LOCKHART — A Lockhart native is working to revive the Boy Scouts of America in his town.
Some of David Foster’s fondest childhood memories were made as he participated in Boy Scouts of America at the Lockhart Scout Hut, located near the Lockhart Dam. Foster said the historic Scout Hut has been there for at least 65 years, and he mentioned that his father — James David Foster — also participated in Boy Scouts at the same location. In fact, Foster said the Lockhart Scout Hut contained the oldest charter in the Palmetto Council.
Foster remembers joining the scouts when Jerry Woodsby was scout master.
“I had a good time here,” Foster said. “We did a lot of camping; a lot of fishing. We went to different places — the beach, the mountains, Camp Lee in Gaffney. We got to see new things.”
Foster also remembers one camp in particular — a hunting safety camp — as his favorite.
“We got to shoot and learn a lot about gun safety, archery, stuff I still remember to this day,” he said, pointing out that today’s youth could benefit from such a camp.
“With guns, the safer we can teach them to be, the safer we are going to be.”
Foster said there has not been a scout program in Lockhart for the past couple of years, and he is looking to revive scouting in his hometown.
“I have a younger son now,” Foster said, referring to his 14-year-old son Morgan. “I enjoyed it, and I was hoping he might enjoy it.”
Foster looked around the Scout Hut and pointed out the names of 11 scouts who made Eagle Scout at once. He mentioned that one of them — Taylor Thomas — is assisting with the effort to bring scouting back to Lockhart, along with several others including John Rex, Mark Keatly and Gilbert “Gib” Kohr, 92, who has been involved with scouting in some capacity for 80 years.
“We’ve got a lot of support from adults,” Foster said. “Now we just need to get the boys involved.”
The group needs boys ages 11-17 who are interested in becoming scouts. Open registration is held from noon-2 p.m. each Saturday at the Lockhart Scout Hut.
Foster said if there are enough boys under the age of 11 who are interested, he would be willing to assist with a Cub Scout program as well.
For more information, visit the Lockhart Scout Hut — which shares a driveway with the Lockhart Dam — between noon and 2 p.m. on Saturday, or call (864) 426-4629.
Staff Writer Derik Vanderford can be reached at 864-427-1234, ext. 29, or by email at dvanderford@civitasmedia.com.
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