Great Trail Camp History
1924 "The Oaks" (now called Sandoneida) opened for the first summer of established camping.
1926 Mrs. H. H. Timken, who was the Commissioner of Girl Scouting for Great Trail Council, bought The Oaks and in 1932 turned the land title over to the Girl Scouts.
1949 Start of Great Trail Camp - 68 acres and pool.
1950-53 Main Lodge built. Whippoorwill Hill, Hunter's Spring and Hideaway Hollow added with tents on wooden platforms.
1953 Main Lodge dedicated.
1955 Main Lodge burnt and rebuilt.
1958 Rustic Ridge and Starlight Circle added.
1959 Outpost added.
1963 Ranch 1 and Ranch 2 built.
1964 Timken bought Ranch land (160 acres) and donated to Great Trail 2.5 acre lake built by Ohio Corp of Engineers.
1968 Ranch lodge built.
1969 Lodge opened and Lakeview and Hilltop added.
1975 Main Lodge renamed Thomas Hall in honor of A. P. Thomas who volunteered more than 30 years of work to Great Trail Camps.
Caretaker Home - Was first school house in Brown Township; converted into residence in 1958.
Credit to counselor handbook of 1978.
1926 Mrs. H. H. Timken, who was the Commissioner of Girl Scouting for Great Trail Council, bought The Oaks and in 1932 turned the land title over to the Girl Scouts.
1949 Start of Great Trail Camp - 68 acres and pool.
1950-53 Main Lodge built. Whippoorwill Hill, Hunter's Spring and Hideaway Hollow added with tents on wooden platforms.
1953 Main Lodge dedicated.
1955 Main Lodge burnt and rebuilt.
1958 Rustic Ridge and Starlight Circle added.
1959 Outpost added.
1963 Ranch 1 and Ranch 2 built.
1964 Timken bought Ranch land (160 acres) and donated to Great Trail 2.5 acre lake built by Ohio Corp of Engineers.
1968 Ranch lodge built.
1969 Lodge opened and Lakeview and Hilltop added.
1975 Main Lodge renamed Thomas Hall in honor of A. P. Thomas who volunteered more than 30 years of work to Great Trail Camps.
Caretaker Home - Was first school house in Brown Township; converted into residence in 1958.
Credit to counselor handbook of 1978.
Unit Names and Meanings
Whippoorwill Hill Named for the whippoorwill bird that can be heard in the unit.
Hideaway Hollow Big old hollow trees.
Hunter's Spring Hunter's cabin located in unit. And for the natural spring that ran through the unit house.
Rustic Ridge Named for the ridge trail.
Starlight Circle When you stood in the fire circle, the leaves would form an open circle where stars could be seen from.
Dogwood Dale Named for the dale and dogwood trees.
Outpost Term was used for unit which was furthest from the dining hall, (Thomas Hall).
Double R Originally named for Renkert Ranch.
Lakeview When the unit was first built the lake was visible.
Whispering Winds Named for the wind that seems to whisper through the trees.
Hilltop The highest point in Carroll County.
Whippoorwill Hill Named for the whippoorwill bird that can be heard in the unit.
Hideaway Hollow Big old hollow trees.
Hunter's Spring Hunter's cabin located in unit. And for the natural spring that ran through the unit house.
Rustic Ridge Named for the ridge trail.
Starlight Circle When you stood in the fire circle, the leaves would form an open circle where stars could be seen from.
Dogwood Dale Named for the dale and dogwood trees.
Outpost Term was used for unit which was furthest from the dining hall, (Thomas Hall).
Double R Originally named for Renkert Ranch.
Lakeview When the unit was first built the lake was visible.
Whispering Winds Named for the wind that seems to whisper through the trees.
Hilltop The highest point in Carroll County.