Scouting in Ohio

Scouting in Ohio has a long history, from the 1908 to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.
Recent history (1950–1990).
In 1952 and again in 1975 the National Order of the Arrow Conference was held at Miami University.
Present Day (2016-).
In 2016, an effort was started to consolidate councils in Northeast Ohio as of January 1, 2017. Heart of Ohio and Greater Western Reserve Councils' northern districts merged with Greater Cleveland Council. Heart of Ohio's southern districts have merged with Buckeye Council. Greater Western Reserve Councils southern districts have merged with Great Trail Council.
Order of the Arrow Lodge mergers will be completed following the Section C-4A conclave in May at Camp Manatoc
Boy Scouts of America in Ohio today.
In the 1990s, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) went through a restructuring in an attempt to reduce manpower, and in several states small historic Councils were merged into a larger "supercouncil". The Simon Kenton Council is an example of such a supercouncil.
There are twelve Boy Scouts of America local councils in Ohio.
Allohak Council.
Allohak Council (#818) was founded in 1991. It was composed of six districts and served parts of West Virginia and Ohio. The council headquarters was in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
The Allohak Council was disbanded on December 31, 2018.
Black Swamp Area Council.
Black Swamp Area Council was created in 1992. It is composed of six districts and covers thirteen counties in Ohio. The council headquarters is in Findlay, Ohio with an additional service center in Lima, Ohio.
History.
In 1920, the Defiance Council (#446) was formed, in 1922 the Van Wert Council (#463) was formed, and in 1919 the Lima Council (#452) was formed. In 1926 Defiance, Lima and Van wert merged to form the Shawnee Area Council (#452). In 1923, the Hancock County Council (#449) was formed, and in 1915 the Tiffin Council was formed. In 1930, Hancock County and Tiffin merged to become the Put-Han-Sen Area Council (#449). In 1992, Shawnee Area and Put-Han-Sen Area merged to become the Black Swamp Area Council (#449).
Buckeye Council.
Buckeye Council (#436) serves Ohio and parts of northern West Virginia.
Dan Beard Council.
Dan Beard Council was created in 1956. It is composed of eight districts and serves Scouts in twelve counties in southern Ohio and northern Kentucky. The council is served by the Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge of the Order of the Arrow.
History.
The Middletown Area Council (#454) was first formed as a provisional (second class) council in 1917. In 1920 it was granted full council status. It initially served the city of Middletown. In 1928, the territory of the Middletown Area Council was expanded to include all of Warren County as well as Lemon, Liberty, Madison and Union Townships from Butler County. In 1926, the land for Camp Hook was donated to the council. The camp opened in 1927 and operated until 1991. In 1932 Union Township was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Butler County Council (later known as Fort Hamilton Council). In 1933 the Middletown Area Council was renamed to the Mound Builders Area Council. In 1955, jurisdiction of Lemon Township was transferred to Fort Hamilton Council, forming the final boundaries of the Mound Builders Area Council. Mound Builders Area Council continued to serve Warren County and the Lemon and Madison Townships of Butler County as well as all of Warren County until July 1, 1985 when it was absorbed into Dan Beard Council #438 and became the Mound Builders District. The current Hopewell District of Dan Beard Council, formed during the 2006 redistricting process when Middletown and Lemon Township (including Monroe, Ohio) were recombined, very closely resembling the lines of the old Mound Builders Area Council territory.
Mound Builders Area Council primarily had only two districts, Fort Ancient and Pokey Griffith. A third district, Wischixin, was formed briefly but lasted for less than 5 years before being discontinued.
The Nachenum Lodge #145 of the Order of the Arrow served Mound Builders Area Council, forming in 1939. Upon the merger with Dan Beard Council in 1985, the Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge #462 merged with Nachenum, forming Ku-Ni-Eh Lodge #145 (keeping the existing Dan Beard Council name but choosing to use the lower lodge # of the former Nachenum Lodge).
Mound Builders Area Council, while no longer an actual council, was represented at the 1985 National Jamboree. The troop contingent from Mound Builders Council attended the jamboree, held beginning July 15, while the council itself ceased to exist on July 1. The contingent was technically now part of Dan Beard Council, though all patches and markings, etc. were already set to the old Mound Builders Area Council and were not altered to note Dan Beard Council.
Camps.
Camp Michaels is located in Union, KY, on of land, offering primitive outdoor facilities. of additional land was dedicated on September 19, 2008.
The Dan Beard Scout Reservation, in Loveland, OH, consists of three areas on its campus. Camp Friedlander was established in 1919, and reopened in 2002 after renovations to the camp. Friedlander has 23 campsites, a 600-person dining hall, an lake, cabins, and a swimming pool. It has an excellent reputation and attracts Scouts from all over the world. Camp Craig is often used as a training facility. The Program Building at Camp Craig is often rented out for retreats, conferences or training. The swimming pool at Camp Craig is shared with Cub World. Cub Scout Adventure World (Cub World) opened in 2000 as a camp designed exclusively for Cub Scouting. Cub World features two large buildings that offer dorm-like accommodations (Pioneer Fort and Medieval Castle) that offer rooms with bunk-beds, and more primitive areas (Mountain Man Village and Miner's Camp) that offer tent camping. All three camps have access to each other on the Reservation, which is adjacent to the Little Miami River.
Camp Charles R. Hook, founded in 1926, was in operation until 1991. In 1997, the land was purchased by the Five Rivers Metroparks and is now called the Twin Creek Metropark. The land for Camp Hook was donated by the Charles R. Hook family. Charles Hook was the President of the American Rolling Mill Company (ARMCO) - which in the early 1990s merged to become AK Steel Corporation - and son-in-law of the company's founder, George M. Verity. In early 1929 Mr. Hook donated a significant amount of stock to the Middletown Area Council with the instructions to immediately sell it and use the proceeds to put in a swimming pool at the camp. The timing on this event was advantageous considering early in the fall of 1929 was the crash of the stock market known as Black Friday and the beginning of the Great Depression. The sale of the stock yielded enough money to put in the swimming pool and purchase more land to the north, expanding the camp's size significantly. The waterfront of the camp was later named Lake George after Charles Hook's son, George Verity Hook. After the camp's closure and sale to the Metroparks system, the majority of the structures were torn down and the swimming pool filled in. Most of the campsites have grown over as well, but many landmarks or signs of the former use of the area remain. The Metroparks system maintains three group campsites for Scout use, and a backcountry camping area was added on the north side of the property near Chamberlain Road. A large rock with embedded plaque thanking the Hooks for the donation remains, as does the amphitheatre campfire bowl, the Administration Lodge, the Maintenance Building, the Chapel (now called the Natuary) and a few other structures that are in ruins. The pool pump house and the shelters for the shooting ranges still remain, though it is believed this is due only because the demolition equipment could not safely reach these structures. The park previously held three geocache units that contain historical pictures of the old camp, but as of fall 2013 they have been removed. One point of interest that remains is the Gilwell Tree. A local Scouting family in the 1970s took a vacation to England with his family, during which they visited Gilwell Park, the home of the Scouting movement. A sapling of one of the English Oaks was brought back from Gilwell Park and planted at Camp Hook to signify the ties between Scouting in the US and the worldwide movement. In June, 1986, Camp Hook hosted EC 336 X, an experimental Wood Badge Course directed by William Hillcourt. (Very little is known about this course.) In 2010 a plaque, and a split rail fence were created to honor the tree and one of the leading, and oldest, scout leaders in the Council. It was an Eagle Scout Service Project.
Trails.
The Riverwalk Trail spans downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky (Covington and Newport), and is long. Highlights along the trail include the boyhood home of Dan Beard. There is a patch available from the Council for walking the trail. The Trail Guide for the Dan Beard Riverwalk Trail can be found on the Dan Beard Council website.
The Silver Moccasin Trail originally started in Lebanon and finished at Fort Ancient. It was long and used to offer a medal and a patch. A portion of the trail was reconstructed from Fort Ancient south to Morgan's Riverside Campground off of Mason-Morrow-Millgrove Rd, then crossing the Little Miami River to join the Little Miami Scenic Trail to complete the loop. This restored loop is long.
The Thunderbird Trail existed as a 6-mile (9.7-km) long loop around Camp Hook. It was in use for many years during the camp's time as a part of Mound Builders Area Council and Dan Beard Council. Scouts could earn a patch upon completing the entire trail. After the sale of the camp to the Five Rivers MetroParks system in 1997, the Thunderbird trail stopped being maintained and now no longer exists except to those who remember exactly where it was, although the trail markers and Order of the Arrow (OA) fire-rings are still visible and somewhat accessible.
Buckskin Council.
Buckskin Council serves Scouts in Scouts in Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. It is headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia.
Erie Shores Council.
Erie Shores Council (#460) was created in 1929. It provides Scouting programs to the youth of Northwest Ohio in Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Wood and eastern Fulton Counties.
French Creek Council.
French Creek Council (#532) serves Scouts in Pennsylvania and Ohio. It has its headquarters in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Great Trail Council.
Great Trail Council (#433) was created in 1921 as the Akron Area Council. It is composed of seven districts and serves Summit, Portage, Medina, Trumbull, Mahoning, and northern Wayne Counties. At the start of 2017 the southern counties of the Greater Western Reserve Council were merged into the Great Trail Council.
Camps.
The council operates the Manatoc Scout Reservation, containing Camp Manatoc and Camp Butler. The council summer camp program is housed at Camp Manatoc.
The council also inherited Camp Stambaugh in Canfield with the consolidation of Greater Western Reserve Council. Camp Stambaugh will host weekend camping, training, and Cub Scout events along with a scout shop.
Order of the Arrow.
Great Trail Council is served by the Marnoc OA Lodge.
Lake Erie Council.
Lake Erie Council (#440) was created in 1912 as the Cleveland Council. It is composed of eight districts and serves northeastern Ohio. The council headquarters is in Cleveland, Ohio. This was the former Greater Cleveland Council. The council merged with the northern counties of both Heart of Ohio Council and Greater Western Reserve Council. 
Camps.
Beaumont Scout Reservation (Ohio) is a full-service Scout Reservation with forests, fields, wetlands and lakes, sitting on along the Grand River in Rock Creek, Ohio, approximately 40 miles east from downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It began operating as a camp in 1946 and has grown into a year-round facility with camping for Scouts and families. 
Camp Stigwandish was added to the Council in January 2017, when Greater Western Reserve Council was split and merged with Greater Cleveland and Great Trail Councils. Camp Stigwandish was the oldest operational camp in the Lake Erie Council. Northeast Ohio Council opened the Camp for summer programs in 1930, but it was opened to weekend camping in 1929. Camp Stigwandish will serve as the council's Cub Day camp and also help out with the Beaumont Scout Reservation summer camp program. Stigwandish is the primary home to scouters in Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula Counties. Camp Stigwandish is located in Madison Ohio and offers over 20 campsites, 6 cabins, 5 ranges (Rifle, Shotgun, Archery Range, Wrist Rocket Range and a separate Cub Scout Archery Range,) 3 Lakes including Bass Lake, Canoe Lake and Indian Lake. Indian Lake along with a small pond off the parking lot called Salamander Pond are the oldest body of water on the property. The property also has a low COPE course, trading post, dining hall, training center, nature center, Chapel and more. The camp sits on the banks of Mill Creek and is over 300 acres. 120 of them being able to be sold the rest are in a land conservancy or were sold to the Soil and Water conservations in the 1990s. While only 12 miles in between Beaumont Scout Reservation and Camp Stigwandish the terrain is extremely different. The camp is often referred to the hidden jewel of the council. Camp Stigwandish is scheduled to close and be auctioned off after May 2020. On June 18, 2020 the Lake Erie Council transferred Camp Stigwandish to Ross Road LLC for a total of 1.6 million dollars. The Spirit of Camp Stigwandish will continue to live on. 
Campsites for Camp Stigwandish include, Dead Horse Ridge, Grand River, Solitude, Pop Corey, 3 Eagles Nest Campsites, Adventure, Johnny Appleseed, Pioneer Village, Woodcrafters, Dan Beard, Dan Boon, Kit Carson, Ted Mullans, Tecumseh, Paul Bunyan, Iroquois, a staff site to the east of the Baden Powell Lodge, and 3 adirondacks. Cabins includes 4 small cabins along the Lake Road. The Camp Host Cabin, which included the camp office and health office, Rotary Cabin which is off the main road, Buckeye Lodge behind the dining hall. Facilities that were moved to Beaumont Scout Reservation included, the EP memorial shelter which was moved from Camp Chickagami, the Mouse House, which is still home to metal working, the New Archery Range, and the Moritz Family Program Center. 
Firelands Scout Reservation was added to the council in January, 2017 after Heart of Ohio Council merged with the legacy Greater Cleveland Council to form the new Lake Erie Council. Firelands is home to 2 camps, Camp Avery Hand, and Camp Wyandot. Both camps will now be used all year around for scouters to use. The only negative to Firelands Scout Reservation is there is no pool. The reservation will serve as a Cub Resident Camp for the council.
Tinnerman Wilderness Canoe Base, more commonly known as Tinnerman Canoe Base, was a "high-adventure base" located on the banks of the French River, in Ontario. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, the French River area was a major trade route used to exchange furs trapped in the West with various goods made in the East and in Europe. Tinnerman is nicknamed the "Land of the Joli Voyageur". The land that the Tinnerman base is located on was owned by Albert H. Tinnerman, inventor of the speed nut. After Mr. Tinnerman's passing in 1961, his grandson Bill Buttriss of Cleveland Ohio tried to obtain a commercial license for the camp. The Ontario government said that any one area would support only so many camps and they felt the lower French had enough camps at that time. Though appealed, a license was not possible for the camp. It was at this time the family decided to donate the camp to the Cleveland Area Scout Council. Two weeks after the formal donation, Mr. Buttriss received a letter from the Ontario government stating that since one of the camps in the area had closed its doors (Rainbow Lodge on Bass Creek), the license would now be available.
From 1963 to 2011, the base was owned and operated by the Greater Cleveland Council. In 2011, citing a lack of attendance and other factors, the Greater Cleveland Council permanently closed Tinnerman Canoe Base and put it up for sale. Distraught Tinnerman alumni created a detailed proposal for a non-profit Tinnerman Foundation, to keep the camp operating as a canoe base for youthful explorers. On February 21, 2012 the Greater Cleveland Council announced that "the executive board of Greater Cleveland Council, Boy Scouts of America voted to unanimously accept a cash offer of $415,000 for the property on the French River in Ontario, Canada that was the Tinnerman Wilderness Canoe Base. The purchase offer has no contingencies and is expected to be completed in early May 2012."
Order of the Arrow.
Erielhonan Lodge was opened with the merger.
Heart of Ohio Council.
Heart of Ohio Council (#450) was created in 1994. It was composed of four districts. Geographically, the Heart of Ohio Council served the youth of Ashland, Crawford, Erie, Huron, Lorain, Marion, Morrow, Richland, and Wyandot Counties in North Central Ohio.
History.
The Heart of Ohio Council was officially organized in 1994 with the merger of the Harding Area, the Johnny Appleseed Area and the Firelands Area Councils, and was one of the largest geographic councils within the state of Ohio. In 2017, the Heart of Ohio Council was dissolved and split, with the northern counties of Erie, Huron and Lorain joining the newly formed Lake Erie Council, and the remaining southern counties joining the Buckeye Council.
Camps.
The Heart of Ohio Council operated one reservation known as Firelands Scout Reservation, which is now run by the Lake Erie Council. It is located 5 miles west of Oberlin, in Wakeman, on 455 acres of land. The reservation holds two camps, Camp Avery Hand (the Cub Scout camp) and Camp Wyandot (the Scouts BSA camp). Each individual camp is named for former camps once a part of the original councils that merged to form the Heart of Ohio Council.
The reservation is about 70% wooded. There is a 23-acre lake with an island connected by a peninsula on Camp Wyandot. The camp has operated as a Scout camp since 1938. Cabin and tent camping are available.
Order of the Arrow.
portage619.org
Miami Valley Council.
Headquartered in Dayton, the Miami Valley Council (#444) serves Darke, Preble, Miami, Shelby and Montgomery counties in Ohio.
Muskingum Valley Council.
Muskingum Valley Council (#467) was created in 1956. It is composed of three districts.
Camps.
The Muskingum Valley Scout Reservation (MVSR) is the council's year-round camping facility. Located on over of reclaimed land near Conesville in Coshocton county, MVSR has offered Scouts a wide variety of options to expand their camping experience since its opening in 1968.
Ohio River Valley Council.
Ohio River Valley Council (#619) serves Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing, in West Virginia and Ohio.
Simon Kenton Council.
Simon Kenton Council (#441) serves Scouts in central and southern Ohio and in northern Kentucky. The council headquarters is in Columbus, Ohio.
In 1917, the Marietta Council (#464) was formed, changing its name to the Washington County Council (#464) in 1922. Washington County Council changed names to Southeastern Ohio Council (#464) in 1923. In 1942, the Southeastern Ohio Council (#464) was divided, with part going to the Kootaga Area Council (#618) and part becoming the Chief Logan Council (#464). In 1919, the Newark Council (#451) was formed, changing its name to the Licking County Council (#451) in 1922. In 1915, the Portsmouth Council (#457) was formed, changing its name to the Scioto County Council (#457) in 1923. In 1931 Scioto County Council changed its name to the Scioto Area Council (#457). In 1921, the Chillicothe Council (#437) was formed, merging into the Columbus Council (#441) in 1929. In 1922, the Fairfield County Council (#445) was formed, merging into the Columbus Council (#441) in 1929. In 1923, the Lawrence County Council (#450) was formed, merging into the Scioto County Council (#457) in 1929. In 1919, the Pickaway County Council was formed, merging into the Columbus Council (#441) in 1929. In 1910, the Columbus Council was formed, changing its name to the Central Ohio Council (#441) in 1930. In 1922, the Licking County Council (#451) was formed, merging into the Central Ohio Council (#441) in 1987. In 1994, the Simon Kenton Council (#441) was formed from the merger of the Central Ohio Council (#441), Chief Logan Council (#464), and Scioto Area Council (#457).
Tecumseh Council.
Tecumseh Council (#439) was founded in 1923. It is composed of five districts and serves more than 4,700 youth in five counties in Ohio.
Camps.
Camp Hugh Taylor Birch was founded in 1932 at only acres, growing to today. Camp Birch features a dining hall, an Olympic size swimming pool, and a lake. Adjacent to Clifton Gorge, John Bryan State Park and Glen Helen Nature Preserve, Camp High Taylor Birch is a part of of continuous natural woodlands.
Girl Scouts of the USA in Ohio.
There are five Girl Scout councils serving Ohio.
Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council.
Serving girls in several eastern counties in Ohio, and headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia.
Girl Scouts of Kentucky's Wilderness Road Council.
Serving girls in Lawrence County, Ohio, and headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky.
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio.
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio (GSNEO) serves nearly 30,000 girls and has 14,000 adult volunteers.
GSNEO was formed in 2007 by the merger of five different councils: Erie Shores, Great Trail, Lake Erie, Lake to River, and Western Reserve. Its history dates back to 1912 when the first known girl scout troop in the area was started.
Service Centers:
The current council camps are:
Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland Council.
Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland Council serves over 29,000 girls in 33 counties in central, north-central, south-central, and southeastern Ohio.
This was formed by a merger of Girl Scouts - Seal of Ohio Council, Girl Scouts - Heart of Ohio, and Heritage Trails Girl Scout Council
on January 1, 2009.
Council camps are Beckoning Trails in the Hocking hills with , Crooked Lane near Mt. Gilead, Ohio with , Ken-Jockety along the Big Darby Creek in Franklin County, Molly Lauman near Lucasville, Ohio with , and Wakatomika in Licking County with . The Zanesville Service Center in Muskingum County also has which can be used for camping. Camp Cornish in Knox County had been a Girl Scout camp but was sold and acquired by a local community foundation for use by non-profit groups; the local council has 35 guaranteed days a year at it.
Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.
Girl Scouts of Western Ohio serves about 42,000 girls in Western Ohio and southeast Indiana.
This was formed by a merger of Girl Scouts of Appleseed Ridge, Girl Scouts of Buckeye Trails Council, Girl Scout Great Rivers Council, and Girl Scouts of Maumee Valley Council.
Service Centers:
Camps are Butterworth, Libbey, Rolling Hill, Stoney Brook, Whip Poor Will, and Woodhaven. Camp Libbey (named after Edward Drummond Libbey who left $25,000 to the Girl Scouts for a campsite in 1925) with nearly on the banks of the Maumee River near Defiance, Ohio was established in 1936.