Scouting in Iowa 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.
Early history (1910-1960)
Ned's 1912 Tenderfoot Certificate
Scouting began in Jewell, Iowa, due to the generosity of Mrs. Carrie A. Strong. Mrs. Strong had resided in Jewell and moved to California, but due to her interest in the town even after relocation, she gave the town of Jewell its first step in Scouting. In 1916, Mrs. Strong came back to Jewell for her annual visit went before the city fathers to tell them that she would provide the fund to buy and build a Scout House on, and give $1000 to construct a building suitable for the Scout program.[1]
A parcel of land was bought from H. K. and Christian Gronbeck on October 14, 1916, for the sum of $840.00. The building was let to Peterson Builders for the Scout House 240 by 48 feet and 12 foot high. The completed cost for the building was $935.00. The First Scoutmaster was Reverend Norstad and his assistants were professors from the then Jewell Lutheran College [Wikidata]. F. H. Ferbitz became Scoutmaster in October 1923 with 28 Scouts under his leadership. A Fife and Drum Corp was also started at that time and the grounds were cleaned and the building painted. A basketball league was formed which consisted of four teams. After the basketball games, the boys would have what they referred to as, "a feed." These feeds were paid for by the continued contributions of Mrs. Strong up to the time of her death on November 27, 1923.[1]
Recent history (1960-2010)
During the 1950s and 60s eastern Iowa was home to the Buffalo Bill Area Council (#176) spanning an area from Dubuque to Muscatine. The council office was located in Davenport. The summer camp, Camp Minneyata, was outside of Dixon on the Wapsipinicon River and featured a canoe base, swimming pool, and lodge hall. The Order of the Arrow Lodge was the "Golden Eagle" Lodge, No. 313.[citation needed]
The Hawkeye Area Council serves Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Jones, Johnson, Linn, and Washington counties within Eastern Iowa. It Currently has two districts, Northern Lights and Southern Prairie.
In 1924, the Linn County Council (#172) was founded, changing its name to the Cedar Rapids Area Council (#172) in 1927. In 1941 the council changed its name to the Waubeck Area Council (#172) in 1941. In 1920, the Iowa City Council (#181) was founded, changing its name to the Iowa City Area Council (#181) in 1924. In 1941 the council changed its name to the Iowa River Valley Council (#181) in 1941.[3]
Headquartered in Davenport, Iowa, the Illowa Council serves Scouts in western Illinois and eastern Iowa in the Quad Cities area. Konepaka Ketiwa Lodge #38 (part of Section C-3A) is the Order of the Arrow lodge that serves this council.
In 1937, the Mesquakie Area Council (#174) was founded, merging into the Buffalo Bill Area Council (#176) in 1958. In 1915, the Davenport Council (#176) was founded, changing its name to Buffalo Bill Area Council (#176) in 1928. It merged into the Illowa Council (#133) in 1967.[3]
Headquartered in Nebraska, the Mid-America Council offers programs in 58 counties in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. The council has several camps, including the Little Sioux Scout Ranch.
The Mid Iowa Council serves the area of the state capital, Des Moines.[8]
In 1914 the Ames Council (#169) was formed, changing its name to the Story County Council (#169) in 1923. The council changed its name again in 1930 to the Tall Corn Area Council (#169). In 1924 the Boone County Council (#170) was formed, merging into the Story County Council (#169) in 1926.[3]
In 1927 the Newton City Council (#778) was formed, changing its name to the Tri-Valley Council (#778) in 1929. Newton City merged into the Tall Corn Area Council (#177) in 1931.[3]
The Northeast Iowa Council is headquartered in Dubuque, IA and serves the counties of Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton, and Allamakee, as well as the cities of East Dubuque and Bellevue. Camp C.S. Klaus is the resident summer camp facility of the Northeast Iowa Council, and is located just west of Colesburg, Iowa.[3]
In 1915 the Dubuque Council (#178) was formed, changing its name to the Dubuque Area Council (#178) in 1934. The council changed its name to the Northeast Iowa Council (#178) in 1935.
In 1918 the Clinton Council (#174) was formed, changing its name to the Clinton Area Council (#174) in 1927. The Clinton Area Council changed its name to the Macquarie Area Council (#174) in 1937.[3]
The Winnebago Council (#173) is a council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Winnebago Council serves Scouts BSA, Cub Scouts, adult volunteers and Venturers in 17 counties located in North Central Iowa. Including: Black Hawk, Grundy, Butler, Franklin, Wright, Hancock, Winnebago, Worth, Cerro Gordo, Mitchell, Floyd, Bremer, Chickasaw, Howard, Winneshiek, Fayette, and Buchanan.
In 1918, the Jesup Council was founded, folding that same year.[3]
In 1920, the Waterloo Council (#186) was founded, changing its name in Wapsipinicon Area Council (#186) in 1929. The council merged into the Winnebago Council (#173) in 1973.[3]
In 1918, the Mason City Council (#173) was founded, changing its name in Cerro Gordo County Council (#173) in 1922, and changing its name again to the North Iowa Council (#173) in 1928. The council changed its name in 1939 to the Winnebago Council (#173).[3]
Girl Scouting in Iowa
Girl Scouting in Iowa
Map of Girl Scout Council in Iowa
There are two Girl Scout councils in Iowa, realigned from nine former councils.
Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois
As part of a national realignment the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois formed in April 2007 by combining four former councils. It serves some 20,000 girls.[9]
Girl Scouts of Little Cloud Council, Inc. Dubuque, Iowa
Girl Scouts of Mississippi Valley Rock Island, Illinois and Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Girl Scouts of Shining Trail Council, Inc. West Burlington, Iowa
Camps
The council has three camps:
Camp Liberty (formerly Camp Conestoga) is 340 acres (1.4 km2) in New Liberty, Iowa. It was established in 1947.
Camp Little Cloud is 154 acres (0.6 km2) in Epworth, Iowa.
Camp L-Kee-Ta established in 1945 is 150 acres (0.6 km2) in Danville, Iowa
Camp Tahigwa was in Dorchester in Allamakee County, Iowa and had 315 acres (1.3 km2). Tahigwa was established in 1967. This camp was sold in 2017.
Currently, Camp Liberty is the designated resident camp program for girls throughout eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. Camp Little Cloud and Camp L-Kee-Ta are used by troops and groups for events and both day and overnight outdoor adventures.
Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa
Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa covers 74 counties including 71 in central and western Iowa, one county in Nebraska, and one and one-half counties in South Dakota. As part of the national realignment, Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa was created in October 2007 from the merger of five councils.
