PINELLAS AREA COUNCIL 1970 to 1978
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last updated 2/7/26
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merged with GULF RIDGE COUNCIL 2016; now GREATER TAMPA BAY AREA COUNCIL
formerly PINELLAS COUNCIL 1923 to 1970 (Seminole)
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KNOWN CAMPS, PROPERTIES, AND PROGRAM NAMES
CAMP BIZE (Pinellas County Council, Pinellas Council) 1921 to 1925
As far back as 1921, the council ran regular long-term camp programs, beginning with "Camp Bize", located on Lake Brorein (now Lake Carroll) near Odessa, on property owned by Hillsborough Council, in the Carrolltown area of Tampa. Scouts from both of the councils in Tampa and St. Petersburg were using the camp for multiple ten-day sessions in the summers of 1921, 1922, and 1923, as well as weekend events, training, and meetings. in 1924, Pinellas Council moved their summer camp programs to Camp Mawian. In September 1924, Hillsborough County Council announced a new property was being purchased by citizens on behalf of the council. On March 15, 1925, the last Boy Scout event was held at Camp Bize.
CAMP MAWIAN (Pinellas Council) 1924 to 1929
Pinellas Council ran its own summer events at a YMCA location near Mound Lake, "Camp Mawian", beginning in 1924. A newspaper article from May 1924 describes a "Camp Mawian emblem", a medal to be given to Scouts that have completed all ten requirements during their time at camp. An article on June 24, 1924, reported that two Scouts were given "the Camp Emblem" after the first week of camp. The medals were not presented immediately, an article on July 13 describes a delay in their production, "the delay in the presentation was caused by a mistake on the part of the makers of the emblems who made the letters "CW" instead of "CM"." Another article on July 20 reported that "about 50 boys at camp this summer won the emblem" and were to be presented at a council Court of Honor on August 15. In 1925 and 1926, the Camp Mawian recognitions were specific stamps made into the recipient's leather belt, earned through completing tasks and collecting points; those attending in 1926 that accumulated a high number of points across three categories would qualify for an undescribed "Camp Mawian emblem". The camp was used again in 1928 and 1929, due to the inability to construct a dining hall at another location in time.
HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS PROPERTY (Pinellas Council) 1928 to 1930
In 1927, a large tract was donated to the council, located near the towns of Howey-In-The Hills and Groveland. Grower William J. Reeder donated forty acres in 1927, with another 120 acres to come from developer and political figure William J. Howey. The combined 160 acres was given to Pinellas Council in March 1930, with the provision that the property be used for camp that year. A newspaper article in January 1927 wrote of the council President (Paul Hanks), to oversee the $15,000 council budget to fund the Scouting program, "and to partly equip the new Scout Camp at Howey-In-The-Hills". One troop reported to the local paper that they were attending "a two weeks' camp at the Pinellas council camp in Howey-In-The-Hills under leadership of Harry Link, George Pringle, and Donald Link". By 1931, no mention of the Howey property has been found, and summer camp was to be held at Tampa's camp at Owen Brorein.
CAMP OWEN BROREIN (Pinellas Council) 1929 to 1931, 1934 to 1938
Tampa Bay Area Council obtained the property that became known as Camp Owen Brorein in 1924. Mawain and Brorein were both used by Pinellas Area in 1929 (June 16-30 at Brorein, July 1 to July 13 at Mawain). Camp Brorein was made available as a summer camp to Pinellas Area Scouts through a lease arrangement, and was also utilized for weekend camping and training. In 1938, Brorein was used for summer camp one last time, as Camp Soule was not yet ready for long-term camping.
CAMP ST. GEORGES (Pinellas Council) 1932 to 1933
Yet another camp was used in 1932 in Palm Harbor, what became known as Camp St. Georges. This was property made available by the Dr. St. Georges Fechtig, at hat was known at the "St. Georges Estate". The property appears to have been used in 1932 and 1933, until the death of Dr. Fechtig.
In 1936, the Pinellas Council obtained a property of 600 acres from the receiver of the St. Georges estate, on Lake Chatauqua (formerly Lake Bowden), northeast of Safety Harbor. This property ultimately became Camp Soule.
In 1936, the Pinellas Council obtained a property of 600 acres from the receiver of the St. Georges estate, on Lake Chatauqua (formerly Lake Bowden), northeast of Safety Harbor. This property ultimately became Camp Soule.
CAMP SOULE (Pinellas Council, Pinellas Area Council, West Central Florida Council) 1936 to present
Camp Soule became the first property owned by Pinellas Area Council in 1936. Named after council benefactors Mortimer J. Soule and his late wife Gladys Soule, the camp was used for weekend events and council training and camporee events, while it was being prepared for long term use. Troops were encouraged to construct their own cabins on the property, alongside twelve additional cabins on the property, a log cabin-style dining hall, and a health lodge. The first official summer camp season was held for three weeks in 1939. Camp Soule remained the primary site for long-term camping in the council, until 1988, with the opening of Sand Hill Scout Reservation. Out of the original property, only fifty acres remain.
CAMP REED (Segregated Scout Camp) (Pinellas Council, Pinellas Area Council), West Central Florida Council) 1946 to 1987
Camp Reed was created as the segregated Scout camp for Pinellas Area Council in 1946. The camp was named after Herman H. Reed, a Scout leader that passed away after a troop camping trip. The location of the camp was a property on Lake Chataugua, just outside the Camp Soule location, given to the council by the Pinellas County Kiwanis Club. Troops from both Pinellas Area and Gulf Ridge attended the summer camp programs. In 1953, Timuquan Lodge 340 of the Order of the Arrow conducted its first Ordeal at Camp Reed, inducting six members. At some point in the 1960s, the BSA desegregated its programs, and Camp Reed became a little-used property adjacent to Camp Soule. The Reed property was sold by the council to a housing developer in 1987.
SAND HILL SCOUT RESERVATION 1987 to 2016
Sand Hill Scout Reservation was created by way of a donation of 1,250 acres, upon the passing of electrical contractor Larry DiePonder. The land was bequeathed jointly to West Central Florida and Gulf Ridge Council, but was used predominantly by West Central Florida. The first summer camp season was held in 1989, with the Dining Hall completed two years later.