Camp Wakatomika
The beginnings of Camp Wakatomika go back to May 13, 1942 with the purchase of 260 partially-wooded acres in the northeast portion of Licking County within Fallsbury Township. The Newark Area Girl Scout Council’s purchase and development of the camp was the dream of Ruth “Sholly” Shollenbarger who had been employed by the council since 1932. Prior to Sholly’s decade of work directing the development of the new site into a fledgling working camp, she had been directing Girl Scout camping activities through the Boy Scout’s Camp Falling Rock and Tar Hollow State Park.
During that first decade, an old farmhouse was repurposed into a winter lodge, summer and weekend camping areas were built, and many trees and trails were added with the help of volunteers. By 1952, when Sholly began a new position with the council in Columbus, a new lodge and other units were built. The camp’s addition to the Heart of Ohio Girl Scout Council followed shortly thereafter.
By 1960, the Lentz Lodge and a pond were built, and two new tenting units were added along with a swimming pool through the generous donations of time, money, and land from many residents.
By the 1990s, a nature trail and specially-designed adjoining cabins had been constructed. The cabins enabled scouts having physical disabilities to stay at the camp. Over the years many Girl Scouts have enjoyed hiking, swimming, singing, camping, canoeing, horseback riding, rappelling, bicycling, team sports, and more. Camp Wakatomika celebrated its 50th year in 1992.[1]
K.W.
References
- ↑ Barnes, Jean; Greider, Marie. “Girl Scout Camp Wakatomika, 1942-1992.” The Licking County Historical Society Quarterly Vol 2, no. 2 (Summer, 1992).
