The Northeast Georgia Council was chartered by the Boy Scouts of America in 1935 to provide Scouting programs in twenty-seven counties. These counties included all of the currently served counties along with Newton County (now part of the Atlanta Area Council). Beginning in 1916 there was a council based in Athens and 1928, one in Gainesville. These councils merged to form the Northeast Georgia Council.

After years of phenomenal growth in the northeast Georgia area, our council now serves more than 25,000 youth in Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Venturing, Exploring, and in-school Learning for Life. Three camping facilities (Camp Rainey Mountain, Scoutland, and Camp Rotary) and two service centers (Jefferson and Lawrenceville) support the youth members and volunteer leaders. There are more than 600 scouting units throughout the council.

The twenty-six counties served are divided into 8 districts, each with a district committee of local volunteers and a district executive. Unit commissioners provide additional support to all units.

A point of pride for Scouters throughout the council is the Quality Council Award. Created in 1985 to recognize councils for growth in Scouting programs and good fiscal management, the Northeast Georgia Council is only one of two councils in America to have received the award every year.