About Us
Scouting America’s goal is to train youth in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations. For younger members, the Scout method is part of the program to instill typical Scouting values such as trustworthiness, good citizenship, and outdoors skills, through a variety of activities such as camping, aquatics, and hiking.
The traditional Scouting divisions are Cub Scouting for children in grades K-5, Scouts BSA for youth ages 11 to 17 and Venturing and Sea Scouting for young men and women ages 14 (or 13 and having completed the 8th grade) to 20.
Scouting America operates traditional Scouting by chartering local organizations, such as churches, clubs, civic associations, or educational organization, to implement the Scouting program for youth within their communities. Units are led entirely by volunteers appointed by the chartering organization, who are supported by local councils using both paid professional Scouters and volunteers.
Daniel Boone Council History
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scouting_in_North_Carolina
The Daniel Boone Council, Inc., was organized in the summer of 1920 by a group of members of the Asheville Rotary Club, and the original charter was submitted in September of 1920. The Council was incorporated on April 4, 1932. The legal incorporated name is “The Daniel Boone Council, Inc., Boy Scouts of America.” It was incorporated in the State of North Carolina under the laws and regulations concerning non-profit organizations.
Dr. J. B. Thrall, then the pastor of the First Congregational Church, had already organized Troop 1 in 1914, before the Council was organized. A. W. Allen, a native of Illinois, came to Asheville after WWI to work for the YMCA and was appointed assistant Scoutmaster, succeeding Dr. Thrall as Scoutmaster in 1920. He then became the first Daniel Boone Council Scout Executive. The original Council headquarters were in the old YMCA Building on Haywood Street.
A. Allen, the first Scout Executive of the Daniel Boone Council, pictured with a totem pole which is still in the Council Service Center
There were 64 Scouts in four troops at the time of the Council’s organization. Within two years, the Council had spread throughout Western North Carolina to cover its present 14 county area.
It is estimated that over 50,000 Scouts and 19,000 adults have been a part of Scouting in Western North Carolina since 1920, with over 4,200 Eagle Scouts.
The Council service area covers fourteen counties in Western North Carolina, including Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey counties.
The Daniel Boone Council operates Camp Daniel Boone, which hosts over 4,000 Scouts each summer from different councils around the United States. It offers different programs ranging from High Adventure, which includes whitewater rafting and kayaking, to 54-mile expeditions with backpacking at Shining Rock, mile-high camping, and many, many other fun-filled opportunities.
In 1941, the late R. Lee Ellis, the Coca-Cola Bottling Company president, donated a 700 acre tract of land in Haywood County that became Camp Daniel Boone. Today, Camp Daniel Boone is one of the largest attended Scouts BSA Camp in the Eastern United States.
The Dining Hall, Ledbetter Lodge, was built in 2000, and is dedicated to Dr. Ledbetter. Vance Lodge, a training facility, was given by David Vance; Osborne Lodge, the Ranger’s house, by the late George Osborne; The Health Lodge is dedicated to Maxine “Mom” Wilson, camp nurse during the 1960’s, Reuben Robertson Lodge, the camp headquarters, by Reuben Robertson, Sr., and friends; and Chip’s Chapel by the family of L. A. Coman and friends. The lake was built by contributions of friends and named Lake Allen after the first Scout Executive of the Daniel Boone Council.
