Scouting in Georgia (U.S. state)


Scouting in Georgia 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. The state is home to many milestones for the Scouting movement. The Gordon Low Birthplace|Girl Scout birthplace] is located in Savannah, and President Jimmy Carter served as a Scoutmaster in Plains, Georgia.

Boy Scouts of America

History

Dating back to 1920, Boy Scouts of America was prominent in Georgia. Until 1974, some southern councils 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 Scouting.

Boy Scouts of America today

There are eleven active local BSA councils that serve Scouts in Georgia. Active councils, districts, and lodges are shown in green.

Atlanta Area Council

The Atlanta Area Council encompasses 13 counties in northern Georgia. The council office is currently located in Atlanta, Georgia.

Central Georgia Council

The Central Georgia Council serves 24 counties in central Georgia.

Chattahoochee Council

The Chattahoochee Council serves Scouts in Georgia and Alabama, with the Council office located in Columbus, Georgia. Active from 1964 to the present, the council's name refers to the Chattahoochee River, which flows through Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.
  • George H. Lanier District
  • Saugahatchee District
  • Muskogee District
  • Yellow Jacket District
OA lodge: chartered 1941 and still active. Absorbed Hiawassee Lodge #333 in 1963. Absorbed Wehadkee Lodge #273 in both 1964 and 1990.
  • Alapaha
  • Apatschin
  • Hiawassee
  • Si-tan-mico
  • Wehadkee
  • Weracoba
  • Wischixin

Cherokee Area Council

Cherokee Area Council serves Scouts in Tennessee and Georgia, with the council office located in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The John Ross District serves Northwest Georgia Walker, Catoosa and Dade Counties.
Website: www.CherokeeAreaBSA.com.
offers year-round and summer camping opportunities, www.Skymont.org.

Coastal Georgia Council

The Council office of the Coastal Georgia Council is located in Savannah, Georgia. It was formed on March 1, 2014 when the Coastal Empire Council and the Okefenokee Area Council merged.
Districts
  • Altamaha
  • Atlantic
  • Coastal
  • Satilla
  • Twin Rivers
    OA lodge
Tomo-Chi-Chi Lodge #119 chartered 1938 and merged with Pithlako Lodge with the 2014 merger into I-Tsu-La Lodge.
  • Blue Heron
  • Canoochee
  • Creek
  • Ogeechee
  • Allogagan
  • Guale
  • Tomo Chi Chi

Flint River Council

Flint River Council is headquartered in Griffin, Georgia.

Georgia-Carolina Council

Name active from 1941 to currently active. Council office located in Augusta, Georgia, includes districts in South Carolina and Georgia. Website:
  • Creek River District
  • Kiokee River District
  • Yamasee District
OA lodge: chartered 1936 and still active.
  • Creek River
  • Kiokee River
  • Yamasee

Northeast Georgia Council

Name active from 1935 to currently active. Council office located in Pendergrass, Georgia.
Districts:
  • Apalachee District serves northern Gwinnett County;
  • Chattahoochee District serves Barrow, Hall, and Jackson counties;
  • Cherokee district serves Hart, Elbert, Franklin, Madison, Clarke, Oglethorpe, Oconee, Morgan, and Greene counties;
  • Currahee District serves Banks, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens, and White counties;
  • Etowah District serves Forsyth, Dawson, and Lumpkin counties;
  • Mountain District serves Gilmer, Fannin, Towns, and Union counties;
  • Sweetwater District serves Walton and southern Gwinnett counties.
OA lodge: chartered in 1943 and still active.
  • Ani-gatogewi
  • Canantutlaga
  • Japeechen
  • Jutaculla
  • Lau In Nih
  • Machque
  • Yonah-hi
Camps:
  • Rainey Mountain
  • Scoutland
  • Rotary

Northwest Georgia Council

Northwest Georgia Council serves Scouts in northwest Georgia.

Suwannee River Area Council

The , active from 1924 to present, encompasses 13 counties in north Florida and south Georgia. The Council Service Center and central headquarters are in Tallahassee, Florida.

Girl Scouting today

The Girl Scout Birthplace is located in Savannah, Georgia, which was the Gordon family home that now provides tours to thousands of Scouts every year. Upon Juliette Gordon Low's death in 1927, she willed her carriage house, eventually named The Girl Scout First Headquarters, to the local Savannah Girl Scouts for continued use.
In 2008 the eight Girl Scout Councils in Georgia merged to form two councils. In addition Girl Scouts of Moccasin Bend headquartered in Tennessee covers Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker Counties in northwestern Georgia.

Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia

Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia was formed on May 1, 2008 by the merger of eight previous councils:
Girl Scouts, Central Savannah River Council;
Girl Scouts of Concharty Council;
Girl Scouts of Middle Georgia;
Girl Scouts of Northeast Georgia;
Girl Scouts of Southwest Georgia;
and The Girl Scout Council of Savannah, Georgia.
Though some counties in these old councils were moved to Girl Scouts
of Greater Atlanta. This council also covers part of South Carolina and Russell County in Alabama.
Headquarters: Lizella, Georgia

Website: http://www.gshg.org/
Camps:
  • Camp Low is on a barrier island, Rose Dhu Island, near Savannah
  • Camp Martha Johnston is in Lizella, Georgia and has been owned by the Girl Scouts since 1922.
  • Camp Robert Lewis is by Mulberry Falls near the Chattahoochee River.
  • Camp Tanglewood is in Augusta, Georgia
The following camps were closed in 2016 and either sold or their lease ended

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta serves about 42,000 girls and 17,000
adult volunteers in 34 counties of Greater Atlanta and a portion of
Polk County Tennessee. It was formed in 2008 by the merger of
Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia and Girl Scouts of Pine Valley
Council.
Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia

Website: http://www.girlscoutsatl.org/
Camps:
Former Camps: