Northern Star Council is a Scouting America Council headquartered in Fort Snelling, Minnesota. The organization is currently branded and more commonly known as Northern Star Scouting. Northern Star Scouting was formerly the Viking Council and Indianhead Council until the two councils merged on July 1, 2005. It serves communities across the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area, central Minnesota, western Wisconsin, Duluth, and northern Minnesota, encompassing 30 counties.
History The Viking Council was founded on October 15, 1910, as the Minneapolis Council. In 1952, the name was changed to Viking Council. At the time of the merger with Indianhead Council, the geography of the Viking Council spanned from Minneapolis to the South Dakota border. Other camps from the Viking Council included Stearns Scout Camp in Fair Haven Township, Minnesota and Rum River Scout Camp in Anoka, Minnesota. A history of patches used by the Viking Council and Minneapolis Council is available at the Viking Council Patch Archive.
The Indianhead Council was founded on October 1, 1910, as the St. Paul Council. In 1954, the name was changed to Indianhead Council. The Indianhead Council was headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and included Ramsey, Dakota County, and Washington Counties in Minnesota, and four counties in western Wisconsin. Facilities included an office building in Saint Paul, Tomahawk Scout Camp near Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Phillippo Scout Camp near Cannon Falls, Minnesota, Andersen Scout Camp near Hudson, Wisconsin, and Kiwanis Scout Camp near Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota.
In 2024, Voyageurs Area Council merged with Northern Star Council.
A flowchart of the history of these councils is depicted below:
Organization Northern Star Scouting is divided into districts to better administer Scouting within geographic, specialty and cultural communities.
Geographic District Sampling of Communities Served District E Amery School District, Baldwin-Woodville Area SD, Clear Lake School District, Ellsworth Community School District, Frederic School District, Glenwood City School District, Hudson School District, Luck School District, New Richmond School District, Osceola School District, Plum City School District, Prescott School District, River Falls School District, Somerset School District, Spring Valley School District, St. Croix Central School District, St. Croix Falls School District, Unity School District, Webster School District District F Cambridge-Isanti PSD, Centennial Public School District, Chisago Lakes School District, Forest Lake Public School District, North Branch Public Schools, Rush City Public School District, St. Francis Public School District District G Inver Grove Heights Schools, Mahtomedi Public School District, South St. Paul Public School District, South Washington County SD, Stillwater Area Public School District District H North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale SD, Roseville Public School District, White Bear Lake School District District I St. Paul Public School District District J Anoka-Hennepin PSD, Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose PS, Elk River Public School District, Fridley Public School District, Monticello Public School District, Spring Lake Park Public Schools, St. Michael-Albertville School District District K Edina Public School District, Hopkins Public School District, Osseo Public School District, Robbinsdale Public School District, St. Louis Park Public School District, Brooklyn Center Public School District District L Columbia Heights PSD, Minneapolis Public School District, Mounds View Public School District, St. Anthony-New Brighton Schools District M Central Public School District Delano Public School District, Eastern Carver County Public Schools, Glencoe-Silver Lake School District, Minnetonka Public School District, Orono Public School District, Rockford Public School District, Waconia Public School District, Watertown-Mayer Public School District, Wayzata Public School District, Westonka Public School District District N Bloomington Public School District, Burnsville Public School District, Eden Prairie Public School District, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, Richfield Public School District, Shakopee Public School District District O Hastings Public School District, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan, West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan District P Belle Plaine Public School District, Faribault Public School District, Farmington Public School District, Jordan Public School District, Lakeville Public School District, Le Sueur-Henderson School District, New Prague Area Schools, Northfield Public School District, Randolph Public School District, Tri-City United School District, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown PSD District Q A.C.G.C. Public School District, Annandale Public School District, Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian PSD, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart PS, Canby Public School District, Dassel-Cokato Public School District, Dawson-Boyd Public School District, Eden Valley-Watkins School District, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, Hutchinson Public School District, Kimball Public School District, Lac qui Parle Valley School District, Litchfield Public School District, MACCRAY School District, Maple Lake Public School District, Montevideo Public School District, New London-Spicer School District, Renville County West School District, Willmar Public School District, Yellow Medicine East
Neighboring councils The following councils neighbor Northern Star Council.
Council Headquarter city North Central Minnesota Sartell, MN Northern Lights Fargo, ND South Gamehaven Rochester, MN Sioux Sioux Falls, SD Twin Valley Mankato, MN East Chippewa Valley Eau Claire, WI West Sioux Sioux Falls, SD
Camps
Northern Star Scouting currently operates eight camps.
Camp name Camp location Size Website Base Camp Fort Snelling, MN Website Andersen Scout Camp Houlton, WI Website Kiwanis Scout Camp Marine on St. Croix, MN Website Many Point Scout Camp Ponsford, MN Website Phillippo Scout Camp Cannon Falls, MN Website Rum River Scout Camp Anoka, MN Website Stearns Scout Camp South Haven, MN Website Tomahawk Scout Camp Birchwood, WI Website
Tomahawk Scout Camp
Tomahawk Scout Camp is located near Rice Lake, Wisconsin. It sits on the shores of Long Lake, on which the camp owns several miles of shoreline. The camp encompasses approximately , and is the largest camp operated by Northern Star Council.
Tomahawk is made up of four sub-camps: Chippewa, Sioux, White Pine, and Arrow of Light.
History Tomahawk began with Indianhead Council purchasing of land on February 14, 1953, from businessman Aksel Nielsen.
Many Point Scout Camp
Many Point Scout Camp is a Scout summer camp located along Many Point Lake on the White Earth Indian Reservation near the township of Ponsford in Becker County, Minnesota. The camp is currently the second largest Scout camp operated by the Northern Star Council, is composed of approximately , and borders the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge. Many Point is further divided into six sub-camps which serve troops, Venturing crews and families.
History The first occupants of Many Point Lake and its surroundings were Native Americans of the Ojibwa tribe, who gave the lake its name for its many peninsulas. In the 19th century, the lake and woods which surrounded it were occupied by French fur traders and loggers, who harvested the abundant natural resources.
Many Point Scout Camp was founded in 1946 by Wint Hartman, the first camping director for the camp, and Boots Hanson, the first camp ranger. Wint's initial idea for the camp was that Scouts would come with their troops and be guided by principles such as leave no trace. This was a new idea for the BSA, as up until this time Scouts went to camp by themselves, and camps were much more paramilitary. Many Point Scout Camp was the first BSA camp to accommodate troops instead of just individual Scouts.
During the winter of 1946–1947, Boots Hanson lived alone on land purchased from the Many Point Gun and Rod club, what is today the Buckskin sub-camp. He spent the winter readying the land for Scouts. In the spring, when Wint Hartman drove up from the cities wondering if camp would be ready, he saw a red lantern hanging in Hanson's window, a sign that camp was ready. To this day, a red lantern is one of the symbols for Many Point. During the summer, lit red lanterns are hung outside of each sub-camp's lodge, as a sign that the camp is there for the Scouts. In the winter, red lanterns are placed in the windows of the rangers' homes.
As time went on and more land was obtained, new sub-camps were opened and additions were made to the camp. Today it is made up of a main administration area, three program camps for troop camping, a high adventure base, a camp with no staff or program for troops who wish to run their own program, as well as a camp for families.
Some of the staff have noted what seems to be a sunken bridge of some sort on part of the lake. They believe that over time, the lake began to fill with more water, causing this structure to collapse. They notice that the surrounding area is swampy, leading them to note that the loggers may have built a bridge over the swamp.
Geography Many Point Scout Camp is made up of roughly of woodland and swamp along over of shoreline on Many Point Lake, Round Lake to the south, and a few small lakes to the east. The camp is located on the White Earth Band of Ojibwe reservation, bordering the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge.
Main Area The administration area is located a short drive into the camp, and is where troops check in at the start of their session. The area houses the administration building, which includes a lounge for staff, also used by counselors-in-training (CITs) on weekends. The Many Point History Center and fire tower are also located here. A few minutes away by foot is the camp maintenance shop and CIT base camp, also called CIT Hill.
Camps Many Point is made up of four sub-camps, which are Buckskin, Ten Chiefs, Voyager and Pioneer. Many Point also has a family camp, where Scouting families may stay for the week. Preference is given to those families that have a Scout attending Many Point that same week. Family Camp includes a full program led by camp staff, 21 cabins, and 8 tenting sites. Many Point is also home to Flintlock, a high adventure base serving Scouts staying in Buckskin, Ten Chiefs, and Voyageur.
Buckskin
Buckskin is the oldest sub-camp within Many Point, and is a short walk from the administration area. Troops that camp in Buckskin stay in one of 13 troop sites, each containing multiple patrol sites. There is also a site called All Star, where Scouts, may come independent from troops.
Buckskin is unique from the other camps for its dining hall, where Scouts and staff are fed, and therefore not required to cook their own food. The sub-camp is home to one of Many Point's three climbing towers and one of three water trampolines.
Ten Chiefs
Ten Chiefs is about south of Buckskin and the Administration areas, and is the second of the three sub-camps that troops use. Much like Buckskin, troops stay in one of 13 troop sites, but unlike Buckskin must do their own cooking, except for dinner, which is delivered from the commissary. The second of the three climbing towers and water trampolines are located within Ten Chiefs.
Voyageur
Voyageur is the third sub-camp used for troop camping and is just over south of Ten Chiefs. Voyageur has 13 campsites, and like Ten Chiefs troops must cook their own meals. The third climbing tower, as well as the third water trampoline, are both located within Voyageur.
Flintlock