TK History

After WW II the Federal government gave what was then Camp Murphy to the state of Florida. This piece of land is now known as Jonathan Dickenson State Park. At the time the Gulf Stream Council petitioned Congress for one square mile of that property, which bordered the Loxahatchee River. In 1953 a bill was passed leasing our Council Section 15 of Camp Murphy.

1956 became the last year that Summer Camp was held at Camp Osborne. The following year, even though the lease would run for another nine years. the Executive Board voted to return the Camp to Palm Beach County. One of the conditions of the return was that Boy Scout troops would not be allowed to lease the property for the purpose of running a camp. However, Cub Scout groups would be allowed to rent it for picnics and day activities. Camp Osborne is now known as John Prince Park (located in the present Manatee District) and many Scouts of all ages regularly camp at, and use, Scout Hill.

The first Summer Camp at Tanah Keeta was held in 1957 at what is now known as Clear Lake.

In 1960 the fees for a week of Summer Camp at Tanah Keeta were $16.00; an additional $.50 was charged per boy if their troop did not carry insurance on their Scouts.

In June of 1970 Jack Oldham became the first full time Ranger at Tanah Keeta. Calvin Bailey took the reigns from 1978 – 1980, Jim Preston from 1979 – 1984, Chuck Detman from 1984 – 1985, Jerry Pence from 1985 – 2000, and our current Ranger, Steve Steinmetz has been there since 2001. In 2006 Harlan Pierce joined Ranger Steve and became the first "second full-time" ranger at the Reservation.

Please check back soon for more details on the history of the Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation!