Cub Scout Pack 69, out of Redland, FL, holds an Annual Fall Festival. This fall festival is held in conjunction with Holloween, and all the boys and their families come dressed up in costume to have a fun filled night of games and treats. It is a time for the boys to run wild and have a fun time. Recently, Pack 69 has started holding their Fall Festival at Camp Redland, also known as the Boy Scout Hut, which is maintained by Boy Scout Troop 69.
Troop 69 was formed in 1946 by a group of men known as "The Men of Princeton" (the troop had been previously formed in 1941, but dissolved because of the war.) A young and single Norman Benson became the first scoutmaster with James Sasser as his assistant. The first committee consisted of Norman's father, TR. Benson, Sr., George Cooper, Sr., Robert McDonal and Charles Crauswell.
They originally met at Dade County Health Extension building on U.S. Highway 1 at 248th Street. The site is now an Ace Hardware Store (formerly Mullin and Mullin Hardware.) Princeton Church of the Nazarene was the original sponsor, later alternating with Silver Palm United Methodist Church.
Norman started the tradition of extensive camping from the outset. He procured an old school bus to facilitate long range trips. The troop established its tradition of meeting out in the woods, first in a series of shacks on Cooper Road and later at the first “Hut”.
In 1968 the troop moved to its present location after vandals burned down the original “Hut”. The ten acres are leased form Dade County for $1.00 a year in an agreement. The “Hut” incarnation was originally a traditional chickee of thatched palmetto fronds which the scouts would refurbish each year. Fronds were harvested from the Everglades and a nearby Naval Base and it took four truckloads to complete the job with older Scouts doing the re-thatching while the younger Scouts passed bundles of fronds from below.
This tricky little hide is Dedicated to the Cub Scout Pack 69 annual Fall Festival - with special thanks to Troop 69 for allowing us to use their 'Hut'.
You do not have to go into the campground to make this find. There is actually a locked gate leading into the camp ground, but there is plenty of parking right on the side of the road. Please be respectful of the area. Have fun!