BYRON, Ga. — Camp Benjamin Hawkins is the heartbeat of scouting in Central Georgia, and is just three years away from celebrating its centennial.
The old boy scout campgrounds hold memories for generations of people. The camp started in 1927, and now the property is under contract to be sold.
Meanwhile, several people are taking to social media to share their love for the camp they call home.
Robbie Thomas, CBH staff, says he currently works in Athens but part of his heart is in Byron. He said he will always cherish the camp's legacy.
"To have this kind of history is something so special," Thomas said.
Thomas said it's the oldest scout camp in Georgia.
"Since 1927, 100,000 scouts have come through these gates," Thomas said.
His dad registered for cub scouts when he was 5 years old.
"I have a very vivid memory memory of sitting around the camp fire with my dad," Thomas said. "He used to talk about all the cool things he used to do out here during summer camp."
He said he hopes to continue the legacy his dad started.
"To think that I'll never be able to sit on the trading post porch in a rocking chair and watch my kids play on the same lawn that i played on when my dad did," Thomas said. "That is really hard to think about."
Former scout Chip Greene is the volunteer president of the Central Georgia Council. He said the council's decision to sell the property wasn't easy, but navigating the pandemic became a challenge. Membership retention declined and there wasn't a consistent flow of money.
"Everybody was in lockdown for a year and a half and it was difficult to get to see anybody," Greene said. "We tried to make some adjustments through video calls and stuff like that."
Greene said the virtual option did not work as well as in-person. Now the campgrounds him and Thomas used to flock to as scouts will serve a new purpose.
"To think that we're losing 100 years of history is really, really hard because you can't make old memories," Thomas said.
The boy scout council said despite financial pressure they will continue to honor their mission of serving the youth. They are working to acquire a leasing agreement for another outdoor location, to continue scouting operations.
The Central Georgia Council office, located off Confederate Way in South Bibb County is up for sale as well. They tell 13WMAZ, after Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy, councils across the nation had to contribute.