Parkland's Involvement with Camp Telogia 

Over the years, Camp Telogia has served many purposes. In 1979, the City of Parkland had one full-time employee and one phone line at City Hall which was a mobile trailer on the side of Holmberg Road; the trailer wasn't large enough for Commission meetings which were held at Camp Telogia. In January 1981, a fire behind the camp was reported and put out by the Parkland Volunteer Fire Dept. In July 1987, cadets and Public Safety officers took part in an overnight camping trip that included not only the usual baseball games and cookouts, but also exercises in police work. 

In February 2001, during "Build Week" for Parkland's Liberty Park ("The Park the People Built"), 22 AmeriCorp volunteers stayed at Camp Telogia. The Girl Scouts made an exception for Parkland to allow them to stay there overnight for one week while working 12 hour days on the playground construction.

On September 21, 2005, the Parkland City Commission passed a resolution supporting a grant of up to $500,000 from the Broward County Environmental Land Preservation Bond Program to Camp Telogia for capital improvements. However, in October 2005, Hurricane Wilma did extensive destruction to the trees and significant damage to the structures within Camp Telogia. Parkland residents graciously donated their time and equipment to clear the damage.


Source: 2005 pictures from Andrea Levenson.                       Donated equipment cleared the destruction.

In 2007, the Girl Scouts sponsored Trees for Telogia campaign to plant new trees and restore that which had been destroyed by the hurricane.


Source: 2007 pictures from Andrea Levinson. Note all the replanted and supported trees. 

In early 2008, the Parkland Commission approved an ordinance which rezoned Camp Telogia to allow for its redevelopment. The intent was to permit the use of the parcel as a Girl Scout camp, and, should the Girl Scouts choose to change the uses on the site or if the site was to be sold, a rezoning petition would be required. 

On February 20, 2008 the Commission approved a resolution which was a request for the revitalization of the Girl Scouts’ Camp Telogia. The facility would remain a camp and the improvements would help bring the facility up to Code. They intended to continue their rustic ambiance and keep their natural vegetation.

In May 2009, over the Memorial Day weekend, several Parkland and Coral Springs Girl Scout troops enjoyed a Camporee at Camp Telogia. Participants included more than 65 scouts and led an awareness session that certified Camp Telogia as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat.

In January 2010, Girl Scouts gathered at Camp Telogia to honor those individuals who sponsored a tree in their annual "Trees for Telogia" campaign. The campaign was started after Hurricane Wilma destroyed more than 60% of the tree canopy at Camp Telogia. At the time, more than 100 trees had been sponsored by Girl Scouts, individuals, families and companies. Especially honored and acknowledged were the Girl Scouts of Troop #1082 for helping to make Camp Telogia a greener place.

Written by James Weiss; Archive Retrieval by Pierre Hodot; Edited by Ira Goldman; Design and Art Work by Bill Reicherter; Parkland Historical Society President Jeff Schwartz;