Scouts to Build 600 Picnic Tables for Parks in 60 Days | Community Spirit

Thousands of scouts across South Carolina will spend weekends in March and April assembling picnic tables and placing them in state parks as part of the 600 in 60 project, an effort sponsored by Orangeburg-based Cox Industries, Inc., and coordinated with the Boy Scouts of America and the South Carolina State Park Service.  The goal is to build 600 new picnic tables from pre-cut and drilled lumber provided by Cox Industries, and place those tables at state parks around South Carolina within 60 days.

The effort was launched on Saturday at Sesquicentennial State Park in an announcement led by U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, an Eagle Scout himself, and other officials.  Following the announcement, more than 30 scouts from Troop 287 in Columbia assembled picnic tables for Sesqui.

“Service projects like these build workmanship, responsibility and a sense of generosity – character traits that make good leaders,” said Congressman Wilson.

The project was recommended to the State Park Service by Michael Johnson, President and CEO of Cox Industries, Inc., an Eagle Scout and active participant in scouting, who wanted to contribute to scouting organizations in South Carolina and to parks.  His company followed the Park Service’s design standards for structures that can withstand heavy use and weather, and developed 600 “kits” that each have enough material to build one table.

“We’re proud to have come up with a way to use the expertise in our company to benefit the public through our state parks,” said Keith Harris, Vice President of Marketing for Cox Industries. “The picnic tables are durable, high grade products that should serve visitors well.”

“We’re excited about this partnership, not only for the tangible results of putting 600 new picnic tables in parks for our guests,” said Phil Gaines, Director of the South Carolina State Park Service, “but being able to work with a great corporate partner has made this even more special.”

Each table takes about two hours to complete. More than 30 state parks around the state, from the coast to the midlands and the mountains, are participating.  Each scout who completes their project at a state park gets an official BSA patch.

Additionally, Cox Industries will be giving away four Official State Park Picnic Table kits to winners randomly drawn in a contest.  People who are interested in the contest and who would like to enter can find more information on the State Park Service’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/SC.State.Parks or at Cox Industries’ Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/CoxWood.

For more information, contact Marion Edmonds at medmonds@scprt.com or 803-361-6144.