Scouting in Illinois has served youth since 1909. The state was the home 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 million youth, including nearly 200,000 female participants. Founded as the Boy Sco ...

(BSA) founder,

William D. Boyce William Dickson Boyce (June 16, 1858 – June 11, 1929) was an American newspaper man, entrepreneur, magazine publisher, and explorer. He was the founder of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and the short-lived Lone Scouts of America (LSA). ...

Early history (1910 – 1950)

In 1946, the National Order of the Arrow Lodge Meeting was held at

Chanute Field Chanute may refer to: *Chanute, Kansas, United States **Chanute High School *Octave Chanute Octave Chanute (February 18, 1832 – November 23, 1910) was a French-American civil engineer and aviation pioneer. He advised and publicized many aviat ...

Recent history (1950 – Present)

The 1963 and 1971 National Order of the Arrow Conferences were held at the

University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, U of I, Illinois, or University of Illinois) is a public land-grant research university in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area, Illinois, United States. Established in 1867, it is the f ...

. In 2007, Lincoln Trails Council ran a

Scoutreach Scoutreach was a division of the Boy Scouts of America that emphasized service to rural and urban areas and to minority populations. It became the All Markets Strategy. The African American Focus works with African American populations in partners ...

program in inner city areas. Boys are offered constructive, fun activities and learn about scouting. The Lewis and Clark Council was formed from the 2009 merger of Okaw Valley Council (OVC) and Trails West Council (TWC). The Lewis & Clark council had its headquarters in Belleville, Illinois. The council owned four camps: Camp Joy in

Carlyle, Illinois Carlyle is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,253 at the 2020 census. Carlyle is located approximately east of St. Louis, Missouri, and is home to Illinois' largest man-made lake, Ca ...

, Camp Sunnen in

Potosi, Missouri Potosi is a city and the county seat of Washington County, Missouri, United States. Potosi is southwest of St. Louis. The population was 2,538 as of the 2020 census. Located in the Lead Belt, the city was founded in 1763 by French colonists as ...

, Camp Warren Levis in

Godfrey, Illinois Godfrey is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 17,825 at the 2020 census. Godfrey is located within the River Bend portion of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. History The village is named for Captai ...

, and Camp Vandeventer in

Waterloo, Illinois Waterloo is a city in and county seat of Monroe County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,013 at the 2020 census, up from 9,811 in 2010. Geography Waterloo is located northeast of the center of Monroe County at (38.335243, -90.15 ...

. There were six districts in the Lewis & Clark Council: the Illini District, Black Gold District, Kaskaskia District, Cahokia Mounds District, Piasa Bird District, and St. Clair District. Okaw Valley Council and the Trails West Council merged in 2009 to create the Lewis & Clark Council. The two councils from which Lewis & Clark was formed were themselves the product of mergers. The Trails West Council was founded in 1991 when the Piasa Bird Council and the Cahokia Mounds Council joined. The Okaw Valley Council was somewhat older at the time of the merger; it was formed in 1965 following the consolidation of the Kaskaskia Council and the Mississippi Valley Council. In April 2014, the following councils announced that they would merge: * Calumet Council * Chicago Area Council * Des Plaines Valley Council * Northwest Suburban Council The merged council was named the Pathway to Adventure Council. In September 2016 the Lewis and Clark Council voted to merge with the Greater St. Louis Area Council, effective January 1, 2017. The Lincoln Trails Council had its headquarters in

Decatur, Illinois Decatur ( ) is the largest city in Macon County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. The city was founded in 1829 and is situated along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ...

, and was served by Woapink Lodge #167 (founded in 1955). The council merged into the Greater Saint Louis Area Council on January 1, 2019.

Boy Scouts of America Today

There are 14

(BSA) local councils in

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

Councils

Abraham Lincoln Council

Abraham Lincoln Council is headquartered in Springfield, Illinois and serves central

. It operates Camp Bunn in Hettick, Illinois, Camp Illinek in

Springfield, Illinois Springfield is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Illinois. Its population was 114,394 at the 2020 United States census, which makes it the state's List of cities in Illinois, seventh-most populous cit ...

and is served by the Illinek Order of the Arrow Lodge #132. The three districts in the council are: * Honest Abe District (serving Cass, Morgan, Scott & northern half of Green Counties) * Lincoln Home District (serving Sangamon & Menard Counties) * Log Cabin / Railsplitter District (serving Montgomery and the western 3/4 of Christian County & the northern half of Macoupin County) The U.S. Scouting Service Project maintains the ScoutCamp.org website which provides general information and a place for leader comments on the two camps operated by the Abraham Lincoln Council at Camp Bunn and Camp Illinek.

Blackhawk Area Council

Blackhawk Area Council is headquartered in

Rockford, Illinois Rockford is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, Winnebago and Ogle County, Illinois, Ogle counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located in far northern Illinois on the banks of the Rock River (Mississippi River tributary), Rock River, Rockfor ...

and serves southwestern

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

and northwestern

. It operates Canyon Camp, located between Stockton and

Apple River, Illinois Apple River is a village in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, United States. Located on the southern border of Lafayette County, Wisconsin. The population was 347 at the 2020 census, down from 366 in 2010. History The first home built in Apple Ri ...

, and Camp Lowden near

Oregon, Illinois Oregon ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ogle County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,721 in 2010.U.S. Census BureaPopulation, Age, Sex, Race, Households/ref> History The land Oregon, Illinois was founded on was previously h ...

, and is served by Wulapeju Lodge #140. The Council was formed by the merging of the U.S. Grant Council in the west and Blackhawk Council in the east portion of what is now the Blackhawk Area Council. Formerly, the two councils each had one camp. The council also owns a cabin in

Mount Carroll, Illinois Mount Carroll is a city in and the county seat of Carroll County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,479 at the 2020 census. History Mount Carroll began life as a mill town around 1841. In 1843, a referendum moved the county seat fro ...

. The word Wulapeju (one spirit) refers to the merger of the Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak (Chief Blackhawk's name) Lodge and Wetassa Lodge #227 as part of the council merger. * Pioneer District (merge of Arrowhead and Wetassa Districts in 2022) * Sycamore District * Wanchanagi District * White Eagle District

Buffalo Trace Council

Buffalo Trace Council is based in

Evansville, Indiana Evansville is a city in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 118,414 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is Indiana's List of cities in Indiana, third-most populous city after India ...

that serves southwestern

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

and southeastern

. Its affiliated Order of the Arrow lodge is Kiondaga Lodge.

Glacier's Edge Council

Sinnissippi Council served Scouts in

and Illinois, before it merged with Four Lakes Council. It is now called Glacier's Edge Council and is headquartered in

Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the List of municipalities in Wisconsin by population, second-most populous city in the state, with a population of 269,840 at the 2020 Uni ...

Greater Saint Louis Area Council

The Greater Saint Louis Area Council is headquartered in

Saint Louis, Missouri St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...

, and serves almost 70,000 Scouts in the Saint Louis metro area, southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, central Illinois, and eastern Illinois. The Greater Saint Louis Area Council merged with the Lewis and Clark Council in January 2017 and the Lincoln Trails Council in January 2019.

Illowa Council

The Illowa Council serves Scouts in western

and eastern Iowa in the

Quad Cities The Quad Cities is a region of five cities (originally Tri-Cities, later four, see #History, History) in the U.S. states of Iowa and Illinois: Davenport, Iowa, Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa, Bettendorf (the fifth to be included) in southeaster ...

area. Konepaka Ketiwa Lodge #38 (part of Section C-3A) is the Order of the Arrow lodge that serves this council. * Hoover District * Inali District * Kittan District * Mesquakie District * Saukenuk District

Lincoln Heritage Council

Lincoln Heritage Council serves Scouts in

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

, Illinois (Hardin, Massac, and Pope counties), and

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 ...

Mississippi Valley Council

Mississippi Valley Council, headquartered in

Quincy, Illinois Quincy ( ) is a city in Adams County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. Located on the Mississippi River, the population was 39,463 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 40,633 in 2010. The Quincy, Illinois, mic ...

, is served by Black Hawk Lodge 67. This council serves Scouts in

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

, and

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

with two camps, Camp Saukenauk and Camp Eastman. The council merged in 1993 with the Saukee Area Council and the Southeastern Iowa Council.

Northeast Illinois Council

Northeast Illinois Council has its headquarters in

Vernon Hills, Illinois Vernon Hills is a suburb north of Chicago, Illinois in Lake County, Illinois, Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 26,850 at the 2020 census. Vernon Hills serves as a retail hub for its surrounding area (Libertyville, Illinois ...

. It runs Camp Sol R. Crown in

Trevor, Wisconsin Trevor is a community in the village of Salem Lakes in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States. Trevor is south of Paddock Lake. Trevor has a post office A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail services, suc ...

, Camp Oakarro near

Wadsworth, Illinois Wadsworth is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 3,517. It is named after E. S. Wadsworth, who was a major stockholder for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, which pas ...

, and Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Scout Reservation near Pearson, Wisconsin. The council is served by Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Lodge #40. The Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Scout Reservation is located in northern Wisconsin and serves the Scouts of the Northeast Illinois Council based in

. Originally a logging camp, the scouts purchased the land and first had campers in 1929. The camp serves over 2,300 scouts each summer. Scouts attending Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan have the opportunity to work on merit badges, attend programs, and boat, swim, or fish on Lake Killian. Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan also operates a nationally accredited high adventure base that offers units 11 trek opportunities. Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan, as of 2014, had a perfect BSA accreditation rating. Northeast Illinois Council is composed of three districts: * Aptakisic District * North Star District * Potawatomi District In addition, the council's Order of the Arrow lodge is split into three chapters with the same boundaries as its districts: * Yakwahay Chapter (North Star) * Namachani Chapter (Potawatomi) * Aptakisic Chapter (Aptakisic)

Pathway to Adventure Council

Pathway to Adventure Council is headquartered in

Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. On January 1, 2015 the Chicago Area Council, Des Plaines Valley Council, Northwest Suburban Council, and Calumet Council merged. Each of the predecessor councils have been reorganized as "Communities" with each maintaining their service centers as well as event and training schedules.

Camps

The council operates two camps: Camp Frank S. Betz in

Berrien Springs, Michigan Berrien Springs is a village in Berrien County, Michigan, Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,910 at the time of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The village is located within Oronoko Charter Township, Mi ...

, and

Owasippe Scout Reservation Owasippe Scout Reservation (OSR), located in Twin Lake, Michigan is the resident camp operated by the Pathway to Adventure Council (formerly Chicago Area Council) of Boy Scouts of America Scouting America is the largest scouting organizat ...

in Twin Lake, Michigan.

Prairielands Council

Prairielands Council serves Scouts in east central Illinois and western Indiana.

Rainbow Council

Rainbow Council is headquartered in

Lockport, Illinois Lockport is a city in Will County, Illinois, United States, located 30 miles southwest of Chicago. Per the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 26,094. The city was incorporated in 1853. It is situated along the Illinois a ...

. It serves communities in Will, Grundy, and Kankakee counties. Rainbow Council operates Rainbow Scout Reservation (RSR) near Morris, Illinois. This over 600-acre property hosts year-round camping, including Scouts BSA and Cub Scout resident camping. RSR runs a Scouts BSA summer camp and Cub Scout resident camps each summer. Programs at RSR include a camper program, expanded programs for older scouts, and over 50 merit badges. The council used to own and operated Camp Theakiki(sold 2023) near

Kankakee, Illinois Kankakee ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. Located on the Kankakee River, as of 2020, the city's population was 24,052. Kankakee is a principal city of the Kankakee-Bourbonnais-Bradley, IL MSA, Kan ...

. Rainbow Council is served by Waupecan Lodge #197. * Ishkote District (South I 80) * Waapi Lenaswa District (North I 80)

Three Fires Council

Three Fires Council is located in St. Charles, Illinois. In 1992, it was formed from the merger of Two Rivers Council and DuPage Area Council (named for

DuPage County DuPage County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, and one of the collar counties of the Chicago metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 932,877, making it Illinois' second-most populous county. Its county seat ...

); it was briefly called "Two Rivers-DuPage Area Council." Its council service center is located in St. Charles, Illinois. Three Fires operates Camp Big Timber near Elgin, Illinois, and Scout Shops in St. Charles, Illinois, and

Naperville, Illinois Naperville ( ) is a city in DuPage County, Illinois, DuPage and Will County, Illinois, Will counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is a southwestern suburb of Chicago located west of the city on the DuPage River. As of the 2020 United State ...

. The council is divided into 3 districts based on location.

Organization

*Chippewa District *Ottawa District *Potawatomi District

W. D. Boyce Council

The W. D. Boyce Council serves youth in central Illinois, from Lincoln to Ottawa, and Peoria to Bloomington.

Girl Scouting in Illinois

There are five councils based in Illinois, though a small part of northern Winnebago County is served by Girl Scouts of Wisconsin - Badgerland Council

Girl Scouts of Central Illinois

Girl Scouts of Central Illinois serves over 20,000 girls and has nearly 5,000 adult volunteers. It was formed by the merger of Girl Scouts of Centrillio Council, Girl Scouts-Kickapoo Council, Girl Scouts of Two Rivers Council, Shemamo Girl Scout Council of Illinois, Girl Scouts, Land of Lincoln Council, and Girl Scouts of Green Meadows Council. Regions: * Bloomington covers Livingston, Logan and McLean counties * Champaign covers Champaign, Douglas, Ford, Iroquois, and Vermillion counties * Decatur covers Christian, DeWitt, Macon, Moultries, Piatt, and Shelby counties * Peoria covers Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell, and Woodford counties * Quincy covers Adams, Brown, Pike, and Schulyer counties * Springfield covers Cass, Greene, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Sangamon, and Scott counties * Macomb covers Fulton, Hancock, and McDonough counties * Peru covers Bureau, LaSalle, and Putnam counties

Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois

Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois serves 20,000 girls and has 5,000 adult volunteers in Eastern Iowa and Rock Island, Mercer, Henderson, Warren, Knox, Henry, and Jo Daviess counties in Illinois. Formed by the merger of Girl Scouts of Conestoga Council, Girl Scouts Little Butt Council, Girl Scouts of the Mississippi Valley, and Girl Scouts of Shining Trail Council.

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana serves more than 55,000 girls and 21,000 adult volunteers. It is the largest Girl Scout council by membership in the United States. It includes Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kankakee, Lake and Will counties in Illinois and Jasper, Lake, Newton, and Porter counties in Indiana. It was formed by the merger of Girl Scouts of the Calumet Council Indiana, Girl Scouts of Chicago, Drifting Dunes Girl Scout Council, Girl Scouts of DuPage County Council, Girl Scouts — Illinois Crossroads Council, Girl Scouts — Prairie Winds, Girl Scouts of South Cook County, and Girl Scouts of Trailways Council on July 1, 2008.

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois was formed on October 1, 2009 from a merger of Fox Valley, Rock River Valley, Green Hills, and Sybaquay councils. The council serves Kane, Kendall, McHenry, DeKalb, Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson, Ogle, Lee, Jo Daviess, Carroll and Whiteside counties.

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois

The council serves around 14,000 girls in southern Illinois. It was formed in October 2009 from a merger of River Bluffs and Shagbark Councils.

Scouting museums in Illinois

* Ottawa Scouting Museum,

Ottawa, Illinois Ottawa is a city in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States, and its county seat. It is located at the confluence of the navigable Fox River (Illinois River tributary), Fox River and Illinois River, the latter being a conduit for river barges and ...

International Scouting units in Illinois

There were Belarusian Scouts in Exile in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

through the 1980s, and

Lietuvos skautų sąjunga Lietuvos skautų sąjunga (LSS, ''Scout Association of Lithuania'') is one of Lithuania's Scouting organizations. The organization serves about 1,300 members as of 2008. History LSS claims to be the oldest Scouting organization in Lithuania. I ...

still exists there.

Külföldi Magyar Cserkészszövetség Külföldi Magyar Cserkészszövetség (''Hungarian Scout Association in Exteris'') is a Scouts-in-Exile organization created for youth of Hungarian descent. Scouting makes it possible for young men and women to learn more about their Hungaria ...

Hungarian Scouting also maintains a troop in Chicago and there are large contingents of active

Plast The Plast National Scout Organization of Ukraine (), commonly called Ukrainian Plast or simply , is the largest Scouting organization in Ukraine. History First Era: 1911–1920 Plast was founded in Lviv (Lwów, Lemberg), Austro-Hungarian Ga ...

Ukrainian Scouts in Chicago.

References

Central Region (Boy Scouts of America)