Scouting in Oregon
Scouting in the U.S. state of Oregon includes the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts youth organizations, as well as newer organizations like the Baden-Powell Service Association.
Early history (1907–1950)
In 1916, the Portland Council was founded. It changed its name to the Portland Area Council in 1929. It changed its name again to the Columbia Pacific Council in 1966. It merged into the Cascade Pacific Council in 1993.In 1918, the Salem Council was founded. It changed its name to the Willamette District Council in 1923. It changed its name again to the Cascade Area Council in 1926.
In 1921, the Lagrande Council was founded. It closed in 1924.
In 1922, the Astoria Council was founded. It changed its name to the Clatsop County Council in 1923. In 1927, the Clatsop County Council merged into the Portland Area Council.
In 1922, the Corvallis Council was founded. It closed in 1924.
In 1922, Linn County Council was formed. It closed in 1924.
In 1924, the Bend Council was founded. It changed its name to the Central Oregon Council in 1925. It merged into Mid-Columbia Council in 1927.
In 1924, the Coos County Council was founded. It merged into the Douglas-Coos Council in 1926.
In 1924, The Dalles Council was founded. It changed its name to the Mid-Columbia Council in 1925. It changed its name to the Mid-Columbia-Deschutes Area Council in 1929. The council disbanded in 1934 and the area was served by Direct Service.
In 1924, the Douglas County Council was founded. It merged into the Douglas-Coos Council in 1926.
In 1924, the Klamath County Council was founded. It merged into Crater Lake Council in 1932.
In 1924, the Medford Council was founded. It changed its name to the Crater Lake Council in 1925.
In 1925, the Lane County Council was founded. It changed its name to the Wallamet Council in 1933. It changed its name again to the Oregon Trail Council in 1944.
In 1926, the Cascade Area Council was founded. It merged into the Cascade Pacific Council in 1993.
In 1926, the Douglas County Council was founded from the merger of the Coos County Council and the Douglas County Council. It merged into the Willamette Council in 1933.
In 1927, the Benlinncoln Council was founded. In 1931 it was split with one half of the council going to the Cascade Area Council and the other half going to the Lane County Council.
In 1936, the Modoc Area Council was founded. It merged into Crater Lake Council in 1993.
Recent history (1950–2010)
The Modoc Area Council merged into Crater Lake Council in 1993.The Columbia Pacific Council merged with the Cascade Area Council to make the Cascade Pacific Council in 1993.
Boy Scouting in Oregon
There are five BSA local councils serving communities in Oregon, although not all are headquartered in Oregon.Blue Mountain Council
The Blue Mountain Council serves Scouts in Washington and Oregon.Cascade Pacific Council
Cascade Pacific Council serves Scouts in eighteen counties of Oregon and Washington, includingOrganization
- Calapooia District
- Chinook District
- Eagle Valley District
- Fort Clatsop District
- Lewis & Clark District
- Mid-Columbia District
- Skyloo District
- Thunderbird District
- Tillamook District
- Tuality District
- Willamette District
Camps
- Aubrey Watzek Lodge, a winter recreation lodge on 12 acres of property leased from the US Forest Service
- , 680 acre property west of Dufur in the Mount Hood National Forest
- Butte Creek Scout Ranch, a 670-acre working horse ranch south of Scotts Mills
- * is a working ranch that doubles as a Cub Scout resident camp. Consisting of over 600 acres nestled near Scotts Mills, the property first opened as a summer camp in 1997. During the summers, it is a 3-day and 2-night camp for Cub Scouts ages 5–10. Unlike other resident Cub camps in the council, it has a Western theme every year. It is one of the few scout camps in the nation that includes a horse riding station. Throughout the property, cows, goats, chickens, and sometimes pigs are present. This property was also the first camp in the council to start a session for girls in the same age group. Originally started in 2007, the program was called "Sisters' Camp" and had the purpose of providing Cub Scout sisters with a similar experience to their brothers. Since 2019 the program serves girls and boys together during all summer sessions. The summer staff is primarily high school students. The property also doubles as the winter location for the council's 70+ head of horses. Twice a year, June and August, 50 of the horses are ridden between Camp Baldwin and Butte Creek along a beautiful route over Mount Hood. The Horse Trek is open to anyone over 13, although Scouts receive a discount. During the winter, Scouts can enjoy weekend horseback riding and camping on the property. The winters are staffed by a diverse group of volunteers who run rides and help maintain the property.
- , a second camp on the Meriwether Reservation near Tillamook
- , 240 acres property northwest of Willamina in the coastal forest
- Camp Ireland, 12-acre property in Hillsboro
- , 790 acre beachfront property south of Cape Lookout near Tillamook
- Nanitch Lodge, a winter recreation lodge on 8 acres of property leased from the US Forest Service
- Camp Lewis, 116 acre property near Battleground, Washington
- Camp Pioneer, 48 acre property east of Salem in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, leased from the US Forest Service
- Royce-Finel, 17 acre property near Astoria
- Sea Scout Base, one acre along the Columbia River near Portland International Airport
Order of the Arrow
- Wauna La-Mon'tay Lodge #442 Members provide thousands of hours of service every year to Cascade Pacific Council's camps.
Crater Lake Council
Organization
- Big Pines District serves Jackson County, Oregon
- Fremont District serves Crook, Jefferson and Deschutes counties in Oregon
- Klamath District serves Klamath County, Oregon, Lake County, Oregon and Modoc County, California
- Roaring Rogue District serves Josephine County, Oregon
- Siskiyou District serves Siskiyou County, California
- Pacific Rivers District serves Humboldt County, California
- Redwood Gate District serves Del Norte County, California
Camps
- Camp Makualla is located on the shores of Crescent Lake in the heart of the Cascades and the Deschutes National Forest.
- Camp McLoughlin is located on the northwestern shoreline of Lake of the Woods of the Fremont-Winema National Forests.
Order of the Arrow
- Lo La 'Qam Geela Lodge #491
Ore-Ida Council
Oregon Trail Council
The Oregon Trail Council serves more than 5,000 youth, supported by over 2,300 adults in over 260 units. We serve 6 counties in Western Oregon from the Cascades to the Coast including Eugene, Springfield, Corvallis, Roseburg, and Coos Bay. Scouts are served along the famous Oregon Coast from Lincoln City to Brookings.Organization
- Benton District serves Benton County
- Cascade District serves Springfield, Cottage Grove, and eastern Lane County
- Chinook District serves Coos County
- Doug Fir District serves Douglas County
- serves Eugene and western Lane County
- Wacoma District serves Curry County
- Yaquina District serves Lincoln County
Camps
- * Our flagship camp located on a private peninsula on Siltcoos Lake just outside the coastal town of Florence, Oregon. Camp Baker has been serving Scouting and western Oregon for 50 years with a high-caliber open program. Troops come from as far away as eastern Oregon, Montana, Washington, Idaho and California. 17 great meals are served from the Kenneth Ford Dining Hall. Camp Baker is a popular destination for outdoor schools, church groups and family reunions. Wheelchair-accessible campsites and cabins are available.
- * High in the heart of the Cascades, Scouts and Scouters alike find the pinnacle of what Scouting offers. We help your troop focus on the patrol method, key skills, rank advancement and high-country wilderness adventure. The program at Camp Melakwa is tailored to promoting adventure. Our structured morning merit badge sessions give way to afternoons of exploration. Enjoy open archery, rifle, and shotgun ranges, as well as open areas in waterfront, nature, and Scoutcraft. The call of the mountain and endless trails will be a constant allure.
- ** Climb the Middle Sister or descend into an ancient lava tube.
- ** Swim, snorkel, SUP, kayak, canoe, row, and fish in our surprisingly warm crystal-clear lake.
- ** Attain rank on the Trail to First Class.
- ** Climb and rappel on natural rock.
- ** Day hike to one of the many surrounding lakes.
- Camp Murnane
- Marion Mooney Scout Ranch
- Kitson Hot Springs
- Weyerhaeuser Woods
Order of the Arrow
-
Girl Scouting in Oregon
Girl Scouts of Silver Sage
Serves girls in Malheur County, Oregon with headquarters in Boise, Idaho.Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington
Formed by the merger of Girl Scouts - Columbia River Council, Girl Scouts of Santiam Council, Girl Scouts of Western Rivers Council, and Girl Scouts of Winema Council in October 2008.Service centers in Oregon
- Bend
- Eugene
- Medford
- Portland
- Albany Program Center is located in a residential section of Albany.
- Lebanon Program Center is a converted schoolhouse located in Lebanon.
- Newport Program Center is located in residential Newport near the beach and the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
- Seaside Program Center is located in residential Seaside near the beach.
Summer resident camps
- Camp Arrowhead is located in the Gorge near Stevenson, Washington. Camp Arrowhead has 260 acres of forest, meadows, trails, and a lake. It was opened in 1948.
- Camp Cleawox is located two miles south of Florence in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. This site is situated on a freshwater lake. Girl Scouts first started camping there before 1930 and in 1938/1939 substantial work was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The property was also leased by other groups until 1949.
- Camp Whispering Winds is located in the forested hills of Kings Valley. The camp includes and a central lake.
- The Homestead Outdoor Program Center is located on the historically significant Creighton Homestead in Rhododendron at the base of Mount Hood.
- Mountaindale Outdoor Program Center is located off Sunset Highway in North Plains. Mountaindale has of woods, a meadow, and a pond.
- Ruth Hyde Outdoor Program Center is about seven miles west of Grants Pass.
Baden-Powell Service Association in Oregon