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Sheriff's Summer Youth Camp at Garland Scout Ranch
Tuesday, July 8, 1997
Sheriff's Summer Youth Camp opens for 200 Caddo Parish boys
A capacity enrollment of 200 Caddo Parish boys arrived yesterday at Caddo Parish Sheriff Don Hathaway's ninth annual Summer Youth Camp and today are in the full swing of a Boy Scout-style camping experience.
The Sheriff's Summer Youth Camp, funded through private contributions raised by Sheriff Hathaway, is free to the 10- to 14-year-old Caddo Parish boys. The Norwela Council, Boy Scouts of America, runs the camp for the Sheriff at the Garland Scout Ranch in Northern DeSoto Parish.
The four-day, three-night camp began yesterday when Caddo Parish School System busses picked up the 200 boys near their homes and took them to the scouting facility. The boys will camp at the ranch until Thursday, when the school busses will return them home.
Sheriff Hathaway said the camp "gives Caddo Parish boys the opportunity to have a scout-style camp experience they otherwise wouldn't have." The Boy Scouts provide food, tent lodging and a fun-filled program that includes fishing, archery, rifle range shooting, team sports, crafts and waterfront programs.
Sheriff Hathaway said the Boy Scouts' Norwela Council "believes that more than 50 scout troops have sprung up in low-income areas of Caddo Parish in the past eight years as a direct result of our Summer Youth Camp."
While the Sheriff's Summer Youth Camp is run primarily by Boy Scout staff personnel, Sheriff Hathaway has arranged for some of his deputies to be at the scout ranch to "provide a law enforcement presence in a positive setting."
"So often," the Sheriff said, "the only time these boys see a law enforcement officer is when they are in trouble or someone thinks they've done something wrong. While we want the camp to be a good wilderness experience, we also want to show these 200 boys that our deputies can and should be their friends."
The Sheriff also arranged to have some of his K-9 Units on hand to demonstrate the abilities of the highly trained canines. Scheduled for demonstrations are Deputy Danny Williams and his patrol K-9 Oscar; Deputy Scott Miller and his narcotics K-9 Mico, and Deputy Cullen McVay and his narcotics K-9 Shifo. All three canines are Belgian Malinois.
The Life Air Rescue helicopter, operated jointly by Schumpert and Willis-Knighton Medical Centers, scheduled a fly-in as part of today's after-lunch entertainment package.
Joining the Sheriff to observe the camp in action was one of his deputies, Scheree Connell, whose great aunt, Garland Bledsoe, owned the land that now houses the Garland Scout Ranch. "My family and I want to say 'Thank You' to Sheriff Hathaway and the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office," she said, "for using Aunt Garland's gift in such a positive and giving way." (See details in a Sidebar Article Below.)
Tuesday, July 8, 1997
Sidebar News Release
Scout Ranch land belonged to Caddo deputy's great aunt
As Caddo Parish Sheriff Don Hathaway watched 200 Caddo Parish boys enjoy their scout-style experience at the Sheriff's Summer Youth Camp, one of his deputies watched with family pride as the boys went about their camping activities on land that had belonged to her great aunt.
Scheree Connell, a deputy at the Caddo Correctional Center, said her great aunt, Garland Bledsoe, owned the land that now houses the Norwela Council, Boy Scouts of America camping facility that bears her name -- the Garland Scout Ranch. "Aunt Garland gave the property to her church with the stipulation that it be used for some kind of youth activity," Scheree explained.
Scout Executive John Cabeza said the church gave the property to the Norwela Council on a one-dollar, 99-year lease to establish the scout ranch. The ranch, itself, and the Garland House on the site are both named for Mrs. Bledsoe.
"Aunt Garland and her husband did not have any children," Scheree said, "so for the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office to use the camp for so many young people makes my family very proud. Aunt Garland would be so very happy to know that over the years so many youngsters have used and enjoyed the camp.
"My family and I want to say 'Thank You' to Sheriff Hathaway and the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office for using Aunt Garland's gift in such a positive and giving way."
Wednesday, April 30, 1997
Caddo Parish Sheriff Don Hathaway announced today that the Norwela Council, Boy Scouts of America, is taking applications for his ninth annual Sheriff's Summer Camp to be held at the Garland Scout Ranch July 7-10.
Sheriff Hathaway said at a news conference this morning that the camp can accommodate 200 boys ages 10 to 14 from throughout Caddo Parish.
Funded through private contributions raised by Sheriff Hathaway, the four-day, three-night camp is free to boys in Caddo Parish and is run by the Boy Scouts' Norwela Council. The boys will be picked up on Monday, July 7, near their homes and taken on Caddo Parish School System busses to the North DeSoto Parish scout ranch. The boys will be at the scouting facility until Thursday, July 10, when the busses will return them home.
The Sheriff said the camp is designed "to give underprivileged boys the opportunity to have a scout-style camp experience they otherwise wouldn't have."
More than 200 campers attended the first session eight years ago, Sheriff Hathaway said. The Sheriffs Office and the Boy Scouts are planning for another 200 boys to attend the camp this year. The Boy Scouts provide food, tent lodging and a fun-filled program that includes fishing, archery, rifle range shooting, sports activities, crafts and waterfront programs.
The Sheriff said "Norwela Council believes the more than 50 scout troops that have sprung up in low income areas in the past eight years are a direct result of our Summer Youth Camp."
Recommendations for camp participants are made by school and church officials throughout the parish. The Boy Scout office mails applications to parents based on those recommendations. Anyone interested in having a boy attend the camp should contact the boy's school or church or the Boy Scout office at 868-2774.
Tuesday, July 9, 1996
Sheriff's Summer Youth Camp opens at Scout Ranch
Caddo Parish Sheriff Don Hathaway's eighth annual Summer Youth Camp is in full swing today giving underprivileged Caddo Parish Boys a scout-type camping experience.
Funded through private contributions raised by Sheriff Hathaway, the camp is free for the 10- to 14-year-old Caddo Parish boys who are attending. The camp is run by the Norwela Council, Boy Scouts of America, at the Garland Scout Ranch.
The four-day, three-night camp began yesterday for 80 boys from throughout Caddo Parish. The boys were picked up Monday near their homes and were taken to the North DeSoto Parish scout ranch on Caddo Parish School System busses. The boys will be at the scouting facility until Thursday, when the busses will return them home.
Sheriff Hathaway said the camp is designed "to give underprivileged boys the opportunity to have a scout-style camp experience they otherwise wouldn't have." The Boy Scouts provide food, tent lodging and a fun-filled program that includes fishing, archery, rifle range shooting, sports activities, crafts and waterfront programs.
The Sheriff said "Norwela Council believes the more than 50 scout troops that have sprung up in low-income areas in the past seven years are a direct result of our Summer Youth Camp."