GULF STREAM COUNCIL 1937 to present (West Palm Beach) |
last updated 3/18/26 | ||
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was PALM BEACH COUNTY COUNCIL 1925 to 1937 (West Palm Beach)
merged with EAST COAST COUNCIL 1925 to 1930 (Fort Pierce) split from BROWARD COUNTY COUNCIL 1927 split from EAST COAST COUNCIL (Fort Pierce) 1925 was EAST COAST COUNCIL 1922 to 1925 (West Palm Beach) was WEST PALM BEACH COUNCIL 1917 to 1919 (West Palm Beach) |
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East Coast Council was elevated as a first class council in July 1922, with the hiring of a paid full-time Scout Executive. Based in West Palm Beach, the territory covered Palm Beach, Broward, St. Lucie, and Broward Counties (Indian River and Martin Counties were created in May 1925). Palm Beach County Council was created in December 1925, comprising of Palm Beach and Broward Counties, while the remaining counties (St. Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee, Indian River) maintained the East Coast Council name, with its headquarters in Fort Pierce. In 1927, Broward County broke away from Palm Beach County and created its own first class council. In 1930, East Coast Council could not financially sustain itself, and was merged into Palm Beach County Council. Broward County Council was always on the verge of financial failure, necessitating some supervision and cooperation with their neighbors to the south, Dade County Council. By 1934, the entity became known as Broward-Dade Council. Throughout the mergers and moves toward independence, the councils shared their camp facilities for their summer programs.
KNOWN CAMPS, PROPERTIES, PROGRAM NAMES, AND COUNCILS
CAMP SO-LOY-EE/ CAMP SEMINOLE (East Coast Council) 1923 to 1925
The first council camp program was named "Camp So-Loy Ee", purported to be a Seminole phrase meaning "Going ahead to joy". The 1923 program was held on a property on Lake Osborne, near Lantana. The 1924 location was on the St. Lucie Canal, about eight miles from Lake Okeechobee, near Indiantown. In 1925, the camp program appears to be held at or near the St. Lucie Canal location, on property owned by the Land Company of Florida, and was renamed "Camp Seminole".
CAMP CARSON (East Coast Council, Palm Beach County Council, Broward County Council) 1926 to 1929
After the 1925 camping season and the council split, East Coast Council briefly considered obtaining its own camp, but decided to choose another site. Ultimately, the council chose Camp Carson, a YMCA-operated site on the eastern shores of Lake Reedy, outside the town of Frostproof. Troops from Palm Beach County also attended during the initial year. In later years, newspaper articles quote camp directors from each of the two main councils in the same year. By the end of the summer camp in 1929, Palm Beach County Council began to look for a camp location that was closer to home.
BEAR POINT (Palm Beach County Council, East Coast Council) 1930 to 1931
In 1930, East Coast Council officials leased a location near Lake Placid, a site called Bear Point. The location was described as being on a cliff, about thirty feet above Lake Placid. A highlight of the week's activities included a swim race of two and a half miles. The camp program for both councils changed in 1932, with Scouts with a rank of First Class or higher going on a cruise, while younger Scouts with lower ranks attended Camp Wewa in Central Florida Council.
In 1941, at least two troops in Palm Beach County attended camp at Bear Lake, at that time conducted by Sunnyland Council.
In 1941, at least two troops in Palm Beach County attended camp at Bear Lake, at that time conducted by Sunnyland Council.
CAMP OSBORNE/ LAKE OSBORNE (East Coast Council, Palm Beach County Council, Gulf Stream Council) 1920s to 1957
Newspaper articles as early as 1922 describe troops camping at "the Scout Camp on Lake Osborne, near Lantana"; the site of the original Camp So-Loy Ee summer camp program in 1923. Troop 18 from Lake Worth appears to have used a site on Lake Osborne frequently in the late 1920s, located "near the west end of the bridge over Lake Osborne at the end of the Lantana Road" (December 27, 1928). An article from August 22, 1930 states "the lodge buildings at the Boy Scout Camp, recently founded on Lake Osborne, the temporary site of the camp for several years, has been completed...". In the 1930s, Summer Camp was held at the site intermittently, with tents and no permanent structures. Camps in other parts of the state were attended by troops when Lake Osborne was unavailable. In May 1938, Gulf Stream Council received a permit from "The Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund" to develop 40 acres on the west shore of Lake Osborne, into a Scout Camp under the supervision of the council, and to erect permanent buildings. The first council summer camp held in the improved facilities began a month later. In time, urban encroachment and attendance at camp outgrew the location, forcing Gulf Stream Council to find a new camp. The last council-run summer camp took place in 1956, although two nearby troops held their own summer camp program there the following year. The property was returned to the county, and by 1958, the camp was referred to as "the old Boy Scout Camp."
CAMP LOXAHATCHEE, aka CAMP BRANCH (Segregated Scout Camp) 1938-1945
The first segregated unit in Gulf Stream Council was first chartered in 1937. The first mention of a segregated Scout camp in the council was in 1938, at a temporary camp location west of Jupiter on the Loxahatchee River, owned by Col. James R. Branch. The name "Camp Loxahatchee" was used from 1938 to 1942, then referred to as Camp Branch. Usage of the facility was shared with the segregated Girl Scout program in the area. The last year of summer camp was held in 1945.
CAMP FREDERICK M SMALL (Segregated Scout Camp) 1945 to 1970
In April 1945, businessman Frederick Small purchased a 55-acre property two miles south of Jupiter on the west shore of the Intercoastal Waterway, for the sum of $2,700, for the purpose of donating the property for a segregated Scout camp. Another $10,000 was budgeted for a dining hall, water system, health lodge, and aquatic area, and to construct a mile-long road to th camp. The facility was opened for summer camp in 1946. Camp Small was also used for weekend activities and training, and was the site for the Area VI-E Order of the Arrow Conference in 1957. The last summer camp to be held at Camp Small was in 1962. In 1970, the property had been sold, for $375,000. All traces of the camp were eliminated, with the development of the Admiral's Cove residential subdivision in the 1980s.
CAMP TANAH KEETA/ TANAH KEETA SCOUT RESERVATION/ CAMP LOXAHATCHEE/ CAMP CLEAR LAKE 1953 to present
The new camp for Gulf Stream Council was acquired in 1953, by an act of the Florida Legislature. Located in Martin County north of Jupiter, it is situated on the north bank of the north fork of the Loxahatchee River, adjacent to the Jonathan Dickson State Park, and sits of the site of the former Camp Murphee, used by the Army during World War II. Construction of the first buildings began in 1955. A contest had been held in 1957 to create a name for the new camp; eight year old Cub Scout Willie DeGray submitted the winning name; purported to translate to "all people get together" in Seminole. The names used for the property (camp vs reservation, Tanah Keeta vs Loxahatchee) are often used interchangeably on camp emblems, but are the same property.
Within the Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation are two camps. Camp Loxahatchee is the main camping area, with an amphitheater, swimming pool, dining hall, and the main camping area. Camp Clear Lake, on the eastern side of the property, is for primitive camping.
Within the Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation are two camps. Camp Loxahatchee is the main camping area, with an amphitheater, swimming pool, dining hall, and the main camping area. Camp Clear Lake, on the eastern side of the property, is for primitive camping.
CAMP OKLAWAHA 1954 to present
Camp Oklawaha (Seminole for "crooked waters") is located between the towns of Sebastian and Roseland, consisting of 67 acres on the Sebastian River, in Indian River County. It is used for weekend camping at the northern end of the council. The initial donation of 40 acres was made in 1954 by Mrs. Claude Smith, in the memory of her husband, the remaining 80 acres was purchased by the council. The official dedication was held October 2, 1954. Originally owned by "Indian River Scouters Inc", the camp was donated to Gulf Stream Council in April 1978.
CAMP DARK HAMMOCK 1980s to present
Camp Dark Hammock is a primitive camp located in Okeechobee County. It is leased by Gulf Stream Council, for the use of troops, crews, or Explorer posts. The property has a single outhouse. All water needs to be brought in with the unit, all trash to be removed by the unit.
"CAMP AH-BA-LU-FA/ "CAMP AHBALUFA" private camp 1960? - present
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The location known as Camp Ah-La-Bu-Fa (also reported as Ahbalufa) has no affiliation with Gulf Stream Council, but has been made available to the Boy Scouts, among other youth groups. The property was made available to a non-profit organization by the agency that preceded the South Florida Water Management District.
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