Scouting in Michigan
Scouting in Michigan 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 (1910-1950)
In the 1920s, the Gerber baby food company donated Camp Gerber (now of the Gerald R. Ford Council) to the Boy Scouts of America.
In 1933, the National Order of the Arrow Lodge Meeting was held at the Owasippe Scout Camps outside Whitehall, Michigan.
Recent history (1950-1990)
The Bass Lake lone troop Scout camp was part of the Owasippe Scout Reservation operated by the Chicago Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The Bass Lake camp was a single camp on a small (approximately 600 feet wide) lake in the Owasippe reservation. A single troop would take over the entire camp, usually for a two week period, preparing all their own food and overseeing all aspects of the camp life. Active in the 1950s and 1960s, Bass Lake camp is no longer in use.
Scouting in Michigan today
The 2006 National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) is to be held at Michigan State University in East Lansing. The host lodge is Gabe-shi-win-gi-ji-kens Lodge #374.
There are thirteen Boy Scouts of America local councils in Michigan.
Bay-Lakes Council
Districts
- Gathering Waters District
- Lakeshore District
- Northern Lights District
- Twin Lakes District
Blue Water Council
Districts
- Thomas Edison District
Chief Okemos Council
Districts
- The Mawanjidiwin District serves Charlotte, Eaton Rapids, Grand Ledge, Vermontville, Potterville, Pewamo-Westphalia, Holt, Portland & Olivet.
- The Migisins District serves the Lansing School District north of Michigan Ave. only), Bath, DeWitt, Eureka, Fowler, Maple Rapids, Ovid, Elsie, St. Johns and Waverly School District.
- The Ojibwas District serves the Lansing School District (south of Michigan Ave. only), East Lansing, Mason, Dansville, Leslie, Stockbridge, Okemos and Haslett.
- Summer Camp is Northwoods Scout Reservation
Properties
- Camp Kiwanis is located 3.5 miles east of Mason, Michigan on M-36 at Diamond Road. The camp contains 85 acres, 55 of which are wooded. Camp Kiwanis is open year-round for camping, hiking, sledding and outdoor fun. Camp facilities can sleep 107 people indoors, or 300 outdoors. Camp Kiwanis was previously owned by the Lansing Kiwanis Club and used as a fresh air camp for tubercular children. It was donated June 8, 1939 to the Chief Okemos Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The camp was also used for several years by the Volunteers of America and the Salvation Army for children and their mothers.
- Northwoods Scout Reservation is located near West Branch in Ogemaw County, Michigan. The camp consists of 840 acres of northern hardwood forest, wetlands and Lake Arrowhead, a 90-acre private lake. Part of Big Williams Lake is also on camp property. Facilities range from rustic campsites on the south side of the lake to the heated log cabin overlooking Lake Arrowhead. Chief Okemos Council purchased Northwoods Scout Reservation in 1962. It was formerly the Kenyon Ranch, with the only structure on the property a horse barn, which is now a garage at the ranger’s house. The roads, campsites, cabins for staff and family camp, Log Cabin, Meijer Lodge, Administration Building, Memorial Building and program structures were added over the years.
Clinton Valley Council
Districts
- Macomb District
- Ojibwa District
- Ottawa District
- Pontiac-Manito District
Properties
- Lost Lake Scout Reservation is a 2,385-acre camp located near Clare in mid-Michigan. It was purchased for $350,000 in 1964. It has three lakes. It largest is 66-acre Lost Lake. The camp is also the home of Bennett Lodge, a house with a 128-foot long porch built for Harry Bennett, a Detroit auto executive. The house is constructed of brick and block with concrete siding fashioned with details to make it look like split logs. Bennett, who was an executive at Ford Motor Company during the 1930s and 1940s, was known for his anti-union tactics while working as the head of Ford's Service Department, or Internal Security.
- Camp Agawam is a 131-acre camp located in northern Oakland County, Michigan. It was purchased in 1918 as Camp Pontiac and renamed in 1938. Camp Agawam features 9 camp sites, 3 lodges and 2 lakes.
Detroit Area Council
Districts
- Huron District
- Lakeshore District
- Metro West District
- Michigami District
- North Trails District
- Northridge District
- Phoenix District
- Sunset District
- Three Rivers District
Gerald R. Ford Council
Districts
- Apollo District
- Arrowhead District
- Chief Noonday District
- Kent District
- Lighthouse District
- Timber Trails District
Nacha Tindey Lodge 25
Nacha Tindey OA lodge #25 is based in the Gerald R. Ford Council of west Michigan. Nacha Tindey is Lenape for "Three Fires". The lodge is very active and is divided into several chapters. Since 1997, their members have put in over 10,000 hours of service annually to the local area. The Lodge holds an annual winter banquet, two conclaves where the arrowmen help dismantle the local Boy Scout camp, Gerber Scout Camp, for the winter, or set up for the summer season. The lodge also participates in a section conclave with multiple other lodges in the area.
Great Sauk Trail Council
Districts
- Chief Lenape Trails District
- Three Fires District
- Running Waters District
- Huron Trails District
Hiawathaland Council
Districts
- Chippewa District
- Cooper County District
- Menominee Iron Range District
- Pere-Marquette District
- Red Buck District
La Salle Council
Districts
- Algonquian District
- Dunes Moraine District
- Pioneer Trails District
- Potawatomi District
Lake Huron Area Council
Districts
- AuSable District
- Chippewa District
- Ojibway District
- Shoreline District
- Thumb District
- Thunderhead District
- White Birch District
Scenic Trails Council
Districts
- Northern Trails District
- Bay Trails District
- River Trails District
Southwest Michigan Council
Districts
- Newo District
- Nottawa Trails District
- Pathfinder District
- Wabano District
Nacha Mawat Lodge 373
Nacha Mawat means "three into one." The name was adopted after the merging of the Carcajou, Mandoka, and Wakazoo Lodges. The Lodge has recently adopted a policy that each member will get two lifetime lodge flaps for each level in the OA. There are also trader flaps which are unrestricted. The Nacha Mawat totem is the Blue Heron, which has recently been nicknamed 'Jay Jay' under the authority of The Jou (Vice Chief of Administration) and Lieutenant Sanchez (Vice Chief of Camping Service).
Tall Pine Council
Districts
- Baden Powell District
- Blue Heron District
- New Horizons District
- Norwegen Pine District
- Shiawassee District
Cuwe Lodge 218
Cuwe is Lenape for "pine tree." This Order of the Arrow lodge is divided into five chapters, each correlating to their respective districts in Tall Pine Council. These chapters include Amangi, Arrowhead, Bidaban, Muscadawin, and Wassa. The lodge is a member of section C2A and holds a spring and fall conclave each year to induct new members.
Properties
- Camp Tapico, which is located off of M-72 between Grayling and Kalkaska, Michigan, is comprised of over 1200 acres of woodlands. It has the beautiful 120 acre Grass Lake right in the middle of camp.
- Camp Holaka offers many camping choices among its 340 acres of rolling woodlands and trails in Lapeer County. It also has many cabins and a couple lodges for indoor camping and many campsites for tent camping. During the summer, Camp Holaka is used primarily for Cub Scout camping with different day camps and weekend events.
- The Prevailing Winds II is a custom designed 47 foot ketch which sleeps 20 people. Most trips take participants into the Canadian waters of Northern Lake Huron. Other popular destinations include: Mackinac Straits area, Les Cheneaux Islands area, and Northern Lake Michigan.
Voyageurs Area Council
Districts
- Appelget District
- Gitche Gumee District
- Great Bear District
- North Border District
- North Star District
- Paul Bunyan District
- Sleeping Giant District
- Wah Da Bong District
Girl Scouting in Michigan
There are 13 Girl Scout council offices in Michigan.
Girl Scouts of Crooked Tree Traverse City, Michigan Web Site: http://www.girlscoutscrookedtree.org
Girl Scouts Fair Winds Council, Inc. Swartz Creek, Michigan Web Site: http://www.fwgsc.org
Glowing Embers Girl Scout Council, Inc Kalamazoo, Michigan Web Site: http://www.gsgec.org
Girl Scouts of The Huron Valley Council Ann Arbor, Michigan Web Site: http://www.gshvc.org
Girl Scouts - Irish Hills Council Jackson, Michigan Web Site: http://www.girlscoutsihc.org
Girl Scouts of Macomb County - Otsikita Council Inc Clinton Township, Michigan Web Site: http://www.girlscouts-macomb.org
Girl Scouts of Metro Detroit Detroit, Michigan Web Site: http://www.gsofmd.org
Girl Scouts of Michigan Pine and Dunes Council Muskegon, Michigan Web Site: http://www.mipineanddunes.org
Girl Scouts of Michigan Capital Council Holt, Michigan Web Site: http://www.gsmcc.net
Girl Scouts of Michigan Trails Grand Rapids, Michigan Web Site: http://www.gsmt.org
Girl Scouts - Michigan Waterways Council, Inc Port Huron, Michigan Web Site: http://www.gsmwc.org
Girl Scouts of Mitten Bay Saginaw, Michigan Web Site: http://www.mittenbay.org
Girl Scouts of Peninsula Waters, Inc Ishpeming, Michigan Web Site: http://www.gspw.org