Scouting in New Jersey


Scouting in New Jersey 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 second Boy Scouts of America National Headquarters was in North Brunswick, although it was referred to in BSA publications as being in neighboring New Brunswick.

Early history (1910–1950)

Camp Glen Gray, located in Bergen County, New Jersey has been continually active since 1917, and was originally located in a valley in the Ramapo Mountains in New Jersey. Camp Glen Gray is named after Frank Fellows Gray, a well known early professional Scouter of that area. It was selected and developed by Gray to give a permanent summer camp for Scouts, and the camp is the first purpose-built Scout camp in New Jersey. Prior Scout summer camping experiments were typically temporary affairs at farm fields or church camps. Frank Gray was one of America's earliest Scoutmasters, having started Troop 4 in Montclair, New Jersey, known as the "Lord Baden-Powell Troop" in March 1909. He also created an honor program that was used in New Jersey and in the Brooklyn Council called "Senior Division". The camp ultimately reached a size of about and was operated by Eagle Rock Council, then Essex Council, and finally Northern New Jersey Council. In 2003, the camp was sold to the Bergen County Parks Commission and operated through a management agreement by the non-profit group Friends of Glen Gray, and is supported by a group of volunteers known as the "Old Guard". While no longer an "official" Boy Scout Camp, it does continue to host a large number of Scouting groups and activities throughout the year, as well as hosting a summer day camp for an area special-needs school.
Notable Scout Walter Marty Schirra, Jr. earned the rank of First Class in Troop 36 in Oradell, New Jersey. He was one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts. He was also the only person to fly in all of America's first three space programs.
Cub Scouting Origins – To begin including younger boys to Scouting, James E. West approved the formation of the Boy Rangers of America, a separate organization for boys eight through twelve based on an American Indian theme. The Boy Rangers used the Scout Law and Chief Guide Emerson Brooks was a Boy Scout commissioner in Montclair, New Jersey. The BSA finally began some experimental Cubbing units in 1928 and in 1930 the BSA began registering the first Cubbing packs, and the Boy Rangers were absorbed. The Cub Scouting program used elements of Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book series, with the Cubmaster taking the role of Akela and the assistant Cubmaster the role of Baloo. The American program also syncretized American Indian elements, with all Cub Scouts belonging to the Webelos tribe, symbolized by the Arrow of Light and led by Akela. Webelos was also an acronym meaning Wolf, Bear, Lion, Scout. The initial rank structure was Wolf, Bear and Lion, with ages of 9, 10 and 11. Dens of six to eight Cubs were entirely led by a Boy Scout holding the position of den chief.
Mortimer L. Schiff – After a long tenure as vice-president of the BSA beginning in 1910, during which he also appeared on the cover of Time magazine on February 14, 1927, Mortimer L. Schiff was elected as president in 1931, but died after serving one month and Walter Head returned until 1946. Schiff's mother purchased and donated of land in New Jersey and donated it to the BSA, thus creating Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation as a national training center. Both Mortimer and his son, John M. Schiff, received the Silver Buffalo Award from the BSA.
William "Green Bar Bill" Hillcourt – William Hillcourt was one of the BSA's most prolific writers. He wrote numerous articles for Boys' Life and Scouting magazines, including a column aimed at patrol leaders under the by-line of "Patrol Leader Green Bar Bill". At least 12,610,000 copies of his three editions of the Boy Scout Handbook were printed. Hillcourt died in Europe while on a Scouting tour in 1992. He is buried with his wife Grace in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Mendham, New Jersey at Row 8, Block I, to be near Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation as he had lived for so many years. His legacy in Scouting and his influence continue in the programs and training of Scouting. Consequently, his writings are still used within the Scouting movement and his material continues to be reprinted in Scouting magazine. The Hiawatha Seaway Council operates the William Hillcourt Scout Museum at Camp Woodland in New York to "keep the traditions of Scouting alive" through the preservation of the history that is a foundation for today's Scouting movement
Order of the Arrow – The first Order of the Arrow ceremony for the Vigil Honor was held in New Jersey by E. Urner Goodman using Scouts from the Treasure Island Scout Reservation. The 1925 and 1936 National Order of the Arrow Lodge Meetings were held at Treasure Island, New Jersey.

Recent history (1950–1990)

In 1954, the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America moved its National Headquarters from New York City to a new site at the southwest corner of U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 130 in North Brunswick, New Jersey, although the location appeared in BSA publications as "New Brunswick". The Johnston Historical Museum and a conservation education trail were also located there. The national headquarters moved to Irving, Texas in 1979.

Boy Scouting in New Jersey today

There are seven Boy Scouts of America local councils active in New Jersey.

Washington Crossing Council

The Washington Crossing Council serves scouts in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and scouts in two districts located in Western New Jersey that were transferred from the former Central New Jersey Council: The Mercer Area District in Mercer County, New Jersey and the Hunterdon Arrowhead District in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

Garden State Council

Southern New Jersey Council and Burlington County Council merged to form this new council as of January 1, 2013.

Camps

Lenape Lodge #8, a merger of Te'kening 37 and Hunnikick 76

Jersey Shore Council

The Jersey Shore Council serves all of Ocean County and Atlantic County, and part of Burlington and Cape May Counties.

Minsi Trails Council

The Minsi Trails Council serves Scouts of eastern Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley and Pocono, plus Warren County New Jersey.

Monmouth Council

Northern New Jersey Council

The Northern New Jersey Council serves Scouting in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties. The council is divided into three districts: Three Rivers, Ramapo Valley, and Lenape Trail. In 2013, this council served over 13,000 youths.

Patriots' Path Council

The Patriots' Path Council includes Morris, Sussex, Somerset, Middlesex, and Union counties.

Girl Scouting in New Jersey

New Jersey is divided into four councils that were created by
rearrangement of the previous eleven councils in 2007.

Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey

The Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ covers a bit more than nine counties
and serves over 27,000 girls and 11,000 adults. The council includes 3 service centers, 6 camps and 2 mobile resource centers. It was formed by the merger of Camden, Delaware-Raritan, and South Jersey Pines Councils on October 1, 2007. Planned merger date was July 1, 2007, but due to Delaware-Raritan's changed vote, the councils merged on October 1, 2007.
Headquarters: Cherry Hill, NJ
Service Centers:
Camps:
Past Camps:
Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey serves 17,000 plus girls in Hudson, Essex, Union, Somerset, Hunterdon, Southern Warren and parts of Middlesex counties. It was formed by the merger of Great Essex and Hudson Counties, Rolling Hills, and Washington Rock councils.
Headquarters: Westfield, NJ
Service Centers:
Camps:
Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore serves some 16,000 girls and has 6,000
adult volunteers in Ocean and most of Monmouth counties. Created in
July 2007 by the merger of Monmouth and Ocean County Councils.
Headquarters: Farmingdale, New Jersey
Service Centers:
Camps:
Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey serves 20.5% of girls aged 5–17 in
160 municipalities including all of Bergen, Morris, Passaic, and
Sussex counties and the northern half of Warren County. As of 2011 there were
33,795 girl members and 17,395 adult members. It was formed on October 1, 2007 by the
merger of Bergen, Leni-Lenape, and Morris Area Girl Scout Councils.
Headquarters: Riverdale, NJ
Service Centers:
Resource Center:
Camps:
Camp Mogisca was sold in 2010.

Discontinued Girl Scout Councils

The following New Jersey councils ceased to exist in 2007/2008 due to mergers.
maintains two troops each in Passaic, New Jersey and New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Scouting Museums in New Jersey

The New Jersey Scout Museum in Morganville was established as an independent non-profit in 2004 and concentrates on history of Scouting in New Jersey.