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Camp Coker: Difference between revisions
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== Camp Coker == | == Camp Coker == | ||
Camp Coker is a [[Boy Scout]] Camp located just outside [[Society Hill, South Carolina|Society Hill]], South Carolina. Camp Coker is operated by the | Camp Coker is a [[Boy Scout]] Camp located just outside [[Society Hill, South Carolina|Society Hill]], South Carolina. Camp Coker is operated by the Pee Dee Area Council Boy Scouts of America. The Pee Dee area council covers 11 counties in northeastern South Carolina: [[Darlington County, South Carolina|Darlington]], [[Chesterfield County, South Carolina|Chesterfield]], [[Marlboro County, South Carolina|Marlboro]], [[Florence County, South Carolina|Florence]], [[Dillon County, South Carolina|Dillon]], [[Marion County, South Carolina|Marion]], [[Horry County, South Carolina|Horry]], [[Williamsburg County, South Carolina|Williamsburg]], [[Lee County, South Carolina|Lee]], [[Sumter County, South Carolina|Sumter]], and [[Clarendon County, South Carolina|Clarendon]]. The fully-accredited Camp Coker offers programs and activities including COPE, aquatics, [[canoeing]], [[watercraft rowing|rowing]], [[sailing]], [[kayaking]], [[handicrafts]], rifle shooting, [[shotgun]] shooting, [[archery]], [[ecology]] and environmental science, fishing, natural sciences, Scoutcraft, and Trailblazers (emphasis on Tenderfoot-to-First Class skills). Camp Coker is a year-round facility. In addition to the Boy Scout summer camp program held June to August each year, Camp Coker host a variety of events, from unit camping opportunities to training courses, [[Woodbadge]], Council events, District events, and [[Order of the Arrow]] functions. | ||
== Camp Pee Dee == | == Camp Pee Dee == | ||
The Pee Dee Area Council Boy Scouts of America was founded in July of 1928 with William E. Czarnitzki as the first [[Scout Executive]]. The council office was in the city hall in [[Darlington, South Carolina|Darlington]] until it moved to | The Pee Dee Area Council Boy Scouts of America was founded in July of 1928 with William E. Czarnitzki as the first [[Scout Executive]]. The council office was in the city hall in [[Darlington, South Carolina|Darlington]] until it moved to Florence in the 1930s. Mr. Czarnitzki left the Pee Dee Area Council to take the job of Scout Executive of the Central South Carolina council in his home town of [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]] circa March 1930. He returned to Camp Coker for the council anniversary [[camporee]] in November of 1978, which was a very cold weekend! He and Wilbert H. Bernshouse from [[Sumter, South Carolina|Sumter]] were the only people from 1929 at the camporee in 1978. | ||
According to the 1941 Camp Coker bulletin, the question of how the site for Camp Coker was chosen is answered by a story about a good pot of [[fish stew]]. The bulletin recounts that a group of men from Darlington were out looking for a site to be used by the boy scouts for camping. The men traveled to a [[grist mill]] dam on Spot Mill Creek near Society Hill. They had come for a fish stew but later decided that the land looked ideal for the camp site they had been searching for. The grist mill building was still there in 1943 but was torn down sometime after that. | According to the 1941 Camp Coker bulletin, the question of how the site for Camp Coker was chosen is answered by a story about a good pot of [[fish stew]]. The bulletin recounts that a group of men from Darlington were out looking for a site to be used by the boy scouts for camping. The men traveled to a [[grist mill]] dam on Spot Mill Creek near Society Hill. They had come for a fish stew but later decided that the land looked ideal for the camp site they had been searching for. The grist mill building was still there in 1943 but was torn down sometime after that. | ||
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Soon after the trip buildings were constructed as the site was developed. The original camp was built on 80 acres and called Camp Pee Dee[http://www.santeeswapper.com/images/Pdac/Camp%20Coker/Cok29peedee.jpg] after the name of the council. "Pee Dee" is the name of an Indian tribe from the area as well as a regional name for this part of the state. The [[Great Pee Dee River]] flows just miles from the camp. The Little Pee Dee River also flows through the council's geographic area. | Soon after the trip buildings were constructed as the site was developed. The original camp was built on 80 acres and called Camp Pee Dee[http://www.santeeswapper.com/images/Pdac/Camp%20Coker/Cok29peedee.jpg] after the name of the council. "Pee Dee" is the name of an Indian tribe from the area as well as a regional name for this part of the state. The [[Great Pee Dee River]] flows just miles from the camp. The Little Pee Dee River also flows through the council's geographic area. | ||
The camp was located on the site of an old plantation. Spot Mill Creek runs through the heart of this site. In the 19th century a dam was built, probably by slaves, to form a pond for a grist mill. [[Turpentine]] was also extracted from some of the tall | The camp was located on the site of an old plantation. Spot Mill Creek runs through the heart of this site. In the 19th century a dam was built, probably by slaves, to form a pond for a grist mill. [[Turpentine]] was also extracted from some of the tall pine trees on the land. | ||
In the original camp there were several buildings. The boys stayed in one of six screened-in cabins, each housing eight campers with four sets of bunk beds. The cabins were given names after famous Native American tribes such as the [[Apache]], [[Sioux]], Iroquois, Cherokee, [[Navajo people|Navajo]] and [[Seminole]]. In addition, there was one cabin for the cooks. The camp director, W. E. Czarnitzki, also had a cabin near the entrance to camp that served as an office. The cabins were screened in with canvas that could be dropped down in case of rain. They also had a front porch that extended out a couple of feet. | In the original camp there were several buildings. The boys stayed in one of six screened-in cabins, each housing eight campers with four sets of bunk beds. The cabins were given names after famous Native American tribes such as the [[Apache]], [[Sioux]], Iroquois, Cherokee, [[Navajo people|Navajo]] and [[Seminole]]. In addition, there was one cabin for the cooks. The camp director, W. E. Czarnitzki, also had a cabin near the entrance to camp that served as an office. The cabins were screened in with canvas that could be dropped down in case of rain. They also had a front porch that extended out a couple of feet. | ||
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The Shaw Training Center was built in honor of Charlie Shaw in 1988. This modern building has several bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a kitchen and a large meeting room. Often this is used as the site of district committee meetings and other functions. Camp staff members have nicknamed the building the "Camp Coker Hilton". | The Shaw Training Center was built in honor of Charlie Shaw in 1988. This modern building has several bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a kitchen and a large meeting room. Often this is used as the site of district committee meetings and other functions. Camp staff members have nicknamed the building the "Camp Coker Hilton". | ||
The Copenhaver family of [[Hartsville, South Carolina|Hartsville]] donated money for a new campsite and renovation of the camp chapel in 1983.[http://campcoker.org/CC06046.JPG] Copenhaver campsite and chapel were named in memory of Dr. James E. Copenhaver (1896-1982). He was the director of chemical research at [[Sonoco Products Company]] in Hartsville. He had previously been a chemistry professor at the [[University of South Carolina]]. Dr. Copenhaver was a longtime supporter of the Pee Dee Area Council. He was a former council president and was the second PDAC scouter to receive the | The Copenhaver family of [[Hartsville, South Carolina|Hartsville]] donated money for a new campsite and renovation of the camp chapel in 1983.[http://campcoker.org/CC06046.JPG] Copenhaver campsite and chapel were named in memory of Dr. James E. Copenhaver (1896-1982). He was the director of chemical research at [[Sonoco Products Company]] in Hartsville. He had previously been a chemistry professor at the [[University of South Carolina]]. Dr. Copenhaver was a longtime supporter of the Pee Dee Area Council. He was a former council president and was the second PDAC scouter to receive the Silver Antelope award. Copenhaver chapel and campsite is located near the [[causeway]] just down from the rifle range. It also included a new screen shelter. | ||
In 1990 Henry B. Moree of Society Hill donated money for a campsite in his name which was built above Holliday campsite. In 1987 Moree purchased most of the property across the paved road from camp and constructed a hunting preserve and [[motocross]] racetrack on the land. The motocross track still holds races on occasion much to the aggravation of peace and quiet lovers at camp. | In 1990 Henry B. Moree of Society Hill donated money for a campsite in his name which was built above Holliday campsite. In 1987 Moree purchased most of the property across the paved road from camp and constructed a hunting preserve and [[motocross]] racetrack on the land. The motocross track still holds races on occasion much to the aggravation of peace and quiet lovers at camp. | ||
