Sand Hill Q&A with Benson Porter and Mike Butler

This statement is simply not accurate and, unfortunately, misleading. Mr. Die Polder’s Will delegated authority to his son, Main Henderson, as the personal representative of his Estate, including, among other authority, the express authority to “compromise, settle, or adjust any claim or demand” against the estate and to “agree to any rescission or modification of any contract or agreement,” should any disputes arise.  

Shortly after Mr. Die Polder died in the late 1970’s, Courtney Roberts Die Polder, claiming to be Mr. Die Polder’s surviving spouse, claimed to take an elective share and family allowance out of the Estate. To settle this dispute, Main Henderson – following his father’s express intent in the Will delegating him the authority to do so – agreed to give Courtney Roberts Die Polder 36 acres of land, which was a portion of the land that had been devised to the Boy Scouts in the Die Polder Will.  Courtney Roberts Die Polder promptly sold that valuable land that Mr. Die Polder’s Will had intended for the Boy Scouts. 

Because this compromised and materially altered the devise to the Boy Scouts in the Will, Main Henderson, as the personal representative of his father’s estate deeded the remainder of the land to the Scouts, in fee simple, free and clear of any of the restrictions that had been previously set out in the devise in the Will, including the lapse provision that would have devised the land to Hernando County if the Boy Scouts had not used it for the purposes set forth in the Will.  Those deeds superseded the specific devise and the restrictions in the Will but are fully consistent with Mr. Die Polder’s intent as set forth in the Will.  Accordingly, the Council accepted the land free of any restrictions or encumbrances, including the lapse provisions, in accordance with the BSA gift acceptance guidelines for property.

In 2024, Hernando County consented to the final judgment, pursuant to which a Hernando County Circuit Court Judge found all of the foregoing facts to have occurred and confirmed that, as a result, the Scouts have had title to the property free and clear of any use restrictions in the Will, including the lapse provision, since they acquired the property in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

This will be determined by the Council Executive Board based upon Council needs. Currently, there are many camp improvement needs planned including a new dining hall at Camp Brorein, additional and upgraded bathrooms at all council camps, a new ranger/maintenance complex, a Cub Scout shooting range, and a new high adventure/climbing area at Sand Hill, and new maintenance complexes at Camps Soule and Brorein. Additional investments in programs and membership growth initiatives could also be funded.

Yes, several calls were made to the FWC to report a possible violation at Sand Hill. Per FWC protocol, an officer was sent to investigate on each occasion. No violations were found. The Forestry Service is currently cutting and clearing a fire break around the property. They follow FWC guidelines for wildlife protection. The tortoise enforcement policy states that permits are not required to conduct agricultural activities, silvicultural (forestry) activities, or activities to improve native wildlife habitat. Such activities include, but are not limited to, tilling, planting, mowing, harvesting, prescribed burning, mowing, disking, roller-chopping and tree cutting. The Council takes great care to protect wildlife at all the camps, including a wetlands improvement program at Camp Alafia and a sand skink conservation program at Flaming Arrow.

The Council received a large endowment gift in 2023 and now has about $21,000,000 in the fund. The funds are governed by an investment policy and a spending policy which allows for a portion of the earnings to support Scouting each year. Almost one-half of the funds are donor-restricted. The annual fund distribution to the council represents about 25% of the council’s expense needs, which is the recommended BSA target. The endowment is critical to Scouting operations.

No, the national BSA bankruptcy was settled in April 2023. Every local council contributed to the victim’s trust fund. The Greater Tampa Bay Area Council contributed cash and the value of Camp Alafia to the trust fund. The Council has no other obligations related  to the bankruptcy.

The original dining hall (Swed Hall) at Brorein was built in 1922. It was in great disrepair and was dismantled in 2022. Plans for the new dining hall include seating for 384, adequate bathroom facilities, meeting spaces, and a kitchen area that meets current health codes.

The most recent dining hall (Wood Hall) was constructed at Flaming Arrow in 2001 with a seating capacity of 302. The seating capacity for the dining hall at Sand Hill is 328 and at Camp Soule is 240. Swed Hall at Brorein seated 150.