Scouting in Utah 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.
History
The first known Boy Scout Troop was the Episcopalian Troop One led by Reverend Rice, a missionary to Utah. This troop assembled in 1907 and continued their meetings and camp-outs through 1910. The second known Boy Scout Troop got its start in Logan, Utah in 1910. On 21 May 1913, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 15-month-old "Mutual Improvement Association Scout" program was officially invited to join the Boy Scouts of America. This started the first widespread movement in Utah Scouting. By 1928, the LDS Church had designated Scouting as the official activity program for its young men. The Ogden Council was in existence in 1919. In 1920, Scout Executive, G.A. Goates, led 85 boys and Scoutmasters on a 14-day hike through Yellowstone National Park. According to the Department of the Interior, 3,800 feet of motion picture film was taken of the trip. In 1919 the Great Salt Lake and Lake Bonneville Councils were formed. Later, in 1921 the Utah County Council was formed. Until its withdrawal in 2019, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints remained a major sponsor of Scouting in Utah, however churches of other faiths, and other non-profit organizations continue to be sponsors of Utah Scouting programs. Most, if not all troops welcome those of all faiths to their program. Until 1993, the Lake Bonneville Council and Cache Valley Council covered northern Utah. Those councils became part of the Trapper Trails Council. Along with the Great Salt Lake Council of central Utah and the Utah National Parks Council of southern Utah, the Trapper Trails Council became part of the Crossroads of the West Council in 2020 following the withdrawal of the LDS Church from scouting.
Camp Fife is located on the Bear River near Cutler Dam, just outside Fielding, Utah
Camp New Fork is located on the lower New Fork lake just outside Cora, Wyoming.
Camp Browning is located in Huntsville, Utah, about from Salt Lake City.
Great Southwest Council
The Great Southwest Council of BSA is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and provides Scouting to youth in northern New Mexico, northeast Arizona, Utah south of the Colorado River, and the Durango and Mesa Verde areas of Colorado.
Snake River Council
Snake River Council serves Scouts in Idaho and Nevada, as well as Utah.
Girl Scouting in Utah started in 1920 in Ogden, Utah and the first troops registered in Salt Lake City in 1921. In 1961 the current major council in Utah, Girl Scouts of Utah, was founded by the merging of several smaller councils.
Camp Cloud Rim is at over by Lake Brimhall in the Wasatch Mountains near Park City, Utah. It was built by the Utah Works Progress Administration in the early 1930s. Originally named Camp Pinar, it was renamed to Camp Cloud Rim in 1937. The Lodge was destroyed by fire in 1992 but rebuilt and named the Janet Quinney Lawson Lodge. The new lodge was dedicated on August 14, 1999, and Janet Quinney Lawson was in attendance for the ceremony. In 2013, the Girl Scouts of Utah council officially bought 236 acres of land just south of Cloud Rim from Silver Islet Lake Partners. The land has a conservation easement on all but 18 acres, so the Girl Scouts plan to build some rustic cabins, but will mostly preserve the land.
Trefoil Ranch is near Provo, Utah. It was built in 1943 by volunteers. In 2002, a new lodge was built and dedicated in 2003 featuring new restrooms, a classroom facility, and a new showerhouse.
