Camp Jack Wright
- 12632 Confederate Parkway @ Tannehill State Park
- McCalla 1,
-
Active
Contact Information
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Camp Jack Wright
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Comments
Greater+Alabama+Council%0d%0aB%2eS%2eA%2e%0d%0aCamp+Jack+Wright%0d%0a%0d%0aCamp+Jack+Wright+is+owned+and+operated+by+the+Greater+Alabama+Council%2e+It+is+located+in+the+Roupes+Valley%2c+adjacent+to+Tannehill+Ironworks+Historical+State+Park%2e+The+valley+is+in+the+Alabama+natural+region+known+as+the+Ridge+and+Valley+province%2e+This+section+of+the+state+is+the+southern+end+of+the+Appalachian+Mountains%2e+Camp+Jack+Wright%92s+hallmark+is+its+rugged+natural+beauty%2e+The+camp+is+nestled+in+and+on+several+sandstone+ridges+dominated+by+a+forest+of+Chestnut+Oak%2c+White+Oak%2c+Black+Oak%2c+Southern+Red+Oak%2c+Hickory+species+and+a+few+assorted+Pines%2e+Wildlife+is+plentiful%2c+including+deer+and+turkey%2e+All+of+this+combined+with+the+area%92s+abundant+history%2c+make+Camp+Jack+Wright+a+great+location+for+traditional+Boy+Scout+camping%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aFacilities+%2f+Resources%0d%0aCamp+Jack+Wright+is+40+acres+contiguous+to+the+1500%2dacre+Tannehill+State+Park%2e+Together+they+form+a+1540%2dacre+nature+and+historical+preserve%2c+perfect+for+camping%2c+hiking+and+other+recreational+activities%2e+Camp+Jack+Wright+is+a+primitive+area+ideal+for+weekend+camping+year%2dround%2e+The+camp+has+been+designed+for+%93low+impact%94+camping+to+preserve+the+natural+esthetics+of+the+property%2e+There+are+four+troop+sites%3b+each+site+has+a+latrine%2c+picnic+table+and+fire+ring%2e+The+camp+has+a+central+parking+%2f+activity+area+where+there+is+also+an+activity+pavilion%2e+Water+may+be+obtained+at+spigots+near+the+pavilion%2e+Garbage+is+disposed+of+at+the+Tannehill+trash+dumpster%2e+Access+to+Camp+Jack+Wright+is+from+Tannehill+State+Park%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aReservations%0d%0aReservations+are+required+and+can+be+made+by+contacting+the+Greater+Alabama+Council+Service+Center+nearest+you%2e+Do+not+contact+Tannehill+State+Park+regarding+Camp+Jack+Wright+reservations%2e+The+cost+is+one+dollar+per+Scout+%2f+Scouter+per+night+%28payable+to+the+Tannehill+Park+Ranger+at+gate+on+check%2din%29%2e+The+Ranger+will+issue+a+key+and+give+directions+to+camp%2e+Note%3a+March+through+November+there+is+no+camping+permitted+on+the+third+weekend+of+the+month%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aCamp+Jack+Wright+Patch%0d%0aIn+an+effort+to+promote+the+camp+and+to+establish+a+camp+identity%2c+the+Camp+Jack+Wright+committee+developed+a+patch+for+camp%2e+It+is+provided+at+no+charge+to+Scouts+and+their+leaders+who+complete+the+following+requirements%3a%0d%0a1%2e%09Camp+a+minimum+of+one+night+at+camp%2e%0d%0a2%2e%09Do+an+approved+service+project%2e%0d%0a3%2e%09Hike+the+Benton%2dBurridge+Nature+Trail%2e%0d%0a4%2e%09Have+the+above+three+requirements+confirmed+by+Scoutmaster%2e%0d%0aThe+Scoutmaster+may+obtain+the+patches+at+the+Tannehill+Park+store%2c+by+presenting+the+cashier+the+completed+service+project+form%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aLand+Acquisition%0d%0aScout+Troops+were+camping+at+Tannehill+during+the+1950s+and+1960s%2e+Tannehill+Ironworks+Historical+State+Park+opened+in+1969%2e+During+the+1970s+as+the+park+was+being+developed%2c+Scout+Troops+conducted+numerous+service+projects+to+assist%2e+In+fact%2c+Farley+Field+is+named+after+Ed+Farley%2e+Mr%2e+Farley+was+a+Bessemer+District+Scouter+who+spearheaded+its+development%2c+utilizing+Scouts+and+their+leaders+as+volunteer+laborers%2e+As+the+park+grew+and+visitation+increased+to+about+400%2c000+a+year%2c+Scout+Troops+were+often+denied+access%2e+There+did+not+seem+to+be+a+solution+to+this+dilemma%2e+Then+unsolicited%2c+Mr%2e+Jack+Wright+approached+Mr%2e+Mike+Krawcheck+with+a+very+generous+offer%2e+Mr%2e+Wright+proposed+giving+the+Boy+Scouts+32+acres+to+establish+a+permanent+Scout+Camp+at+Tannehill%2e+Mr%2e+Krawcheck+presented+the+proposal+to+the+Council+leadership+and+in+time+the+gift+was+graciously+accepted%2e+As+the+Tannehill+Scout+Camp+Development+Committee+began+its+work%2c+the+Chairman+Mr%2e+Zack+Cross%2c+asked+Mr%2e+Krawcheck+to+locate+the+owner+of+8+acres+that+were+connected+to+the+Scout+property%2e+If+this+property+could+be+obtained+it+would+enhance+the+use+of+the+Scout+Camp%2e+After+an+exhaustive+search%2c+Mr%2e+Krawcheck+found+that+the+8+acres+belonged+to+Mr%2e+and+Mrs%2e+Floyd+E%2e+Benton%2c+who+live+in+California%2e+Mr%2e+Krawcheck+shared+with+the+Bentons+the+plans+for+the+Scout+Camp%2e+After+proper+consideration%2c+the+Bentons%2c+who+had+always+hoped+the+property+could+benefit+youth%2c+gave+the+8+acres+to+the+Boy+Scouts%2e+This+completed+the+land+acquisition%2e+The+generosity+of+these+two+families+is+very+much+appreciated+and+will+benefit+many+generations+of+Scouts+to+come%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aCamp+Development%0d%0aThe+council+Scout+Executive+asked+Mr%2e+Zack+Cross+to+chair%2c+recruit%2c+and+lead+a+Tannehill+Scout+Camp+Development+Committee%2e+He+charged+Mr%2e+Cross+with+the+responsibility+of+getting+the+camp+ready+for+Scout+usage%2e+This+was+to+be+accomplished+at+no+cost+to+the+council%3b+it+was+explained+that+there+was+no+money+in+the+council+budget+for+a+new+camp%2e+The+committee+enthusiastically+set+about+its+work%3b+first+a+camp+master+plan+was+established%2e+There+was+no+road+that+went+into+the+camp+property%3b+they+had+one+installed%2e+Volunteers+built+picnic+tables%2c+latrines%2c+a+pavilion%2c+laid+out+and+cleared+Troop+sites%2e+They+also+laid+a+water+line+that+started+at+the+Tapawingo+Bridge+at+Farley+Field+and+ended+near+the+activity+pavilion+at+Camp+Jack+Wright%2e+Volunteers+designated+and+cleared+a+path+for+the+nature+trail+and+identified+and+marked+tree+species%2e+Finally+an+entrance+gate+and+flagpole+were+installed+and+the+camp+was+ready%2e+In+addition+to+the+facility+development%2c+periodically+forester+managed+controlled+burns+are+conducted%2e+These+minimize+brush+and+allow+fire+dependent+small+native+plants+%28wildflowers%29+to+re%2demerge%2e+The+Tannehill+Scout+Camp+Development+Committee+named+the+camp%3a+Camp+Jack+Wright%2c+and+the+nature+trail%3a++Benton%2dBurridge+Nature+Trail%2c+after+the+families+who+were+the+camp%92s+benefactors%2e+Camp+Jack+Wright+was+dedicated+on+May+4%2c+1997%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aHistory+Sampler%0d%0aThe+site+where+the+Tannehill+blast+furnaces+are+located+was+no+accident%2e+Roupes+Creek+provided+waterpower%2c+charcoal+was+made+from+the+trees+in+the+forest%2c+limestone+and+most+important%2c+rich+deposits+of+brown+iron+ore+were+nearby%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aIn+1830+Daniel+Hillman+was+the+first+to+build+a+forge+at+the+site%2e+Later+Ninian+Tannehill+took+over+the+forge+and+during+1859%2d1863+three+tall+natural+block+furnaces+were+built%2e+Tannehill+Furnaces+was+one+of+15+Alabama+furnaces+that+supplied+pig+iron+to+the+Confederacy%2e+Tannehill+had+a+daily+capacity+of+20+tons%2e+This+all+came+to+an+end+on+March+31%2c+1865%2c+when+three+companies+of+the+Eighth+Iowa+cavalry+commanded+by+Capt%2e+William+A%2e+Sutherland%2c+as+part+of+Union+Maj%2e+General+James+H%2e+Wilson%92s+Alabama+raid%2c+attacked+the+Tannehill+facility+and+left+it+in+ruin+and+inoperative%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%93Solemnly+the+old+furnace+speaks+of+the+heavy+ways+of+toil%2c+long+since+dead%2c+that+our+fathers+had+before+us%2e+Majestic+in+the+forest%2c+yet+ruling+no+more%2c+it+has+a+burdened%2c+solitary+heart%85+The+very+shadows+seem+to+sleep%2c+even+as+the+stones%3b+and+the+drowsy+sun+rays+circling+them+are+but+the+brushing+wings+of+evanescent+dreams%2e%94%0d%0a%0d%0a%2d%2dEthel+Armes%0d%0a%28The+Story+of+Coal+and+Iron+in+Alabama%2c+1910%29%0d%0a%0d%0aEpilogue%0d%0aUpon+entering+Tannehill+a+visitor+gets+a+sense+of+history%2e+It+is+easy+to+imagine+the+first+pioneers+arriving+at+Roupes+Valley+with+all+that+they+owned+piled+on+a+mule+or+ox+drawn+wagon%3b+the+early+Ironmasters+sweaty+and+covered+in+grime+from+the+heat+of+their+furnaces+in+blast+for+the+first+time%3b+and+years+later+the+furnaces+operating+at+a+feverish+pace+to+produce+pig+iron+for+the+Confederate+arsenals+at+Selma%2c+Alabama+and+Rome%2c+Georgia%2e+A+section+of+the+road+from+Farley+Field+to+the+Camp+Jack+Wright+gate+is+on+the+Old+Bucksville+Stage+Road%2e+What+a+superb+setting+for+a+Scout+Camp%21+The+Greater+Alabama+Council+is+fortunate+to+have+such+a+unique+resource%2e+If+the+Camp+Jack+Wright+Committee+can+answer+any+questions+or+be+of+assistance+in+making+plans+for+a+trip+to+Camp+Jack+Wright%2c+contact+your+local+Scout+Service+Center%2e+They+will+be+happy+to+tell+you+how+to+contact+one+of+the+committee+members%2e+Welcome+to+Camp+Jack+Wright%21%0d%0a%0d%0aTannehill+Ironworks+Historical+State+Park%0d%0awww%2etannehill%2eorg%0d%0a%0d%0aA+great+activity+for+Troops+that+are+camping+at+Camp+Jack+Wright+is+to+hike+the+state+park%2c+Shirley+Real+Environmental+Trail%2e+The+trail+is+approximately+one+mile+long+and+its+entrance+is+next+to+the+Camp+Jack+Wright+gate+%28after+entering+the+trail+gate%2c+take+the+right+fork%29%2e+The+trail+terminus+is+at+Roupes+Creek+and+the+Civil+War+era+Tannehill+blast+furnaces%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aRespectfully+submitted+by%3a+Rob+Turner%2c+CJW+Committee%2dMarch+5%2c+2003%0d%0aRevised%3a+October+29%2c+2003%0d%0arpt%0d%0a%0d%0a%0d%0a