WASHINGTON D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously Tuesday night to support of U.S. Congressman Dan Boren’s HALE Scouts Act, H.R. 310, by a vote of 388 to 0. The Act would allow Indian Nations Council Boy Scout, Inc. to expand the Hale Scout Reservation (Camp Tom Hale) through a land purchase. The land purchase would provide an additional 140 acres of U.S. Forest Service land located in the Ouachita National Forest immediately adjacent to the existing Camp Tom Hale facility.
“Since its creation, Hale Scout Reservation has offered thousands of Boy Scouts from Oklahoma and the Central United States with the opportunity to build leadership and social skills while learning outdoor activities and wilderness training,” Boren said. “Camp Hale has seen a strong increase in attendance in recent years. The HALE Scouts Act, coupled with the Indian Nation Council Boy Scout’s recent capital improvement program, will provide the camp with the space and facilities necessary to meeting this growing demand.”
“We have worked closely with Congressman Boren’s office as they drafted H.R. 310, and would like to thank his office and the U.S. Forest Service,” said Indian Nations Council President Chip McElroy. “We have also worked extensively with the U.S. Forest Service over the last five years to coordinate this effort and to consider this opportunity.”
In 2007 attendance was 110 percent of the participation levels in 2006. Over 6,300 scouts attended the camp during its eight sessions. Nearly 20,000 merit badges were earned in 2007, and over 1,300 rank advancements were completed by scouts attending the camp. In 2008, attendance was again over 6,300 Scouts. In 2009, the attendance increased to 6,876 with over 3,500 rank advancements and 21,186 merit badges taken.
Beginning in 1997, the Indian Nations Council Board adopted a strategic plan that included a major $3.5 million expansion and renovation of the camp, including “brick and mortar” improvements like a new leader training facility, expanded trading post, four new program facilities, a synthetic “snow” ski and tubing track, horse stables, a new dining facility, facilities for nature training, a 28,000 gallon water storage and delivery system, a complete waste disposal lagoon system, and many other program enhancements.
According to Indian Nation Council’s testimony before the House Natural Resources Committee in 2008, funding of more than $400,000 has been approved by the Indian Nations Council Board for the land purchase. They have also planned the immediate construction of infrastructure and facilities to camp 180 additional scouts per week once the acquisition is complete.
The HALE Scouts Act, and the subsequent land purchase, has been a cooperative effort between Boren’s office, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Indian Nations Council, Inc. of the Boy Scouts of America. The HALE Scouts Act will now head to the Senate for consideration.
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