Impact
Blue Ridge Council, Scouting America
Year Granted: 2026
Grant Amount: $100,000
Camp Old Indian Lake Cleanup
The Blue Ridge Council (BRC), Scouting America, serving 8 counties in Upstate, SC, operates independently of the National Council and is its own separate 501(c)(3). It serves over 3,000 youth annually. Camp Old Indian is owned and maintained by BRC and celebrates its 100th Anniversary in 2026. All money is raised locally by volunteers and donations. The GWG grant will provide $100,000 of the $189,500 needed to complete an urgent cleanup of Camp Old Indian Lake. Hurricane Helene devastation dumped six feet of sediment into the lake, disrupting the ecological balance of the entire region and creating a major source of pollution at the headwaters of the North Saluda watershed. This project impacts the health of fish and wildlife as well as the quality of drinking water of the entire upstate region.
Outcome/Impact: In its present condition, the lake cannot be used by scout campers. With GWG funding, sediment will be removed, and a permanent, sustainable berm addition will prevent future sediment from entering the lake, making it usable again. Longer term, improvement will be measured through monitoring of turbidity levels in the Callahan Branch waterway that connects the lake to the North Saluda River, improvement to aquatic wildlife populations, and drinking water quality of its downstream sources.