Chattooga County Scouts Making Memories this Summer as Camp Sidney Dew celebrates 85 years

Pack 38, Troop 7B & Troop 7G attended Summer camps at Camp Sidney Dew in neighboring Floyd County.  Scouts completed many things for their ranks.  

 

Camp Sidney Dew is located in the northwest corner of Georgia and approximately 20 miles north of Rome, Camp Sidney Dew offers the natural beauty of the Appalachian foothills. Founded in the late 1930’s, the camp is a unique blend of old and new, with several of the early structures still in use.

Located in the valley between John’s Mountain and Horn Mountain (The Pocket), the camp’s 650 acres are bordered on the west by the Chattahoochee National Forest and on the east by John’s Creek. The camp’s rolling terrain offers an abundance of deer, wild turkey, and other wildlife, including a trout stream open annually to fishing.  Camp Sidney Dew is the crown jewel of the council and is committed to offering the best possible program for Scouts and Scouters of all ages.

 

Chattooga County Scouts are making memories out at Camp Sidney Dew.   Local cub scouts from Pack 38 attending a 4 day, 3 night camp to kick off their summer break at the first of June.   Cub Scouts joined in the fun for the Off to the Races Adventure Camp for Kindergarten thru 5 graders.  They enjoyed camping in lean-to campsites, meal service in the dining hall, swimming and lots of program activities.   Cub Scouts enjoyed campfires each day in the council ring with everyone coming together to sing songs, perform skits, and enjoy their time together.   Scouts participated in the Race day festivities at many activity areas like fishing, bb’s, archery, and nature.   Pack 38 Cub Scouts worked together to construct a boat to race in Lake Goodyear won the boat race as Team Chevy.   Reagan C, Demetri F, and Drakon F were recognized at closing campfire for exceeding in Shooting Sports.

 

Troop 7 B and Troop 7 G participated in the Scouts BSA Summer Camp at Camp Sidney Dew as well.   Scouts BSA Troops are able to participate in a weeklong program personalized for their interests.   First year campers participated in the Spike Buck program.  Those scouts learned many essential outdoor skills towards advancement on their first four ranks.  Along with the Spike Buck program Scouts were able to choose merit badges that interested them.  Merit Badges include a wide variety of Hobbies, Careers and Skills.  Some of the merit badges Chattooga County Scouts enjoyed were: Swimming, First Aid, Shotgun Shooting, Kayaking, Camping, Photography, Rifle, Chemistry, Snorkeling, Geology, Electricity, Animation, Forestry, and Nature.  Leaders and youth from Troop 7B and 7G also helped out in various program areas as Summer Camp staff at Camp Sidney Dew.

Chattooga County Scouts who attended camp were . . .

Troop 7B:  Scoutmaster Michael Kitchens, Asst Scoutmaster James Durham along with Trey C, Kam R, James G, Beck J, Lake M, Cam M.

Troop 7G:   Izzie P, Anna P, Emily D, Kim R (not pictured Asst Scoutmaster Nancy Kitchens)

   Pack 38 scouts and their families attending Camp Fire on the last night of Adventure Camp at Camp Sidney Dew

  Troop 7 Members also staffed Summer Camp at Camp Sidney Dew James G (Stem/Activities) and Aiden R (Nature Director)

  Troop 7 Members staffed Summer Camp at Camp Sidney Dew  Anthony D (Spike Buck) and Alex D (Aquatics)

Pack 38 as Team Chevy winning the Boat Race at Adventure Camp at Camp Sidney Dew

Pictures from around Camp Sidney Dew . . .

 

Commemorative Patch all Camp participants received this summer

Waguli Lodge Order of the Arrow Ceremony

Friday Night Fun

 

Pictures from around Camp Sidney Dew . . .

The History of

Camp Sidney Dew

Jonathan Farmer Dew was born in Nash County, North Carolina in 1825. He was married to Mary Elizabeth Strickland in 1844. They moved to Georgia between 1850 and 1853 with their six children: William Francis Dew, James Edward Dew, Jonathan Fuller Dew, Sarah Elizabeth Dew, Lucian Walter Dew, and Sidney Haywood Dew. Jonathan died in 1899 and left his property to his six children. His will stated that none of the land was to be sold.

Sidney Haywood Dew was born on December 24, 1869, in Floyd County. He married and moved around the country selling wrought iron ranges. The Dews settled in Rome for a few years but lived out their retirement in Atlanta. Sidney Dew received a portion on his father’s land when he passed. He then deeded it to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to create two camps. Sidney Dew and Gazelle Dew, named for his wife. While Sidney Dew never farmed the land given to him by his father. He did make good use of it.

The fireplace stanchions in the current dining hall are cast iron that read “39”. This is often thought to signify the troop that placed them there, but it actually commemorates the founding in 1939. The property of the camp is over 600 acres located in a valley between John’s Mountain and Horn Mountain.

Camp Sidney Dew tells its own story if you know where to look. This property is covered with the fingerprints of those who came before us. All the nooks and crannies are filled with a narrative. This is often overlooked by people who are enjoying the camp.

Trading Post

This building is at the center of the old camp. It is the second oldest building on camp. It served as the first camp ranger, Tom Caldwell’s home. It is also known as the Tom Caldwell cabin.  It was built in December 1943 and dedicated in July 1944. The people who financed the original construction are still displayed on a plaque on the front of the building.  The side porch was added by Gene Atkins. During a restoration by the Sidney Dew Alumni Association, a center beam was added allowing the creation of two large rooms. During this work it was also air conditioned.

Flagpole at the Trading Post

The stone structure that surrounds the flagpole near the trading post was built in memory of Devine Hubbs junior. He was a pilot in the Air Force and was killed during a training exercise in Korea. His father, a long-term scoutmaster from Dalton, and Troop 60 built this monument.

Founder’s Ring

The Founder’s Award was introduced at the 1981 National Order of the Arrow Conference, the Founder’s Award recognizes Arrowmen who have given outstanding service to their lodge. The award is reserved for an Arrowman who demonstrates that he or she personifies the spirit of selfless service, as advocated by founder E. Urner Goodman and cofounder Carroll A. Edson. The number of people who can receive this award each year is very limited. This location is where we honor our recipients and is home to the many of the ceremonies for Waguli Lodge, our council’s Order of the Arrow lodge.

The entire area was renovated in 2017 when the log benches and handrails were built. There was once a tower in the ceremonial ring where the person who read the legend of the Order of the Arrow would stand for tap out ceremonies. The Founders Ring sign and plaque listing all the Founder’s Award recipients were also added at this time. The ring was dedicated June 17, 2017, when Mr. Ed Edmondson cut the ceremonial ribbon. The round hole in the sign holds a Founder’s Award coin during Order of the Arrow ceremonies. The triangular metal fire ring that bears the ideals of the Order of the Arrow was built by Jonathan Rogers.

The dam that created the camps first swimming area was the first structure built on the camp. It is speculated that it was built by the CCC, but this is unconfirmed. This area served as the swimming area until 1967, when the pool was built. The old hardware for the diving board, ladder, and a pipe that was the camps only shower remain. Campers had to climb down the hill to access the shower. If they stumbled and fell on the way back up, they would have to go back down to shower off again. The rockwork connected to the dam extends a great distance down the bank. No one has swum in there (on purpose) for years.

Bridge to the Council Ring

The bridge over the creek that leads to the council ring from the trading post was built in 1948 by Troop 11. It is dedicated to the memory of an Eagle scout, James “Buzzy” Slatton, from Darlington. While his troop was visiting Atlanta, the hotel they were staying in burned down in a famous fire, and he was killed. A plaque in his memory is still on the bridge.

Council Ring

The first layer of steps was built during the first Waguli lodge ordeal in 1946. Order of the Arrow members came from east Georgia to conduct the ordeal due to the lack of members to run the induction. These volunteers were very strict with the candidates because they did not know them. The higher levels were built over the years during subsequent ordeals. The final row was built to help facilitate a large group for the 2007 Conclave. The stone columns at the entrance, top layer of seating, and projection building, were also built as a part of this effort. The top layer and a small portion of the wall at the entrance are constructed of cinder blocks faced with stone. The rest of the structure consists of stacked stones.

Original Campsites

The four original campsites were called North, Hill, West, and South. What was then known as South is now Shawnee, Hill is now Pawnee, West is now Choctaw, North is now Muscogee, and Pioneer has always been called Pioneer.

Scum Pond

This was Camp Sidney Dew’s first lake. In the 1960s, canoeing and rowing merit badges were taught here before lake Goodyear was built. The shady area between scum pond and the trading post was once a picnic area for families that was used on Friday evenings. An Adirondack once stood on the edge of the lake. It served as a place for the camp staff to stay. The old timers called this “Two Oaks and a Stump “. The reason behind the nickname has been lost to time.  The drainage pipes were added by Ranger Bill. Despite pressure to give this iconic body of water a new name, it will always be known as Scum Pond.

Athletic Field Building

The building at the athletic field, built by Gene Atkins, that now stores sports equipment first served as the camp’s first aid lodge. Camp accreditation required a first aid lodge on premises. It was originally positioned across the road from the trading post, overlooking the majestic Scum Pond near where Mr. Urqule’s teepee sat every year.

Eagle Chapel

This area of camp has served many purposes over the years. In the 1960s and 1970s it was the home of exercise equipment and provided campers with a place to exercise. Later, the equipment was removed, and it was used as a borrow pit. It is now a beautiful structure that serves as the home for our Scout’s Own services and so much more.

The Eagle Chapel was designed by Robert Noble and built it in memory of Eagle Scout John Patrick Bruner of Troop 111 in Dalton. A portion of the funds for the chapel was donated by John’s Sunday School Class at First Presbyterian Church. The Plaques on the sign display honor Eagle scouts. The dates on the plaques note the year the scouts received their eagle scout award.

 

Lake goodyear

The money to build the lake was donated by Goodyear Latex in Calhoun gave twenty thousand dollars for the construction of the lake. It now serves as the home for canoeing, rowing, and kayaking merit badge, cub fishing day, and is also where the mile swim takes place during summer camp.

 

Hubbs Reception Center

Named for Mr. Devine Hubbs, the scoutmaster for Troop 60. Mr. Hubbs died of a heart attack at a Dalton High School football game where his son was playing. Troop 60 was the dominate troop in Dalton at the time. This building serves naturally as a prime location for event check-ins. Due to its climate controls, bathrooms, and full kitchen, it also has housed meetings and training courses. Most of the Woodbadge class photos can be found hanging on the walls in Hubbs. The remainder of them are across the field in the Campmaster House.

Camp Sidney Dew has housed many important events over the years. First and foremost is our council’s summer camp program. An uncountable number of youth (including me) got their first taste of scout camp there. For over eighty years, merit badges have been taught, lessons have been learned, and lifelong friendships have been forged.

Several epic regular events have been held at Camp Sidney Dew over the years. These include the Dew Dog Challenge which brought everyone from Lions to Eagle Scouts to camp to compete for the coveted Dew Dog trophy. The most notorious event at camp, however, has been Zombie-O. This event placed troops in the middle of a zombie invasion. To survive, they had to use their scout skills, particularly orienteering. This event arose from Max McAdams noticing that orienteering skill were beginning to slip among the scouts. The participating patrols have been faced with innovative, challenging events over the eight Zombie-O events. The final Zombie-O was held in 2020. It will be replaced in 2022 by the next iteration of fun, challenging events.

As for one-time events, Camp Sidney Dew has hosted its fair share. The Centennial Order of the Arrow Section gathering was held there in 2015. It was so large, the council ring had to be expanded to accommodate all the participants. Sidney Dew hosted an international event in 2019. A group of World Jamboree delegates from the United Kingdom spent a week there after attending Jamboree. The event was called Project-19. Tammy Rogers served as the event director, and it was a smashing success. The international scouts got to experience what our youth have been experiencing for eight years. They camped, shot, climbed, and rafted the entire week. Waguli Lodge even held a tap-out ceremony so they could get the full summer camp experience. This event led to international friendships that will last forever.

 

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