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.
Contents
History
Utah has one of the longest running scouting legacies in the country. 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 up through 1910.(http://www.gslc-bsa.org/programs/relationships-scouting-is-for-everyone/faith-based-partners/protestant/episcopalian) 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. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints remains a major sponsor of scouting in Utah, however churches of other faiths, and other non profit organizations are sponsors of Utah scouting programs. Most, if not all troops welcome those of all faiths to their program.
Up until the 1980s or 1990s, the Lake Bonneville Council and Cache Valley Council covered northern Utah. Those councils are now part of the Trapper Trails Council.
Boy Scouting in Utah today
There are five Boy Scouts of America local councils in Utah.
Great Salt Lake Council
Great Salt Lake Council serves northern Utah.
Great Southwest Council
The Great Southwest Council of the Boy Scouts of America 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.
Trapper Trails Council
Trapper Trails Council serves Scouts in Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho.
Camps
Girl Scouting in Utah
Two Girl Scout councils serve Utah.
History
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.
Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council
In Utah, Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, serves girls living on the Navajo Nation in southern Utah.
Girl Scouts of Utah
Girls Scouts of Utah, headquartered in Salt Lake City, serves over 9,000 girls in Utah and West Wendover, Nevada.