Occoneechee Council

Overview

The Occoneechee Council is a non-profit organization operating under the Boy Scouts of America (now known as Scouting America) in central North Carolina. It serves approximately 8,200 youths and 4,600 adults across twelve counties: Chatham, Cumberland, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Lee, Moore, Orange, Vance, Wake, and Warren. The council is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is the largest Boy Scout council in the state.

History

The Occoneechee Council was formed in 1929 through the merger of three local councils: the Wake County Council, the Durham County Council, and the Walter Hines Page Council. The original Raleigh Council was established in 1921 and later renamed the Wake County Council in 1925. The Durham County Council and Walter Hines Page Council were both founded in 1925. The council's name is derived from the Occaneechi Indian tribe, a band of the Saponi Nation known to inhabit the North Carolina Piedmont.

Organization

The Occoneechee Council is divided into four districts:

• Eno River District: Covers Chatham, Durham, Granville, Orange, and Vance counties.
• Cardinal District: Serves southern and western Wake County and portions of Raleigh south of I-40.
• Sandhills District: Comprises Cumberland, Harnett, Lee, and Moore counties.
• North Star District: Consists of Franklin and Warren counties, as well as northern and eastern Wake County and portions of Raleigh north of I-40.

Each district is led by a volunteer District Chairman, a volunteer District Commissioner, and a professional District Executive employed by the Occoneechee Council.

Facilities

The Occoneechee Council operates three large camping properties:

• Occoneechee Scout Reservation: Located in Moore County, this 2,400-acre wilderness property includes Camp Durant, used for summer camping, and Camp Reeves, which offers more primitive facilities.
• Camp Campbell: Situated on Kerr Lake in Virginia, this offers primitive camping facilities and is available year-round for units and non-Scouting groups.

Occoneechee Lodge

The Occoneechee Council is home to Occoneechee Lodge #104, the local branch of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's national honor society. The lodge has more than 2,000 members and conducts meetings several times a year at Camp Durant for fellowship and service activities.

Financial Overview

The Occoneechee Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. It has an annual budget of $3.5 million, with significant funding coming from the annual Friends of Scouting campaign (previously) and the popcorn product sale, which generates about $1.5 million annually to support Scouting programs within the council.

Integration Efforts

Notably, R. Kelly Bryant played a significant role in integrating African American scouts into the Occoneechee Council, working towards achieving full representation and equal opportunities for Black scouts within the council. His efforts contributed to important changes in the council's structure and opportunities for minority participants.