Northern Star Council is one of the largest of the 275 Scout councils in the United States. We serve more than 54,000 young people and support more than 11,500 adult volunteers.
Our 25-county territory includes 21 Minnesota counties (Anoka, Carver, Chippewa, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, McLeod, Meeker, Ramsey, Renville, Rice, Scott, Stearns-portions, Swift-portions, Washington, Wright, Yellow Medicine) and four western Wisconsin counties (Burnett, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix).
Our territory is divided into districts/divisions to deliver Scouting in geographic as well as non-geographic communities. Each district is led by a team of volunteers with the help and encouragement of at least one full-time staff member (district executive).
The 2020 "Units First" initiative is realigning districts to match school district boundaries and balance the numbers of Scouting groups within these districts. The number of geographic districts will be changing from 16 to 13, but many of the current activities and events will continue within the legacy districts through May of 2020. For the most current information on these districts see the "Units First" page.
Most districts also have volunteer operated websites to provide members in their service area with information on locally run events and activities. Just click any of the district names below to visit their website for information on these legacy districts.
Crow River Website
Albertville, Albion Center, Albright, Annandale, Brownton, Buffalo, Buffalo Lake, Cokato, Darwin, Dassel, Delano, Eden Valley, Glencoe, Hamburg, Hector, Highland, Howard Lake, Hutchinson, Kimball, Lester Prairie, Maple Lake, Monticello, Montrose, Napp, New Germany, Norwood, Plato, Rassat, Rice Lake, Rockford, St. Michael, Sherman, Silver Lake, Stewart, Stockholm, Watkins, Waverly, West Albion Center, Winsted, and Young America.
Eagle River Website
Amery, Baldwin, Balsam Lake, Centuria, Clayton, Clear Lake, Danbury, Deronda, Dresser, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Frederic, Glenwood City, Grantsburg, Hammond, Hastings, Hudson, Luck, Milltown, New Richmond, Osceola, Plum City, Prescott, River Falls, Roberts, St. Croix Falls, St. Joseph, Siren, Somerset, Spring Valley, Star Prairie, Webster, Wilson, and Woodville.
Great Rivers Website
Afton, Bayport, Lake Elmo, Lakeland, Landfall, Maplewood, Marine on St. Croix, North St. Paul, Oak Park Heights, Oakdale, St. Paul (East Side), Stillwater, and Woodbury.
Kaposia Website
Cottage Grove, Inver Grove Heights, Mendota Heights, Newport, St. Paul Park, South St. Paul, and West St. Paul.
Lake Minnetonka Website
Augusta, Bongards, Burschville, Carver, Chanhassen, Chaska, Cologne, Coney Island, Corcoran, Crystal Bay, Dahlgren, Deephaven, East Union, Excelsior, Gotha, Greenfield, Greenwood, Hamel, Hanover, Independence, Jonathan, Lake Sharon, Long Lake, Loretto, Lyndale, Maple Plain, Mayer, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minnetrista, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, Minnewashta, Mound, Navarre, Oahlgren, Orono, Parkers Lake, Plymouth, Saga Hill, St. Bonifacius, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay, Victoria, Waconia, Watertown, Wayzata, and Woodland.
Many Waters Website
Almelund, Center City, Centerville, Circle Pines, Columbus, Forest Lake, Harris, Hugo, Lindstrom, Lino Lakes, Mahtomedi, North Branch, Rush City, Scandia, Shafer, Stacy, Taylor Falls, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, Willernie, and Wyoming.
Mustang Website
Eden Prairie, Edina, Glen Lake, Hopkins, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park, and Scenic Heights.
Northern Lights Website
Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Crystal, Dayton, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Robbinsdale, and Rogers.
Northwest Website
Arden Hills, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Little Canada, west panhandle of Maplewood, Mounds View, New Brighton, North Oaks, Roseville, and Shoreview.
Southern Skies Website
Belle Plaine, Dundas, Elko New Market, Faribault, Farmington, Hampton, Jordan, Lakeville, Le Center, Le Sueur, Lonsdale, Montgomery, Morristown, New Prague, Nerstrand, Northfield, Prior Lake, Randolph, Rosemount, Vermillion and Waterville.
Three Rivers Website
Andover, Anoka, Athens, Bethel, Blaine, Bodum, Bradford, Braham, Cambridge, Cedar, Circle Pines, Columbia Heights, Columbus, Coon Rapids, Crown, East Bethel, Edgewood, Fletcher, Fridley, Ham Lake, Hussan, Isanti, Johnsville, Lexington, Nowthen, Oak Grove, Ostego, Ramsey, St. Francis, Soderville, Spencer Brook, Spring Lake Park, Stanchfield Township, West Point, and Wyoming.
Trailblazer Website
Atwater, Bellingham, Bird Island, Canby, Clara City, Clarkfield, Cosmos, Danube, Dawson, Echo, Granite Falls, Grove City, Hanley Falls, Kandiyohi, Kerkhoven, Litchfield, Madison, Maynard, Milan, Montevideo, New London, Olivia, Porter, Raymond, Renville, Sacred Heart, Spicer, Watson, and Willmar.
Provides a positive alternative to formal court proceedings for motivated first-time juvenile offenders.
Serves both physically and developmentally-challenged individuals in the greater Twin Cities and surrounding area.
The District and Council Operations web page is the place for reports, information, and knowledge for successful committee operation.