Council Information
Since 1917, the Anthony Wayne Area Council has and continues to enrich communities and the lives of youth in Northeast Indiana through the preparation of young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. The council is divided into six geographic districts that serve 300 scouting groups in 11 Northeast Indiana counties. 7,000 youth members participated in Scouting programs in 2010.
A brief timeline of the council's rich history:
1917-1957
April 1917 – Fort Wayne Local Council chartered to the Boy Scouts of America.
Oct. 1923- First Eagle Scout- Laurentz Kimmel.
1926- First Sea Scout ship organized in the council.
May 1927- Council name changed to Anthony Wayne Area Council.
March 1929- Council purchases Gene Stratton-Porter estate at Sylvan Lake in Rome City, IN.
1935 – Camp Island (later know as Camp Big Island) is established at Sylvan Lake.
Spring 1936- First Cub Scout Pack is chartered.
1938- 24 of the 254 boys enrolled earn the Eagle Scout rank.
June 1940- Council Board approves boys attending Philturn Rocky Mountain Scout camp in Cimarron,NM (later renamed Philmont Scout Ranch).
1941- Leadership shortages due to WWII cause the loss of six troops and two packs.
1944-Swimming is the most popular merit badge at Camp Big Island summer camp.
June 1948- Council Scout-O-Rama is held at the Fort Wayne Speedway and features the Koshare Indians of La Junta, CO.
1958-2010
Dec. 1960- Dedication of Clarence L.Schust Scout Center at Portage and Taylor Streets in Fort Wayne.
May 1967- Groundbreaking at Anthony Wayne Scout Reservation near Pleasant Lake, IN.
June 1967- Last summer camp season at Camp Big Island, Sylvan Lake.
June 1968- First summer camp at Camp Chief Little Turtle on Anthony Wayne Scout Reservation.
1976-1979 Ossian native Harvey Price becomes National Chief Scout Executive of the BSA.
September 1981 – First Tiger Cub groups chartered in the council.
Fall 1983 – First Boy Scout popcorn sale. One of the first councils across nation to conduct popcorn sale.
August 1985- Project C.O.P.E.(Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience) course completed at Anthony Wayne Scout Reservation.
1998 – Capital Campaign started to build new Council Service Center.
March 2000 – GTE North, Inc. sells property at 8315 West Jefferson Blvd. To Anthony Wayne Area Council for $10.
June 2001 – Anthony Wayne Area Council relocates the Council Service Center and Schust Scout Shop to new property on West Jefferson.
October 2007 - Council celebrates 90th Anniversary with Fall Camporee on IPFW Campus.
2009 – Camp Chief Little Turtle dining hall is expanded and Water Furnace International generously help with the replacement of old geothermal heating and air conditioning system with new efficient model.
Council Files
AWAC Annual Report 2010
AWAC Annual Report 2009
AWAC Strategic Plan 2009-2013
Council Service Center Reservation Form
AWAC Council Program Plan 2010-2011
2011 Annual Council Meeting and Awards Recognition
2009 Form 990