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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 [[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 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 [[Florence, South Carolina|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. | 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, South Carolina|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. | ||
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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. | 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]], | 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. | ||
The other original buildings at Camp Pee Dee were the dining hall and the handicraft lodge. The dining hall was built by men from Darlington in 1929. It was erected on a hill overlooking the cabins. It was a wooden building on stilts over uneven ground.[http://santeeswapper.com/images/Coker%20History/dining_hallearly.jpg] Water came up to the dining hall from an electric pump located near the road. This dining hall was used through the 1951 camping season. It was torn down to make way for the new dining hall. The new dining hall opened for the 1952 camping season and was constructed on a concrete slab after the top of the hill had been graded to an even surface. | The other original buildings at Camp Pee Dee were the dining hall and the handicraft lodge. The dining hall was built by men from Darlington in 1929. It was erected on a hill overlooking the cabins. It was a wooden building on stilts over uneven ground.[http://santeeswapper.com/images/Coker%20History/dining_hallearly.jpg] Water came up to the dining hall from an electric pump located near the road. This dining hall was used through the 1951 camping season. It was torn down to make way for the new dining hall. The new dining hall opened for the 1952 camping season and was constructed on a concrete slab after the top of the hill had been graded to an even surface. | ||
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The camp newspaper, called the Pine Needles, reports a lot of the activities that were going on in camp. Morning inspections were conducted by Sgt. Murrel Rose of Fort Jackson with the Cherokee Cabin and the boys from Sumter being five-time winners. The paper reports there were no cases of homesickness, although staff members Marion Yates and Dana Crosland were cited for love sickness. The best fisherman of the season was C. C. Griffen of Troop 14 in Bennettsville. He was responsible for landing three big jackfish in one day and causing a big stir in camp during the second week. A whole host of weekly individual awards were given out including biggest grouch, biggest eater, sloppiest Scout, funniest Scout, and the biggest "sheik" to name a few. | The camp newspaper, called the Pine Needles, reports a lot of the activities that were going on in camp. Morning inspections were conducted by Sgt. Murrel Rose of Fort Jackson with the Cherokee Cabin and the boys from Sumter being five-time winners. The paper reports there were no cases of homesickness, although staff members Marion Yates and Dana Crosland were cited for love sickness. The best fisherman of the season was C. C. Griffen of Troop 14 in Bennettsville. He was responsible for landing three big jackfish in one day and causing a big stir in camp during the second week. A whole host of weekly individual awards were given out including biggest grouch, biggest eater, sloppiest Scout, funniest Scout, and the biggest "sheik" to name a few. | ||
==Camp Pee Dee becomes Camp Coker== | == Camp Pee Dee becomes Camp Coker == | ||
The name of the council camp was changed from Camp Pee Dee to Camp Coker before the summer of 1932 in memory of Charles Westfield Coker, of [[Hartsville, South Carolina]]. He was President of the Southern Novelty Company (now [[Sonoco Products Company]]) from 1918 until his death in the fall of 1931. The lake in the center of camp is named Lake Westwood in honor of Charles Westfield Coker and Joseph Norwood. Joseph Norwood was a developer who took the 2000 acre Cox Plantation and subdivided it into lots in the year 1915. One of those lots of 80 acres was the original land for the camp. | The name of the council camp was changed from Camp Pee Dee to Camp Coker before the summer of 1932 in memory of Charles Westfield Coker, of [[Hartsville, South Carolina]]. He was President of the Southern Novelty Company (now [[Sonoco Products Company]]) from 1918 until his death in the fall of 1931. The lake in the center of camp is named Lake Westwood in honor of Charles Westfield Coker and Joseph Norwood. Joseph Norwood was a developer who took the 2000 acre Cox Plantation and subdivided it into lots in the year 1915. One of those lots of 80 acres was the original land for the camp. | ||
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Flora did not waste anything and her skills were one of the reasons why excellent food was served within a reasonable budget. This included making good soup out of leftovers. She made sweet rolls from scratch that were usually served on Saturday mornings before camp ended. She made delicious cookies from U.S. Department of Agriculture peanut butter. Her chili and rice, grilled cheese sandwiches, and macaroni and cheese made from scratch were outstanding. Leftover butter was melted and put into refrigerated molds to be used again. Her scrambled eggs were made from real eggs that were cracked out of the shell. Staff members would sit with troops when seats were available and this facilitated interaction between the staff and the campers. Scout songs were usually sung after meals led by a member of the staff. The interior light fixtures in the dining hall resemble wagon wheels. Flags from previous Pee Dee Area Council National Jamboree troops were hung from the rafters in the dining hall. Two "awards" that were sometimes presented in the dining hall were the loving cup and the pigs trough for the cleanest and messiest tables. | Flora did not waste anything and her skills were one of the reasons why excellent food was served within a reasonable budget. This included making good soup out of leftovers. She made sweet rolls from scratch that were usually served on Saturday mornings before camp ended. She made delicious cookies from U.S. Department of Agriculture peanut butter. Her chili and rice, grilled cheese sandwiches, and macaroni and cheese made from scratch were outstanding. Leftover butter was melted and put into refrigerated molds to be used again. Her scrambled eggs were made from real eggs that were cracked out of the shell. Staff members would sit with troops when seats were available and this facilitated interaction between the staff and the campers. Scout songs were usually sung after meals led by a member of the staff. The interior light fixtures in the dining hall resemble wagon wheels. Flags from previous Pee Dee Area Council National Jamboree troops were hung from the rafters in the dining hall. Two "awards" that were sometimes presented in the dining hall were the loving cup and the pigs trough for the cleanest and messiest tables. | ||
==See also== | == See also == | ||
*[[Scouting in South Carolina]] | *[[Scouting in South Carolina]] | ||
==External links== | == External links == | ||
*[http://www.campcoker.org/ Camp Coker Official site] | *[http://www.campcoker.org/ Camp Coker Official site] | ||
*[http://www.santeeswapper.com/ Santeeswapper] | *[http://www.santeeswapper.com/ Santeeswapper] | ||
