Council Histories

Girl Scouts - Heart of Ohio Council's Brief History

In 1913 a small group of girls came together to form the first Girl Scout troop in Muskingum County, Ohio. Word of Girl Scouting began to spread with pockets of troops forming throughout Southeastern Ohio. In October of 1935, the first officially chartered council in Southeastern Ohio was recognized by the national Girl Scout organization. The council office was located in Marietta, Ohio.

As Girl Scouting flourished, a handful of prominent adults in the community began serving and supporting the girl centered organization. As a result, a council office opened in downtown Zanesville in the late 1930s. During this time, the opportunities for girls and women were very limited, with few opportunities for outdoor recreation and career options virtually non-existent.

The 1940s, with World War II raging in Europe, saw local Girl Scouts working along side the American Red Cross preparing “Bundles for Britain” care packages. A strong program focus was placed on nursing care. The 1950s saw the merger of several small councils in Southeastern Ohio, blending the community cultures of Coshocton, Knox, Licking and Muskingum Counties. The newly incorporated council was named “Heart of Ohio Girl Scout Council”. The headquarters for the council was located in Newark, Ohio. With the incorporation came the ownership of five different camp properties. “Tilting Acres” in Muskingum County, “Hill-In-Dale” in Guernsey County, “Wakatomika” in Licking County, “Cornish” in Knox County and “Falls Run” in Washington County.

Early in 1972, after a fire destroyed the Newark office, the council moved its principle office to 1215 Newark Road, in Zanesville. The council purchased property on Bowers Lane in Zanesville, Ohio in December, 1994. In October, 1996, building began on the Program Service Center and in January, 1998 the council relocated to its current location.

Dates of Filing for Articles of Incorporation:

1913 Zanesville Area “Lone” Girl Scout troop formed in Muskingum County
Marietta area, October 5, 1935 Charter # 164376
June 7, 1938 Zanesville And Area, Girl Scouts, Inc. Charter #173945
The original Articles of Incorporation for Heart of Ohio Girl Scout Council, November 18, 1955 included Licking, Knox, Coshocton and Muskingum Counties. Council office located in Newark. Charter #251087
On January 1, 1968, after GSUSA’s Green Umbrella Program was implemented, the council incorporated all of the current nine counties into one council, Heart of Ohio Girl Scout Council Inc.
1972 Council office moved to Zanesville.
1998 Council office moved from Newark Road site to 3230 Bowers Lane.

The Articles of Incorporation were amended on June 21, 2001 changing the council’s name to Girl Scouts-Heart of Ohio, Inc.

Through this site, we will be sharing news about the activities of the subcommittees charged with moving forward the work required for a successful merger of our councils into the newly named Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland Council.

Girl Scouts-Heart of Ohio Council

Girl Scouts of Heritage Trails Council

Girl Scouts-Seal of Ohio