The Georgia Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America in conjunction with the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 20th. Russell Lahodny, Columbia County Chamber Director opened he ceremony with a welcome to the crowd of about forty. Georgia-Carolina Council President Elect Dr. Gregory Francisco offered the opening prayer. Columbia County Commissioner Doug Duncan offered brief remarks welcoming the Scouts to Columbia County.

Augusta Mayor elect Garnett Johnson then spoke, recalling his time in the Cub Scouts when his mother volunteered as a Den Leader and his memories of Scouting. He pledged his support to the council to help Scouting grow in Augusta and noted the terrific opportunity youth have today with wonderful facilities.

Distinguished Eagle Scout Dr. Rick Richards then recognized several attendees for their role in the acquisition of the property. He spoke about the positive changes in BSA Programs to include girls and the role the new facility would play in providing relevant exciting program opportunities for all youth in the CSRA going forward. He then presented the Scout Executive of the Georgia-Carolina Council, Dan Rogers, with “the key” to the building.

Rogers spoke at length recounting the history of camps for the Scouts starting with Camp Linwood Hayne donated by Mary Anderson in the late 1920s, and the 1962 gift orchestrated by Robert E. Knox and Strom Thurmond as an act of Congress to provide the Robert E Knox Scout Reservation to the council in 1962.

“This is the most significant gift to Scouting in the CSRA in 60 years” noted Rogers. He then noted the Scout volunteers, or Mentors as he called them donate about 150 hours a year, often going to camp for a week with Scouts, and providing a weekly meeting year around. All told the 600+ volunteers provide over 90,000 hours of mentoring to young people annually. According to the Community Foundation, that has a value of about $2,250,000 annually.

“What they deliver to youth,” Rogers continued, “is the opportunity to discover and explore new things. Be it camping, hiking, or earning one of 140 different merit badges, Scouts get tremendous opportunities to interact camping, hiking, or earning one of 140 different merit badges, Scouts get tremendous opportunities to interact with great adults to discover new interests that will lead to new hobbies or careers.” He praised the Scout leaders for their dedication and impact they have in our community.

Rogers noted the facility will serve four main purposes:

Partner with local businesses, non-profits, and Scouters to provide great Scouting programs for our community.
Work with local schools to provide STEM leadership and nature-based programs to enhance the school curriculum.
To provide Scouts and local families with a great Summer Day Camp experience.
To provide the local community a much-needed banquet and meeting space for weddings, reunions, birthday parties, etc.
The ceremony ended with Scout leader and Chamber Ambassador LeeAnn Rhoden presenting the Chamber membership plaque to Dan Rogers for display in the new facility.

Many of the over ninety youth attending day camp were invited to be a part of the actual ribbon cutting ceremony, which was followed by a tour of the 26-acre facility.

The facility boasts the largest pool in Columbia County, two tennis courts, a basketball court, eighteen acres of natural habitat, a disc golf course, geocaches, orienteering course, nature trail and a pond.

To discover a Scouting unit near you or to request information on Scouting, go to: www.BeAScout.org or call the Nature and Adventure Center at (706) 733-5277.

Scouting is available to any boy or girl ages five and older and there are units across the CSRA conveniently located near you.Adventure on!