The Coastal Georgia Council, Boy Scouts of America, is in the midst of a capital campaign that is on its way to achieving the goal of $4 million to build and enhance facilities to serve thousands of scouts in Southeast Georgia. 

Plans include a new service center to be built adjacent to I-95 just south of Richmond Hill.  The service center will provide convenient access to the entire Council area which covers 21 counties.  The Council’s two camps, Camp Tolochee in Brunswick and the Black Creek Scout Reservation near Sylvania, will see a number of projects that will enhance the camping experience for weekend and summer campers. 

Campaign co-chairs are Patrick T. O’Connor and Jim Turner.  Commenting on the progress, O’Connor said, “The theme of our campaign is ‘Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Today’.  I can’t think of a more important investment than that.  It has been exciting to be involved as the community has responded by pledging more than $1 million already.  There is a matching gift challenge by an anonymous donor, so we are excited to see how far we’ve come toward reaching our goal.”  Jim Turner added, “This capital campaign is not really about building facilities.  It’s about building lives.”

Projects to be built along with the service center are a much needed dining hall at Black Creek, a salt water dock and eating pavilion at Camp Tolochee, and an administration building/health center and a climbing tower which will serve the Black Creek Scout Reservation. 

The mid-campaign celebration will be marked by a noontime function at the Savannah Yacht Club on Friday, February 20.  The campaign will be moving from its initial phase into the public phase where other supporters will be given the opportunity to participate.

O’Connor concluded, “This effort is a meaningful way for everyone to get behind a program that is a real life answer to many of the problems that face our society today. Rather than wait for someone else to do something I invite everyone who values the development of today’s young people to find a way to participate.”

The Coastal Area Council office is located at 11900 Abercorn in Savannah.  They can be reached at 912-927-7272 or by visiting www.coastalgeorgiabsa.org/