mexico. The list of U.S. states and territories by coastline, coastal states th ...

Organization

The council is administratively divided into 4 districts: *Long Leaf Pine District - serving the Conecuh, Escambia, and Monroe Counties in Alabama. *Choctawhatchee District - serving the Okaloosa and Walton Counties in Florida. *Pensacola Bay District - serving the Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties in Florida. *Lake Sands District - serving the Bay, Gulf, Holmes, and Washington Counties in Florida.

Camps

In 1961, the Spanish Trail Scout Reservation (STSR) was founded in the Gulf Coast Council. STSR is one of the largest Scout reservations in the southeast. It offers a full range of facilities including: a 40-acre (160,000 m2) lake for swimming, canoeing, and fishing; a dining hall; and many places to camp. There are two camps on the STSR, Camp Euchee and Camp Jambo, each with full camping facilities. Gulf Coast Council #773 serves Scouts in Florida and

, with the council office located in

. The council's name refers to the

. Its camp is Spanish Trail Scout Reservation in

DeFuniak Springs, Florida DeFuniak Springs ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Walton County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,919 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 Census, up from 5,177 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Crestview, Florida, Cr ...

Order of The Arrow

OA lodge
Yustaga Lodge #385
whose patches can be see
here.
Yustaga Lodge is the Order of The Arrow associated with the Gulf Coast Council. Yustaga Lodge was founded in 1948 thanks to the foresight and efforts of Ted Childress and Norman Savelle, Field Scout Executives of the Gulf Coast Council. That year, a chief and eleven braves from Alibamu Lodge #179 of the Tukabatchee Area Council of Montgomery, Alabama visited the Gulf Coast Council's Camp Big Heart on May 21–22, 1948, where they bestowed the title of Honor Camper and Order of the Arrow member upon 24 Scouts and Scouters. The name Yustaga comes from a small but powerful Florida tribe that was a part of the Creek nation. Translated, the words mean “Drinkers of the Fire Water”. As of May 2025, Yustaga Lodge host 4 Chapters. *Appalachee Chapter - Serving Arrowmen in Washington, Holmes, Bay, and Gulf Counties. *Choctaw Chapter - Serving Arrowman of Walton and Okaloosa Counties. *Oschambos Chapter - Serving Arrowmen in Conecuh, Monroe, and Escambia (AL) Counties. *Woapalanne Chapter - Serving Arrowmen in Santa Rosa and Escambia (FL) Counties.

Gulf Stream Council

Gulf Stream Council is in southeast

with the headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens. The council serves youth in the eastern portion of South Florida from the Broward/ Palm Beach line north to the Brevard/

Indian River County Indian River County () is a county located in the southeastern and east-central portions of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 159,788. Its seat is Vero Beach. It is Florida's 7th richest county and in 2000 w ...

line and west into the eastern portions of

Highlands Highland is a broad term for areas of higher elevation, such as a mountain range or mountainous plateau. Highland, Highlands, or The Highlands, may also refer to: Places Africa * Highlands, Johannesburg, South Africa * Highlands, Harare, Zimbab ...

, Glades and Hendry counties. OA Lodge:

North Florida Council

Th
North Florida Council
encompasses the 17 counties of northeast Florida. Through almost 7,000 volunteers the council serves over 57,000 youth in over 850 units. The North Florida Council owns, maintains and operates two camps
St. Johns Riverbase at Echockotee
on Doctors Lake in Orange Park, an

near Hawthorne. OA Lodge
Echockotee Lodge

South Florida Council

The South Florida Council, is in South

in Broward,

Miami-Dade Miami-Dade County () is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Florida. The county had a population of 2,701,767 as of the 2020 census, making it the most populous county in Florida and the seventh-most-populous count ...

, and Monroe Counties. It has 3 camps: Camp Elmore in Davie, Camp Sawyer in the

Florida Keys The Florida Keys are a coral island, coral cay archipelago off the southern coast of Florida, forming the southernmost part of the continental United States. They begin at the southeastern coast of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami a ...

, and Camp Everglades in

Everglades National Park Everglades National Park is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States that protects the southern twenty percent of the original Everglades in Florida. The park is the largest tropical wilderness in the Un ...

. OA Lodge
O-shot-caw Lodge 265

Southwest Florida Council

Southwest Florida Council serves Collier,

Lee Lee may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Lee'' (2007 film), Tamil-language sports action film * ''Lee'' (2017 film), Kannada-language action film * ''Lee'' (2023 film), biographical drama about Lee Miller, American photojournalist * ''L ...

, Charlotte,

Manatee Manatees (, family (biology), family Trichechidae, genus ''Trichechus'') are large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivory, herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows. There are three accepted living species of Trichechidae, representing t ...

Sarasota Sarasota () is a city in and the county seat of Sarasota County, Florida, United States. It is located in Southwest Florida, the southern end of the Tampa Bay area, and north of Fort Myers and Punta Gorda. Its official limits include Sarasota Ba ...

, and parts of DeSoto and Hendry counties. It has 2 properties: the Price-Sanders Scout Reservation in Charlotte with the Dr. Franklin Miles Camp and Camp Gannett, and Camp Flying Eagle in Manatee. '"The Southwest Florida Council was chartered in July 1969, and based on membership and units, it ranks 46th out of 306 councils in the United States. The Southwest Florida Council is a geographic area divided into four districts that include Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hendry, Lee, Manatee, Sarasota Counties. The Council has an executive board of volunteers and a staff of professionals."'' ''"The Council accomplishes its mission by making its program available to chartered organizations; existing organizations that have compatible goals. These groups include religious, educational, civic fraternal, business, labor, and governmental bodies. The Council supports chartered organizations by providing materials and certain facilities, such as camps. The Chartered Organizations organize the packs and troops." (Source — SWFL Council Website) '' Recent Highlights In 2007 The Southwest Council: Awarded Centennial Council for achieving excellence in providing a quality program to a growing youth population in Southwest Florida Recognized as a National Quality Learning for Life Council Achieved 11 consecutive years of membership growth Serves over 32,000 boys and girls, in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hendry, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota Counties Had 117 young men attained the rank of Eagle Scout Has 4,000 active volunteers and over 390 units engaged in the program Increased attendance at: merit badge camp-outs, summer day-camps, camporees and at the Philmont Scout Reservation Almost 15,000 campers used our two camp facilities including special needs youth and community groups provided over 15,000 community service hours Collected almost of food through the

Scouting For Food Scouting for Food is an ongoing annual program of the 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 milli ...

Campaign Represented by 12 Scouts and Scout Leaders at the World Jamboree in London, England The Friends of Scouting fundraising campaign netted the largest amount in the Council's history Achieved a balanced budget Youth sold over 7,700 cases of popcorn at a retail value of over $480,000 Of that, 1,600 cases were shipped to deployed troops in over 40 countries'' Council Websit

OA Lodge: Osceola #564, websit

Suwannee River Area Council

The Suwannee River Area Council, active from 1924 to present, encompasses 13 counties in north

and south Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. The Council Service Center and central headquarters are in

Tallahassee, Florida Tallahassee ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of and the only incorporated municipality in Leon County, Florida, Leon County. Tallahassee became the capital of Fl ...

. Since opening in 1924, the Suwannee River Area Council has offered traditional Scouting programs at several camps.

Camps

The first was Camp Orchard Pond, located near Tallahassee. Orchard Pond was a small camp, having only four campsites during its entire lifetime. It was used from 1927 to 1947, when it was sold. The council moved its summer camp operations to Camp Semialachee, located on the west side of Moore Lake south of SR 20 on the Silver Lake Road west of

Tallahassee Tallahassee ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of and the only incorporated municipality in Leon County. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2024, the est ...

. Semialachee got its name indirectly from the union of "Seminole" and "Apalachee", two primary groups of

Native Americans in the United States Native Americans (also called American Indians, First Americans, or Indigenous Americans) are the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous peoples of the United States, particularly of the Contiguous United States, lower 48 states and A ...

from the north Florida region. Camp Semialachee was kept until 1965, when camping was moved to Wallwood Scout Reservation, located just south of

Quincy, Florida Quincy is a city in and the county seat of Gadsden County, Florida, United States. Quincy is part of the Tallahassee metropolitan area, Tallahassee, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,970 as of the 2020 census, almost eve ...

. The land for the new camp was donated by Dr. Charlie K. Wall and his wife Margaret as a gift to Scouting. The buildings and equipment were donated by various community leaders, Scouters, and organizations. The dedication of Wallwood came in 1964, the buildings were constructed in 1965, and the first camping season was the summer of 1966. Wallwood covers over of land bordered on one side by a branch of

Lake Talquin Lake Talquin is a reservoir located on the Ochlockonee River between Leon County, Florida, Leon County and Gadsden County, Florida, Gadsden County in north Florida. The lake, located about 10 miles (15 km) west of Tallahassee, is south of Int ...

. The camp offers a variety of Scouting programs, including COPE, as well as opportunities for other civic organizations. There are currently two camping facilities at the Wallwood Reservation - Camp Nea Mathla and Camp Tom Matherly.

Order of the Arrow

The Semialachee Lodge #239 serves the council.

Girl Scout of the USA in Florida today

Six Girl Scout councils exist in Florida.

Girl Scouts of Citrus Council

Girl Scouts of Citrus Council serves over 17,000 girls in Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties in central Florida. It was established in 1956. Headquarters: Orlando, Florida
Website
Camps *Celia Lane Little House in Orlando. *Mah-Kah-Wee Program Center is near Chuluota. *Riverpoint Program Center is with a 19th-century lodge *Melbourne Scout House

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council serves nearly 6,200 girls in 35 northern Florida counties ( Alachua,

Baker A baker is a tradesperson who baking, bakes and sometimes Sales, sells breads and other products made of flour by using an oven or other concentrated heat source. The place where a baker works is called a bakery. History Ancient histo ...

Bay A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a ''gulf'', ''sea'', ''sound'', or ''bight''. A ''cove'' is a small, ci ...

Bradford Bradford is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in West Yorkshire, England. It became a municipal borough in 1847, received a city charter in 1897 and, since the Local Government Act 1972, 1974 reform, the city status in the United Kingdo ...

Calhoun John C. Calhoun (1782–1850) was the 7th vice president of the United States. Calhoun can also refer to: Surname * Calhoun (surname) Inhabited places in the United States *Calhoun, Georgia * Calhoun, Illinois *Calhoun, Kentucky * Calhoun, Louis ...

Clay Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolinite, ). Most pure clay minerals are white or light-coloured, but natural clays show a variety of colours from impuriti ...

, Columbia,

Dixie Dixie, also known as Dixieland or Dixie's Land, is a nickname for all or part of the Southern United States. While there is no official definition of this region (and the included areas have shifted over the years), or the extent of the area i ...

Duval Duval or DuVal is a surname, literally translating from French to English as "of the valley". It derives from the Norman "Devall", which has both English and French ties. Variant spellings include: Davolls, Deavall, DeVile, Devill, Deville, Div ...

, Escambia, Flagler,

Franklin Franklin may refer to: People and characters * Franklin (given name), including list of people and characters with the name * Franklin (surname), including list of people and characters with the name * Franklin (class), a member of a historic ...

, Gadsden, Gilchrist,

Gulf A gulf is a large inlet from an ocean or their seas into a landmass, larger and typically (though not always) with a narrower opening than a bay (geography), bay. The term was used traditionally for large, highly indented navigable bodies of s ...

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: * Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757–1804), first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States * ''Hamilton'' (musical), a 2015 Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda ** ''Hamilton'' (al ...

Holmes Holmes may refer to: People and fictional characters * Holmes (surname), a list of people and fictional characters ** Sherlock Holmes, a fictional detective * Holmes (given name), a list of people * Gordon Holmes, a penname used by Louis Trac ...

Jackson Jackson may refer to: Places Australia * Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region * Jackson North, Queensland, a locality in the Maranoa Region * Jackson South, Queensland, a locality in the Maranoa Region * Jackson oil field in Durham, ...

, Jefferson, Lafayette,

Leon Leon, Léon (French) or León (Spanish) may refer to: Places Europe * León, Spain, capital city of the Province of León * Province of León, Spain * Kingdom of León, an independent state in the Iberian Peninsula from 910 to 1230 and again fro ...

Levy Levy, Lévy or Levies may refer to: People * Levy (surname), people with the surname Levy or Lévy * Levy Adcock (born 1988), American football player * Levy Barent Cohen (1747–1808), Dutch-born British financier and community worker * Levy ...

Liberty Liberty is the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. The concept of liberty can vary depending on perspective and context. In the Constitutional ...

Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States * Madison (footballer), Brazilian footballer Places in the United States Populated places * Madi ...

, Nassau, Okaloosa, Putnam,

Santa Rosa Santa Rosa is the Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish name for Saint Rose. Santa Rosa may also refer to: Places Argentina *Santa Rosa, Mendoza, a city * Santa Rosa, Tinogasta, Catamarca * Santa Rosa, Valle Viejo, Catamarca *Santa Rosa, La Pampa * S ...

, St. Johns, Suwannee,

Taylor Taylor, Taylors or Taylor's may refer to: People * Taylor (surname) ** List of people with surname Taylor * Taylor (given name), including Tayla and Taylah * Taylor sept, a branch of Scottish clan Cameron * Justice Taylor (disambiguation) ...

, Union Wakulla, Walton, and

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

). Headquarters:

Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...

Website
Camps: *Camp Kateri is and two lakes in

Hawthorne, Florida Hawthorne () is a city in Alachua County, Florida, United States, incorporated in 1881. Indigenous peoples of the Americas had been living in the area since around 100 CE; Hawthorne grew around their trading trails. Throughout its history, Hawt ...

*Camp Kugelman in

Lillian, Alabama Lillian is an unincorporated community and census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. ...

*Fernandina Beach Little House in

Fernandina Beach, Florida Fernandina Beach is a city in and the county seat of Nassau County, Florida, Nassau County, Florida, United States, in the state's northeastern corner. It is the northernmost city on Florida's Atlantic coast, situated on Amelia Island, and is o ...

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida

Girl Scout programs were first established in Gulfcoast Florida in the mid-1920s. In 1962, the Caloosa Girl Scout Council, made up of Lee, Collier, and one-half of Hendry Counties, merged with the Gulfside Council (Manatee and Sarasota Counties) and incorporated independent troops in Charlotte County and DeSoto County, to form the Gulfcoast Council. The Council's name was changed to Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. in 1993, with expansion to cover ten counties and nearly 10,000 square miles. Today, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida serves 7,000 girls across Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier Counties. Headquarters: Sarasota, Florida
Website
Camps: *Camp Honi Hanta (Bradenton) *Camp Caloosa (North Fort Myers)

Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida

A new council formed by the merger of Girl Scouts of Broward County and Girl Scouts of Palm Glades Council. Headquarters:

Jupiter, Florida Jupiter is the northernmost town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. According to the 2020 US Census, the town had a population of 61,047. It is 84 miles north of Miami and 15 miles north of West Palm Beach, Florida, West Palm Beach. ...

;

Oakland Park, Florida Oakland Park, officially the City of Oakland Park, is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. It is part of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 6,166,488 people at the 2020 census. As of the 2020 United States census ...

website

Camps

Camp Welaka is a camp in

Jonathan Dickinson State Park Jonathan Dickinson State Park is a Florida State Park, and historic site located in Martin County, Florida, between Hobe Sound and Tequesta. The park includes the Elsa Kimbell Environmental Education and Research Center and a variety of natur ...

Tequesta The Tequesta, also Tekesta, Tegesta, Chequesta, Vizcaynos, were a Native American tribe on the Southeastern Atlantic coast of Florida. They had infrequent contact with Europeans and had largely migrated by the middle of the 18th century. Loca ...

. Facilities are provided for daytime and Troop/Group Camping for all age levels. A full-time camp ranger is on site. Camp Welaka facilities include a combination of both platform tent and cabin sites. A lodge is available for activities. There are 3 platform tent sites with 8 tents each sleeping 4. An additional platform tent site has 4 tents each sleeping 4. Cabins are available at 2 sites with 6 cabins each sleeping 4. Also, a cook's cabin, a double-wide unit sleeping 14 is available. A Unit House is located at each site for eating and activities. An ADA accessible Bunk House may also be reserved. Camp Nocatee just southwest of

Clewiston Clewiston is a city in Hendry County, Florida, United States. Its location is northwest of Fort Lauderdale on the Atlantic coastal plain. The population was 7,327 at the 2020 census, up from 7,155 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city in ...

is a camp with a lake, and a swimming pool. Facilities provide Troop/Group Camping for all age levels. A full-time camp ranger is on site. Camp Nocatee's facilities include a Camp Commons area that consists of Founder's Hall, an activity and dining center. It is equipped with a commercial kitchen. Only a certified food manager can use the commercial kitchen. There is also a Director's and a cook's cabin. In addition, an Arts and Crafts Center and Trading Post is on site. Camp Nocatee has six camp sites in all. For camp sites 1-5 there are 5 cabins per site each sleeping 8. Site 5 is ADA accessible. Tree Tops is site 6 – and has 3 cabins that are elevated on stilts each sleeping 8. Camp Telogia a camp situated in Parkland. Facilities are provided for daytime activities for Daisy's and daytime activities and Troop/Group Camping for all age levels. Camp Telogia has 2 platform tent sites and a Troop House. There are 9 platform tents sleeping 4 to a tent at one site and the other has 5 platform tents sleeping 4 each. Green Thumb, the Troop House, sleeps 20. Green Thumb is also ADA accessible. A day site is available for activities and can be used to pitch tents. These camps offer a variety of activities such as Core Camps, canoeing, swimming, archery, hiking and more. Canoeing and swimming are not available at Camp Telogia.

Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida

The Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida serves some 16,000 girls in Monroe and Miami-Dade counties. The first troop in Monroe was formed in 1921 and the first in Dade County in 1923. The council was chartered in 1929 and its founder was Judge

Edith Atkinson Edith Meserve Atkinson (November 20, 1890 - August 14, 1983) was the first female judge (juvenile court) in Dade County, Florida, from 1924 to 1932. She was also the founder of Girl Scouting in Miami, Florida. See also * Scouting in Florida *List ...

.
website

Camps

Camp Wesumkee belongs to the

Girl Scouts of the USA Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA), commonly referred to as Girl Scouts, is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. It was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912, a year after she ...

, and is part of the Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida, serving Miami, Florida. It is located on West Summerland Key in the Lower

, covering over of Atlantic ocean front. Camp Wesumkee is for experienced campers, offering opportunities for canoeing, snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, and nature observations in tidal pools. There are fields for tent use, and 11 chickees with bunk beds for six people each. The chickees have screen walls with shades for privacy. The Galley and Wheelhouse have kitchens and dining/activity areas. There are also fire circles and picnic tables. The camp hosts the

Winter Star Party The Winter Star Party, aka WSP, is an annual convention of amateur astronomers where the primary activity is nighttime astronomical observation. This February event is run at Camp Wesumkee located on Scout Key in the Lower Florida Keys. It is host ...

, usually in February, for amateur astronomers.

Hurricane Rita Hurricane Rita was the most intense tropical cyclone on record in the Gulf of Mexico, tying with Hurricane Milton in 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, 2024, as well as being the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. Part of the ...

and

Hurricane Wilma Hurricane Wilma was the most intense tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin and the second-most intense tropical cyclone in the Western Hemisphere, both based on barometric pressure, after Hurricane Patricia in 2015. Wilma's rapid intensifi ...

in 2005 both affected the camp. All structures were damaged to some degree, and storm surge left sand piled up across the camp.

Hurricane Irma Hurricane Irma was an extremely powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that was the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the Leeward Islands on record, followed by Hurricane Maria, Maria two weeks later. At the time, it was considered ...

in 2017, landing just 8 miles away, similarly damaged the camp. Camp Choee in Miami serves mainly as a day camp, though it has overnight capabilities, accommodating over 250 day campers across its . 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 Hurricane Andrew was a compact, but very powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that struck the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana in August 1992. It was the most destructive hurricane to ever hit Florida in terms of structures dama ...

; the replacement cabins have their own toilets 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) Hammock is a term used in the southeastern United States for stands of trees, usually hardwood, that form an ecological island in a contrasting ecosystem. Hammocks grow on elevated areas, often just a few inches high, surrounded by wetlands tha ...

, and serves as both a day camp and an overnight camp. It covers over , 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 is 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 overnight or 40 people for day activities. During the summer, the camp they run is called 'Camp Little House' and it is an 8-week summer program. They also have spring break camp (1 week) to attend.

Girl Scouts of West Central Florida

Girl Scouts of West Central Florida serves more than 28,000 girls in 8 Florida counties (Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sumter). It is a new council formed by the merger of Heart of Florida Girl Scout Council and Girl Scouts of Suncoast Council. In the 1960s the Suncoast Council established Camp Withlacoochee in the

Withlacoochee State Forest The Withlacoochee State Forest is in the western central part in the US state of Florida, near Lecanto, Inverness, Floral City, Brooksville, Ridge Manor, and Dade City. The forest was named for the Withlacoochee River, which passes thro ...

. Headquarters: Tampa, Florida
Website

International Scouting units in Florida

Cuban Cuban or Cubans may refer to: Related to Cuba * of or related to Cuba, a country in the Caribbean * Cubans, people from Cuba, or of Cuban descent ** Cuban exile, a person who left Cuba for political reasons, or a descendant thereof * Cuban Americ ...

Scouting in exile exists to this day in

Miami Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

as part of the Boy Scouts of America, where

Cuban-American Cuban Americans ( or ) are Americans who immigrated from or are descended from immigrants from Cuba. As of 2023, Cuban Americans were the fourth largest Hispanic and Latino Americans, Hispanic and Latino American group in the United States aft ...

Scouts are instrumental in annual

Lincoln Lincoln most commonly refers to: * Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the 16th president of the United States * Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England * Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S. * Lincoln (na ...

Martí Martí is a Catalan language, Catalan name and may refer to: People Surname *Antoni Martí (1963–2023), Andorran architect and politician *Cristóbal Martí (1903–1986), Spanish footballer *David Martí (born 1971), Spanish Oscar winner for be ...

celebrations.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scouting In Florida Youth organizations based in Florida

Southern Region (Boy Scouts of America)