Scouting in North Dakota has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.
In 1920 the Red River Valley Council (#429) was founded. In 1920 the Fargo Council was founded. It merged into Red River Valley Council (#429) in 1925. In 1923 the Park Region Area Council (#294) was founded. It merged into Red River Valley Council (#429) in 1929.
In 1924 the Williston Council was founded. The council folded in 1925.
All of North Dakota is in the Northern Lights Council (NLC), formed in 1974 when several councils (Red River Valley Council – Fargo, Lake Agassiz Council – Grand Forks, Missouri Valley Council – Bismarck, and Great Plains Council – Minot) were merged into one.
As of 2006, Northern Lights Council serves all of North Dakota, and parts of South Dakota, northwestern Minnesota and northeast Montana.