Scout camp marks 80th anniversary

For almost 80 years, Camp Westmoreland, situated northeast of Florence on Shoal Creek, has served as a camp for Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts.

To commemorate the camp's long-standing presence, the Greater Alabama Council of the Boy Scouts and Heritage Preservation Inc. will team up Nov. 10 to dedicate a historical marker at the camp.

Larry Faulkner, historian for Camp Westmoreland, said the camp was recently placed on the Register of Historical Sites by the Alabama Historical Commission.

During its existence, the camp has hosted several generations of scouts, Faulkner said.

"To a lot of them, it was their first, real great outdoor adventure they ever went on," Faulkner said. "There was something about that camp that molded them and made them who they are."

Faulkner said limited addition patches were sold and have already raised enough money to pay for the historic marker.

Also on Nov. 10, Faulkner said that the scouts who have attended the camp are invited to reunite at the site.

"Over 50,000 scouts have gone through the camp," Faulkner said. "I went to camp there in '77 and '78, and it made a very big impression on me."

The Westmoreland District of the Greater Alabama Council of the Boy Scouts of America also recently began its annual fundraising campaign that will go until the end of the month.

Alan Riethmaier, district executive of BSA, said the money raised from selling popcorn and magazine vouchers, which is new this year, will help purchase equipment or pay for special trips and camps.

"One of the values that scouting teaches is salesmanship and thriftiness and to take responsibility for themselves," he said.

Riethmaier said there are 1,120 scouts in Colbert, Lauderdale and Franklin counties, and they get a 30 to 35 percent commission of what they sell during the October fundraiser.

Millie Kittrell, whose son Trey is in Troop 284, said they will try and use his commission from the fundraiser to go toward summer camp and a Canadian canoe trip in 2008.

"The popcorn sale is one of the things to build their confidence and help them learn how to speak to adults," she said.

Kittrell said her son has benefited from being a part of scouting.

"It's all about building character and that's done through the campouts and canoe trips, and it teaches them values and leadership," she said.

Staff Writer Kenda Williams can be reached at 740-5720 or kenda.williams@timesdaily.com.