Smyrna times., 1946-05-30
CAMP BOUGHT
FOR SCOUTS
Camp PO-Qua-E-Sak N lea r
Camp Rodney Purchased by
Del-Mar-Va Council, Inc.
FOR WEEKEND USE


Gated at Shell Point on Harris
Creek near Whitman, Md, by the
Del-Mar-Va Council, Inc, Boy
Scouts of America, as a year
round Boy Scout training center
and site for special camping ac-
tivities, has been announced by
Paul d. Lovett, president of the
Council, following a meeting of
the Executive Board and Camping
Committee at the camp. Definite
plans for its use are now being
formulated, but they will not in
clude its use as summer camp
to take the place of the present
1000-acre Rodney Scout Camps on
Elk Neck in Cecil County, one of
whose major purposes is to pro-
vide a common meeting ground
for all Troops of the Del-Mar-Va
Council. 1t will, however, provide
facilities for weekend use through
out the year, in the same manner
as the Rodney Camps do for the
upper Shore, for Scouts and lead
ers from the lower Shore who can
not travel to the Rodney camps
for short periods in the same large
numbers as they do in the sum-
mer The 19-acre property in
cludes a swimming pier and in
closed swimming area, and two
large buildings suitable for week.
end use by Scout leader training
groups and Boy Scout Troops.
The grounds include an extensive
athletic field, formerly providing
facilities for baseball, soccer, ten
mis-, archery, rifle shooting, and
horseback riding. Artesian wells
provide drinking water at numer-
GUS points. There is plenty of
space for the pitching of tents for
weekend camping, training cours-
es and Camporees. The sheltered
but broad waterways provide an
excellent location for a Sea Scout
base. Central building on the
property is large lodge, with
stone fireplace, library, large din
ing room and kitchen. 1t is
paneled in pine and has large
porch facing a portion of the half
mile shoreline. This building is
suitable for special programs in in
clement weather, and for use by a
Troop of 80 Scouts for winter
shelter. A second cabin, also hav-
ing kitchen, sleeping facilities,
stone fireplace, and also having a
porch facing the water, is large
enough for a Troop of 16 Scouts.
The water system is operated by
electric pump and electricity is
furnished to the main lodge from
a gasoline-driven generator. Rep
resentatives of the Regional Scout
Office in Philadelphia and the Ma
tional Camping Service of the
Boy Scouts of America in New
York are being invited to help in
a study for development of the
property to be made by the Coun-
ellis Camping and Activities Com
mittee, of which George Ehinger,
of Dover, is chairman. 1t is un-
derstood that they will visit the
site in June to prepare recommen-
dations for layout and construc-
tion. Use of the camps will prob
ably begin in the fall on a limited
basis for Scout leader training
courses. Camp Po-Qua-E-Sak de-
rived its name from the Indian for
Shell Point, given by the natives
because of the numerous oyster
shells left by a tribe of Nanticoke
Indians as a result of many oyster
feast. Indian relics are still found
about the camp. Fishing is good
in the vicinity and the former
campers reported good catches of
sea trout, croakers, bluefsh, perch
and rock. The camp was oper-
ated as a private boys camp with
a clientele, largely from New Jer-
sey and Maryland until shortly be-
fore the war, when its former own
er, the late Eben B. Thomas, OF
Summit, New Jersey, discontinued
its operation and sold the equip
ment and some small buildings
which were removed by private in
dividuals. Purchase by the Del
Mar-Va Council was made through
the estate of the former owner
The purchase was arranged by
committee consisting of Harold G.
Irons, of Wilmington, treasurer OF
the Council, William Poole, attorn.
ey and chairman of the Whining.
ton District of the Council, Johr
w. Noble, of Easton, Md, chair.
man of the Councils Tri-CountJ
District, and T. Hughlett Henry
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