History

Our history in three steps

If you only have a minute, this is what to know. Scouting is a worldwide movement, and the Narragansett Council is your local part of it.

1. 1907

   Scouting starts in England

   Lord Robert Baden-Powell holds the first Scout camp. Today the movement includes over 57 million Scouts and volunteers in 176 countries.

2. 1910

   It arrives in America and Rhode Island

   Scouting America is incorporated, and the Rhode Island Boy Scouts form the same year. Camp Yawgoog follows in 1916.

3. Today

   Many councils, one community

   Through a series of mergers, councils across Rhode Island and Massachusetts became today’s Narragansett Council, with six camps.

The full timeline

Each moment has a quick summary. Open “Read the full story” for the details. Use the filters to follow just the councils or just the camps.

1. 1907
   Worldwide

   Scouting begins in England

   Lord Robert Baden-Powell organizes the first Scout camp.

   Read the full story

   The Narragansett Council – Scouting America is part of a worldwide Scouting movement with over 57 million Scouts and volunteers in 176 National Scout Organizations. Scouting began in England in 1907 when the British military hero, Lord Robert Baden-Powell, organized the first Scout camp. In 1908, he published Scouting for Boys and formed what would become the British Boy Scout Association.

2. 1910
   National

   A good turn brings Scouting to America

   Scouting America is incorporated, then chartered by Congress in 1916.

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   As a result of a “good turn” performed by an English Scout in London for Chicago publisher William D. Boyce, Scouting came to America. Scouting America was incorporated in 1910 and chartered by Congress on June 15, 1916.

3. 1910
   Councils

   The Rhode Island Boy Scouts form

   Organized September 6, 1910, and chartered under state law in 1911.

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   Scouting in Rhode Island began as the Rhode Island Boy Scouts, which was first organized as a voluntary association on September 6, 1910. On April 13, 1911, it was chartered under state laws for the purpose of giving boys of Rhode Island an organization in which they could be formed into groups that mirrored the newly formed national Boy Scout program.

   From 1910 to 1917, Rhode Island Boy Scouts established groups (troops) throughout Rhode Island, except in Newport, Blackstone Valley and Woonsocket. In these locations, troops were organized and affiliated with the National Council, Scouting America.

4. 1916
   Councils

   First Massachusetts charters

   Fall River and Fairhaven-New Bedford councils begin serving 17 communities.

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   In 1916, the first Scouting charters in Massachusetts were granted to the Fall River and Fairhaven-New Bedford Councils. These charters would provide Scouting to area youth in 17 communities throughout Newport, Bristol and Plymouth counties.

5. 1916
   Camps

   Camp Yawgoog is founded

   130 acres of farmland in Rockville grow into one of the nation’s oldest and largest Scout camps.

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   In 1916, perhaps the most significant event in our history happened: the purchase of 130 acres of the old Palmer Farm in Rockville, RI. The purchase was the result of a search by Rhode Island Boy Scouts Scout Executive Donald North, who viewed 30 different sites.

   This began the history of the storied Camp Yawgoog, which is now the second oldest continually operated Scout camp in the country and the second largest by attendance. Camp Yawgoog has grown to encompass 2,000 acres in southwestern Rhode Island and has served hundreds of thousands of youth from across the globe. The crown jewel of Narragansett Council, Camp Yawgoog is the national leader among Scout camps.

6. 1917
   Councils

   Greater Providence Council is formed

   Rhode Island Boy Scouts join the national movement and keep their corporation to support local Scouting.

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   In 1917, Rhode Island Boy Scouts “merged” with the national movement. Under the terms of the agreement, the Greater Providence Council was formed to take over the operation of the Scouting program and supervision of troops. The National Council recognized the date of the Council’s organization as September 6, 1910, and granted all members back service to that date.

   The National Council also agreed that the Rhode Island Boy Scouts could maintain its corporate identity so that it could continue to receive bequests, hold funds and properties, and acquire other funds and properties in the future. This is why Rhode Island Boy Scouts still exists as an independent corporation with the purpose of supporting Scouting in Narragansett Council.

7. 1917
   Camps

   Fall River camping begins

   Camp Stanford, then Camp Noquochoke on the Westport River from 1921 to 1980.

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   Camping for the Fall River Council began in 1917 at Camp Stanford in Fall River and provided an outlet for Scouts for four years. At a 1921 Fall River Council Executive Board meeting, it was decided to purchase a 100-acre wooded area, named Camp Noquochoke. Additional acreage was purchased in later years, covering over 110 acres on the eastern shore of the Westport River in Westport, MA. Camp Noquochoke continued to serve area youth until 1980.

8. 1929
   Councils

   The Narragansett Council is born

   Four Rhode Island councils merge over 1929 and 1930.

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   In 1929 and 1930, the Greater Providence Council merged with the Newport County Council, the Pawtucket-Central Falls Council and the Woonsocket Council to form the Narragansett Council.

9. 1930
   Councils

   Annawon Council is organized

   Serving Attleboro, Mansfield, Norton, Taunton, Raynham and Berkley.

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   Annawon Council was organized in 1930, but it was not until January 9, 1931, that it was incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts, and it was legally established as of April 20, 1933. At the time of organization, the council included the communities of Attleboro, Mansfield, Norton, Taunton, Raynham and Berkley.

10. 1934
    Camps

    Camp Norse begins on Darby Pond

    Annawon buys 25 acres in Plymouth for $2,500; the camp takes the name Camp Norse in 1935.

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    Camping in the Annawon Council began after considerable study in 1934, when the council purchased 25 acres on Darby Pond in Plymouth for use as a camp site. The site was known as “Camp King” and was purchased from Phillip Cole for $2,500. From July 15 to August 19, Scouts camped on the shore of Darby Pond at Camp Annawon. In 1935 the camp came to be known as Camp Norse.

11. 1935
    Councils

    Cachalot and Massasoit councils

    The New Bedford and Fall River councils recharter under new names.

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    In 1935, along with filing articles of incorporation, the Fairhaven-New Bedford Council rechartered as the Cachalot Council, supporting the towns of Wareham, Marion, Freetown, Rochester, Mattapoisett, Dartmouth and Acushnet. The Fall River Council rechartered as the Massasoit Council, providing Scouting leadership to Somerset, Swansea, Westport, Tiverton and Little Compton.

12. 1945
    Camps

    Camp Cachalot opens in Carver

    Named for the “white whale,” it served Scouts until 2022.

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    For 29 years, the Cachalot Council used the local Fairhaven-New Bedford Boys’ Club facilities of Camp Maxim. In 1945, the Cachalot Executive Board conducted a fundraiser to purchase and construct Camp Cachalot, meaning “white whale,” in Carver, Massachusetts. Camp Cachalot served youth until 2022.

13. 1972
    Councils

    Moby Dick Council forms

    Cachalot and Massasoit councils merge after years of growth.

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    Both the Cachalot Council and the Massasoit Council continued to grow until 1972, when they merged to form the Moby Dick Council.

14. 2001
    Councils

    Moby Dick joins Narragansett

    17 more Massachusetts cities and towns join the council.

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    On July 1, 2001, the Moby Dick Council, headquartered in New Bedford, Massachusetts, merged with the Narragansett Council in Providence, Rhode Island, adding 17 more cities and towns in Massachusetts to the 6 the Narragansett Council was already serving.

15. 2015
    Councils

    Annawon joins Narragansett

    The merged council keeps the Narragansett name; the Order of the Arrow becomes Tulpe Lodge.

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    On September 10, 2015, the boards of Annawon Council and Narragansett Council each voted to accept a plan of merger, with the new council keeping the name Narragansett Council. At that time the Order of the Arrow lodge adopted the name of Annawon’s lodge, Tulpe Lodge.

Words you’ll see on this page

New families often ask what these terms mean.

Council

The local organization that supports Scouting in a region. Ours is the Narragansett Council.

Troop

A group of Scouts who meet and camp together, usually in their own town.

Charter

Official permission from the national organization for a council or unit to run Scouting.

Merger

When two or more councils combine into one, sharing camps, staff and programs.

Scout Executive

The professional leader who manages a council’s day-to-day work.

Order of the Arrow and Tulpe Lodge

Scouting’s national honor society for experienced campers. Our council’s chapter is called Tulpe Lodge.