Editor, The Commercial:
As the Girl Scout Diamonds of Arkansas hauled down the flag in a closing ceremony (Sept. 22) at Camp Taloha, the Kiwanis Club of Pine Bluff planned a movement to preserve the facility as a Kiwanis camp modeled after the extremely successful Joseph Pfeifer Kiwanis Camp in Little Rock.
Pfeifer Camp has a long and successful history of helping disadvantaged and at-risk youth. The Kiwanis Club of Pine Bluff has a vested interest in the survival of Camp Taloha as they were instrumental in its establishment as a Girl Scout retreat from the beginning.
The officers and members of the Kiwanis Club of Pine Bluff are currently seeking ways to save this facility which could be extremely beneficial in our community and all of southeastern Arkansas. The Girl Scout Diamond organization is hoping to sell the site and recoup their investment. However, they do not intend to leave the money available for the children previously served in this area.
Camp Pfeifer Executive Director Sanford Tollette spoke to the Kiwanis Club at their noon meeting Wednesday. He explained how the Pfeifer Camp got its start in 1929 on 82 acres near Ferndale. Since that time, it has provided a free summer residential camping program for 8 to 14 year olds.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
As societal problems affecting youth became more apparent, the camp added other programs to meet those needs. One such program is the comprehensive Alternative Classroom Experience, which has operated since 1988 for at-risk 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders in the Little Rock and Pulaski County school districts. Pfeifer Camp also offers parenting workshops, teacher training workshops, and annual Honor Camp program, and Counselor-In-Training program for 14 to 17 year olds.
Jefferson County needs this site to remain open in the county!
Gary McClure
Kiwanis member