SOUTH FLORIDA COUNCIL 1944 to present (DAVIE) |
last updated 3/16/26
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formerly DADE COUNNTY COUNCIL 1921 to 1944
formerly MIAMI COUNCIL 1914 to 1921 merged with BROWARD COUNCY COUNCIL 1927 to 1933, 1935 to 1937 (FORT LAUDERDALE) |
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ARCH CREEK/ CAMP McDONALD (Miami Scouts, Dade County Council) 1912 to 1926
The first known Boy Scout camp predates the charter of any council. In 1912, a camp was established by Troop 2 near Arch Creek, in northeast Dade County near the community of Cutler (what is now in the city of North Miami). From the Miami News, March 23, 1912: Plans are being made for the permanent camp at Arch Creek. The Boy Scout Camp will prove interesting to all citizens of the county, as everything will be fitted up to first class shape and the boys will receive much pleasure and instruction while at camp." The location was also known as Camp McDonald, named after R.E. McDonald, the original owner of the ten-acre property. In December 1914, the camp hosted its first post-Christmas "holiday camp", the first of several winter long-term camping experiences. The original agreement with Mr. McDonald was that the property was available as long as it was being used by Scouts. By 1925, the site was considered to be too small for continued use, as the property was deeded to Dade County Council, to be sold to raise funds for a successor camp.
CAMP SEMINOLE/ CURTISS FIELD (Miami Council, Dade County Council) 1919 to 1925
After the end of World War I, the Scouts of Miami Council created another camp. Often referred to as "Camp Seminole", this location was on the Curtiss Marine Air Field, in the northwest Miami area (near what is now NW 42nd Avenue, from MW 106th Street to NW 118th Street). This had been rented by the US Government during the war from famed aviator Glenn Curtiss but returned to his ownership at the end of the war. Permission was sought from Mr. Curtiss to use part of the facilities in December 1919, in time for the council's Christmas Camp from December 26-31. "Seminole Camp" was used for several years for Christmas Camp programs, and occasional summer camp events and weekend activities. The Curtiss Field property was sold, and by 1928 was the location of Miami Municipal Airport.
CAMP PINE ISLAND (Dade County Council) 1926 to 1931
Camp Pine Island was established in 1926 on 60 acres about four miles west of Davie, purchased by Dade County Council. The property was adjacent to 40 acres of vacant Seminole reservation property, located on a ridge between the north and south New River Canals. The first camping season in 1926 was put off a few weeks, due to delays with the construction of a few buildings, which included twelve cabins, a dining hall, headquarters building, power house, and a 35 x 70 foot swimming pool. The summer camp opened in July with 95 Scouts in attendance. Later that year, the camp sustained $50,000 in damages due to a hurricane, those damages were never fully repaired. The council reported that in the first three months of 1927, 400 Scouts attended Pine Island for weekend camping. "Christmas Camp" was held occasionally at Pine Island, between Christmas and New Year's Day. The last summer and Christmas programs at Pine Island were held in 1930. In 1931, Dade County Council decided not to hold a summer camp, and advised troops to hold their own camps, or to attend other councils' camps; many troops attended Camp Echockotee, outside Jacksonville. In an article from the Miami Herald, January 8, 1932, summarizing the activities of Dade County Council in the previous year, it is reported that "Camp Big Pine was abandoned as unsafe from a health standpoint", specifically contaminated water. According to a historical pamphlet created by South Florida Council in 1957, council summer camps in 1932 and 1933, were held at a site at Lauderdale Isle. From 1934-1936, and 1938-1939, the council held their activities at Camp Connestee Cove, a Girl Scout camp in Brevard, North Carolina.
SNAPPER CREEK CAMP (Dade County Council, South Florida Council) 1936 to 1957
In the years after the closure Of Pine Island, troops attended summer camp in other nearby councils, travelling as far as Camp Wewa near Apopka, Echockotee in Orange Park, and camps closer to south Florida. In 1936, Dade County Council acquired a 55 acre property near Snapper Creek, on Sunset Road, four miles west of South Miami, for the sum of $940. By 1940, the tract had grown to 100 acres. Christmas Camp was held at Snapper Creek Camp in December 1938, and the first Summer Camp program opened in 1939. Several other civic organizations contributed funds to construct troop cabins and other structures, for use by the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and other youth and church groups. The camp was closed for several months in October 1945, due to severe damage caused by a hurricane the previous month. Urban encroachment and the growth of the BSA program ultimately made the camp no longer large enough to support the programs. The location was coveted by developers, as it was one of the last properties that had yet to be developed within 15 miles of downtown Miami. In July 1956, South Florida Council announced that the property had been sold, for $300,000. The last summer camp was held in 1957, while the council broke ground on a new camp, near the town of Sebring. By September 1957, Snapper Creek was closed.
ROCKY PINE CAMP (Segregated Scout Camp) 1946 to late 1960s
The first segregated camp program for South Florida Council was held in 1945 at Magnolia Park, in Opa Locka. The following year, the council received a donation of 19 acres near Princeton, south of Miami, for the purpose of a camp for Black Scouts. The council purchased another 20 acres of adjoining property, to create the 39-acre facility. In the following year, the camp had a dining hall, showers, and three cabins. This continued to be used as a segregated camp until the 1960s, then used for weekend activities. The camp was ultimately sold in the late 1960s.
WEST SUMMERLAND KEY/ CAMP JACKSON SAWYER/ EDWARD B. KNIGHT SCOUT RESERVATION 1946 to present
South Florida Council secured a long-term lease in 1946 for a 9-acre property on West Summerland Key (now named Scout Key), at mile marker 34 on US 1, in Monroe County, adjacent to the Girl Scout camp on the other half of the island. The terms of the lease call for the property to be used for the benefit of Scouts in Monroe County. Shortly afterwards, three cabins, showers, toilet building, and a ranger's house were constructed, along with a saltwater swimming area. The camp had been used for weekend and training events and troop camping. In 2005, almost all of the buildings were destroyed by Hurricane Wilma. The camp was closed for several years, as the county government required extensive upgrades to the bathroom facilities and waste disposal to meet the current building codes. Local businessman Edward Knight donated several million dollars for the necessary construction, including a two-story bathhouse facility that also treated the wastewater onsite. Further damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017 forced another extended closure. Since 2020, the camp has been leased by the council to the Florida Sea Base for their use.
"CAMP SNYDER" 1947 to 1951
A property that became known as "Camp Snyder" was not owned or operated by South Florida Council, but was considered the local camp for Broward County Scouts. Located just north of the former Naval Air Station in Fort Lauderdale, the site was made available to the Scouts by Byron Snyder, president of a road building company. Buildings for the camp were made available from a nearby Coast Guard station. The location was used for troop weekend camping, camporees, Cub Scout events, and adult training. The last reference found for the usage of the camp was in 1951.
BROWARD COUNTY CAMP/ CAMP SEMINOLE/ CAMP ELMORE 1954 to present
In 1954, the Broward County District led a drive to obtain a new property, located five miles west of Davie, on the north side of the Davie Canal. While this was a camp for South Florida Council, the district conducted a campaign to raise the $25,000 for improvements to the 120-acre site. At that time, there was discussions within the council about another attempt to create a Broward County Council, due to the tremendous growth in the program in the area. The camp was used for weekend camping for troops, training, and OA events. In 2005, Hurricane Wilma destroyed the camp, knocking down almost all of the trees on the property, and flattening all of the structures. Total reconstruction cost was approximately $10 million. Camp Seminole remained closed until 2012, and re-opened as Camp Elmore, named after benefactor Robert Elmore for his donation of $1 million towards the reconstruction. A similar donation was made by Downrite Engineering, rebuilding the camp lake to a depth of 12 feet and making the lake "swimmable" where it had not been before. The official name for the camp is "Camp Elmore at Downrite Engineering Scout Reservation". In March 2023, South Florida Council moved their headquarters office to Camp Elmore.
CAMP EVERGLADES 1956 to present
Camp Everglades was created in 1956, occupying 210 acres within the Everglades National Park. The camp is considered primitive, as it has a shelter, pitcher pump wells, and eight campsites. It is available only seasonally, from mid-November to mid-April.
CAMP SEBRING 1956 to 1973
One month after South Florida Council announced the sale of Snapper Creek, the council announced its replacement, Camp Sebring. Located on 267 acres on Huckleberry Lake outside of the town of Sebring, the property was purchased from Mr. and Mrs H. A. Pfaff for $108,000. The facilities were dedicated the following year. Sebring became the central long-term camp for the council, while the other outlying camps were used for shorter activities and meetings for the local Scouts and Scouters. Camp Sebring was closed after the 1973 Summer season.
McGREGOR SMITH SCOUT RESERVATION - CAMP LONE OAK, CAMP OSPREY 1970 to 2004 |
Planning began in 1970 for a new, larger camp to facilitate Scouts for much of the State of Florida. This was a 6,000 acre property between Wildwood and Inverness in Citrus County (about a five hour drive from most locations in South Florida Council), with over three miles of waterfront on the Withlacoochee River, at a cost of around $900,000. A fundraising drive was led by Florida Power and Light Chairman McGregor Smith, for another $2.7 million for infrastructure and buildings. The property was ultimately named in his honor. The tract has great historical and natural significance. Pre-Columbian natives build burial grounds nearby, Spanish explore Hernando DeSoto's expedition passed through the borders of the property.
The plans for the camp were very ambitious: by 1976, ten camps, each with 12 campsites, designed to hold 300 Scouts per campsite (30,000 Scouts during a ten-week season), along with a headquarters building, commissary, infirmary, craft areas, nature areas, a casting pond, and a canoe base with 300 miles of canoe trails. Ultimately, only one campsite was fully constructed by 1972, Camp Lone Oak. Camp Osprey was partially developed, opening in 1974. The Charles H Topmiller Tropical Canoe Base opened in 1975, with about 100 miles of canoe trails. The final summer program for Camp Lone Oak was held in 2004, and the property was sold shortly afterwards, to the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Today, the property is known as the Flying Eagle Preserve.
The plans for the camp were very ambitious: by 1976, ten camps, each with 12 campsites, designed to hold 300 Scouts per campsite (30,000 Scouts during a ten-week season), along with a headquarters building, commissary, infirmary, craft areas, nature areas, a casting pond, and a canoe base with 300 miles of canoe trails. Ultimately, only one campsite was fully constructed by 1972, Camp Lone Oak. Camp Osprey was partially developed, opening in 1974. The Charles H Topmiller Tropical Canoe Base opened in 1975, with about 100 miles of canoe trails. The final summer program for Camp Lone Oak was held in 2004, and the property was sold shortly afterwards, to the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Today, the property is known as the Flying Eagle Preserve.