The Boy Scouts of America (the BSA) is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with more than 2.4 million youth participants and nearly one million adult volunteers.
The BSA was founded in 1910, and since then, more than 110 million Americans have been participants in BSA programs at some time.
The BSA is part of the international Scout Movement and became a founding member organization of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922.
Sequoyah Council History
The Johnson City Council #559 is located in Johnson City, Tennessee, and was founded in 1919. It changed its name several times, to the Washington County Council in 1922, to the Appalachian Council in 1925, and to the Cherokee Area Council also in 1925. Across the border in Virginia, the Chief Benge Council #713, headquartered in Bristol, VA was founded in 1925. In 1929, the Chief Benge Council, and the Cherokee Area Council merged to form the Chief Benge-Cherokee Council #713, headquartered in Bristol, VA. In 1936, the merged council changed its name to the Sequoyah Council, and moved its headquarters back to Johnson City, TN, but kept the #713 council number, despite the headquarters city and state change.
As one of the country’s first Boy Scouts of America programs, the Sequoyah Council has helped mold and shape the lives of more than 1 million young people since we were founded in 1936.
Each year, we serve more than 5,800 youth and adults throughout a 16-county service area in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
What we are about
Boy Scouts of America has helped shape future leaders by providing a program for young people that builds character, promotes good citizenship, and develops personal fitness for more than 110 years.
We empower youth to make the right choices, overcome challenges, and understand the importance of personal responsibility. In short, we are equipping the next generation with the tools they need to succeed in life.
For younger members, the Scout method is part of the program to instill typical Scouting values, such as trustworthiness, good citizenship, and outdoor skills, through a variety of activities, such as camping, aquatics, and hiking.
In order to further these outdoor activities, the BSA has four high-adventure bases: Northern Tier (Minnesota, Manitoba, and Ontario), Philmont Scout Ranch (New Mexico), Sea Base (Florida), and Summit Bechtel Reserve (West Virginia).
How we are organized
The BSA 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.
