William D. Boyce of Chicago, Illinois incorporated the Boy Scouts of America. He didn’t, however, conceptualize the scouting movement -- the Boy Scouts were originated by Englishman, Sir Robert S.S. Baden-Powell. It seems that Mr. Boyce was visiting England and one foggy day in London town, he lost his way. A young boy guided him, but refused any monetary reward. A surprised Mr. Boyce queried as to why. The boy replied that he was a Scout and Scouts did not accept a reward for doing a good turn. This gesture of good will so inspired Boyce that he searched out Baden-Powell to learn more about the British Scouts. Upon his return to the United States, he formed the Boy Scouts of America.

From one Sponsoring Institution who operated one Scout Troop in 1910 the San Diego County Council, Boy Scouts of America has grown. The first Scoutmaster, Dexter Rau, was commissioned December 16, 1910 of Troop 1, sponsored by the Y.M.C.A. Concurrently; the National organization of the Boy Scouts of America was founded on February 8, 1910 and chartered by The Congress of the United States of America on June 15, 1916.

By 1914 there were eleven Sponsoring Institutions who, in the spirit of cooperativeness and economy met on January 20 to form the San Diego County Council to better serve their eleven Scout Troops and the community at large. Milton H. Epstine was elected the Councils organizing chairman. The boy membership was just over 200 and the Council attained their original charter from the National Council as a "2nd Class Council", with all service and administrative offices being volunteer commissioned Scouters.

In 1917 with Col. Milton A. McRae as president and Elwood E. Barley becoming first Scout Executive the Council achieved "First Class" status. In 1920, Council President Duncan MacKinnon secured space in the old Indian village in Balboa Park for the San Diego Council's first "Service Center" to serve the rapidly growing boy membership. The Council remained at the Indian Village until 1940 when it moved downtown to the Orpheum Building while awaiting construction of a permanent home. On August 14, 1949 the present Scout Service Center was dedicated in Balboa Park Camp as Headquarters for the San Diego Area Council.

In 1930, the Council, to further protect and consolidate the interest and work of its member sponsoring institutions, Scout units and boy and adult membership, was incorporated under the laws of the State of California as San Diego County Council, Boy Scouts of America. Over the years the Council has met all United States Treasury Dept. (IRS) tax exemption requirements and the State of California Tax Franchise Board requirements to protect corporations, individuals and foundations who contribute to the operational and capital needs of the San Diego County Council in behalf of youth in the area. To update the Incorporation of the Council, to keep pace with new tax laws and responsibilities of Council officers and Executive Board Members, the Council amended its original incorporation documents on July 13, 1976. During Council development the Council has acquired camping, program and training facilities to serve the boy community through gifts, purchase and bequest. Especially benefited are Cubs and Scouts who are physically, mentally, emotionally and / or socially handicapped and who enjoy the benefits of Scouting in units and facilities designed to help them.