CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The new headquarters for the Buckskin Council of the Boy Scouts of America will open in Charleston next month.
“We plan to move in May 2. We should be open to the public later that week,” said Jeff Purdy, scout executive for the Buckskin Council.
The 13,000 square foot facility, called the H. Bernard Wehrle, Sr. Scout Leadership Service Center, will replace the current building, the Wyatt Scout Service Center, which is located along the Kanawha River. Construction began in September.
The facility will include new office spaces, improved program spaces, a Scout shop and museum displays. It will be able to host large meetings, conferences, volunteer training, program coordination and overnight trips.
“It’s also going to include an additional activity area, so that Scouts can come and participate in activities along the river, the Craik Patton House and even down at the state Capitol and at the Clay Center,” Purdy said.
The Buckskin Council has expanded three times since 1979 and now includes 32 counties in four states — 22 in West Virginia, four in Kentucky and three in both Virginia and Ohio.
There have been increases this year in Boy Scout participation within the Buckskin Council, Hudson said, and he hopes the new space will attract more people.
“Last year, we ended the year with over 6,800 Scouts registered in the Buckskin Council, so in the 32 counties we serve, we have a pretty good size and impact on youth,” he said. “We’d like to think that this facility will increase membership, but it’s purpose is to better serve the youth that we have in our program now.”
“I think this facility is going to represent scouting in West Virginia very, very well,” he added.