Our History

OVER 100 YEARS OF PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE LEADERS

Scouting took root in Minnesota almost immediately after the Boy Scouts of America was established in February 1910. Within months, civic leaders in both Minneapolis and St. Paul organized efforts to bring Scouting to their communities.

Following an experimental summer camp organized by the St. Paul YMCA in 1910, the St. Paul Council was formally established on October 1 of that year. Just weeks later, Minneapolis leaders organized the Hennepin Council on October 15, 1910. These early efforts laid the foundation for more than a century of Scouting impact across the region.

The movement quickly gained national and international attention. Early supporters and speakers included Theodore Roosevelt, Robert Baden-Powell, Ernest Thompson Seton, James E. West, and Robert Peary, helping to inspire early growth and enthusiasm.

Growth and Expansion

Over the next several decades, both the St. Paul and Minneapolis councils expanded significantly in membership and geography, merging with smaller councils and extending their reach across Minnesota and into western Wisconsin.

By the mid-20th century the St. Paul Council had evolved into the Indianhead Council, serving communities east into Wisconsin. The Hennepin Council became the Viking Council, expanding westward to the South Dakota border. These two strong councils would continue to grow independently for decades, building a deep legacy of leadership development and outdoor adventure.

The Birth of Northern Star Scouting

On July 1, 2005, the Viking and Indianhead Councils merged to form Northern Star Scouting—one of the largest and most dynamic Scouting councils in the country.

Northern Star Scouting moved its headquarters to Base Camp at Fort Snelling as it continues to expand its reach, programs, and impact—serving thousands of young people and families each year.

Northern Star Scouting Expands Across the State

Scouting expanded to Duluth Minnesota in 1918 and served that region of the state for with the founding of the Duluth Council. Over time, it evolved through several mergers and name changes, ultimately becoming the Voyageurs Area Council.

In 2024, Northern Star Scouting welcomed five northeastern Minnesota counties—Pine, Carlton, St. Louis, Lake, and Cook—into its service area. In 2026, Northern Star Scouting expanded once again, adding a new southern Minnesota region based in Mankato. This addition strengthens the council’s ability to serve youth and families across the state with more localized leadership, programming, and community engagement.

Today

Today, Northern Star Scouting proudly serves youth and families across 39 counties in Minnesota and 4 counties in western Wisconsin.

From its earliest beginnings in 1910 to its continued growth today, Northern Star Scouting remains committed to developing young people into leaders of character—guided by the values and traditions that have defined Scouting for more than a century.