Canal District
Canal District is an organizational area made up of volunteers offering unit support to the Packs, Troops, Crews, Ships, and Explorers of the Great Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America. We proudly serve all youth of our area and can refer you to the best contacts for other districts. After all, it is the mission of the BSA is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. To learn more about our values scroll to the bottom of this page.
School Districts Served
Akron
Barberton
Chippewa
Coventry
Field
Green
Manchester
Mogadore
Norton
Rootstown
Springfield
Tallmadge
Waterloo
Communities Served
Akron
Barberton
Brimfield
Clinton
Coventry
Doylestown
Green
Mogadore
New Franklin
Norton
Portage Lakes
Springfield
Suffield
Tallmadge
Find a unit near you
District
Chair
Chair
Contact us
District Chair: Coming Soon
District Commissioner: Walter "Bill" Hedrick, (330) 524-0381
District Executive: Ryan Perkins (234) 900-5898
Eagle Process: Andrew Paisley
Eagle Process Document
Vice-Chair for Communications: Wendy Greathouse
Vice-Chair for Program: Gregory Upole, (330) 242-4203
District Meetings
District Committee Meeting: 1st Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM, Firestone Park UMC, 250 N Firestone Blvd, Akron 44301 directions
District Commissioner's Meeting: 1st Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM, Firestone Park UMC, 250 N Firestone Blvd, Akron 44301 directions
Monthly Roundtable: 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM, Clearview United Methodist Church, 1733 Massillon Rd, Akron, OH 44312 directions
District Retreat: January 7, 2023, location TBD
To learn who is your unit commissioner or to inquire about serving as a unit commissioner please contact Bill Hedrick. To learn about commissioners click here.
For updates and current information read how we communicate with you.
How we communicate with you
Please use our hashtag #CanalDistrictGTC
Canal District is providing a way for units to exchange equipment and resources with other Scouters in a safe and effective manner.
This group is specifically for the Scouters currently involved in Canal District Scouting. Here, you'll find activity flyers, post questions and start a Scouting appropriate discussion about germaine subject matters, and find information on all pinned topics simply and easily.
Visit, Like and Share our Facebook Page
Weekly Update, your email newsletter
Looking for a flyer or some recent communication?
We might have it here. Click to see the Public File store of the Canal District.
District History
Canal District exists to promote youth character development through the aims and methods of Scouting in Great Trail Council. Canal District was formed in 2021 with a consortium of dedicated volunteers serving units.
The district consists of what was in 2020, parts of the Signal Tree District, Lakes District, and Seneca District. Signal Tree was created in 2018 by a re-merger of Old Portage District and Tri-Fires District.
In 1988 when Great Trail Council divided the then Towpath District into "Towpath East" and "Towpath West" both districts sought their own identity. In 1989 the then Towpath West christened itself "Old Portage" based on the Portage Trail that runs through the district boundaries. Towpath East after much deliberation (and the help of Troop 77) became the Tri-Fires District. This name evolved out of our motto "Get Fired-up About Scouting" and the three anchor communities of Akron, Mogadore and Tallmadge that then made up the district.
Our Geographical Area
Our Values
Clicking on the next image will take you to the National Scouting.org webpage.
