Founded in 1927, the Pine Burr Area Council was established to serve 17 counties across South Mississippi. The first official unit, Troop 2 in Picayune, began with just eight Scouts. Scouting quickly gained momentum, with new units forming in Hattiesburg, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. By 1939, membership had grown to over 400 youth, highlighting the need for a permanent camping facility.

In 1942, a group of six dedicated Scouting supporters purchased 40 acres in Stone County and opened Camp Towanda. As membership climbed to over 1,000 youth by 1950, it became clear the camp could no longer meet the Council's growing needs. Led by Mr. L.O. Crosby, Jr. of Picayune and Mr. Bill Blain, Sr. of Mt. Olive, a land acquisition committee spent three years assembling 1,200 acres north of Wiggins. In 1955, Camp Tiak was officially opened, named from the Choctaw word meaning "Tall Pines," reflecting the land’s towering pine forests. Over the next two decades, Camp Tiak grew into a premier Scouting destination, featuring 12 campsites, a 300-person dining hall, health lodge, shooting sports range, and aquatics area.

In 1998, the Council reaffirmed its commitment to serving all communities through the launch of its ScoutReach Initiative, aimed at engaging underserved and minority youth. Starting with 47 participants, the program grew to over 800 youth within a decade. Building on this success, the Council introduced HELP (Hispanic Emphasis to Latino People) in 2010 and AIM (Asian Impact Mission) in 2011. In a historic milestone, AIM sent Mississippi’s first Asian Scout contingent to the 2013 National Jamboree in West Virginia.

Continuing its tradition of innovation and inclusivity, the Council was selected in 2016 as one of only 20 councils nationwide to pilot the STEM Scouts program. This co-ed initiative serves students from grades 3 through 12 with hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Today, the Pine Burr Area Council proudly fulfills its mission: to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices throughout their lives by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. With five districts spanning 17 counties, we continue to shape the future of South Mississippi through the power of Scouting.

The purpose of Scouting is to encourage the physical, intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual development of young people so that they take a constructive place in society as responsible citizens, and as members of their local, national and international communities.