'Back to nature': St. Andrews State Park reopens youth group campground with $60K grant

Nathan Cobb, The News Herald
·2 min read

PANAMA CITY — Youth groups once again have a place to camp at St. Andrews State Park.

After being closed for more than three years because of damage sustained during Hurricane Michael in October 2018, the park's primitive youth group campground reopened June 10 thanks to a $60,000 grant from the St. Joe Community Foundation which funded repairs and additions to the site.

"We were fortunate that the St. Joe Community Foundation was able to provide the grant," said Scott Robinson, park manager. "We did not have funding from the state of Florida at that time to make those improvements, so it absolutely was instrumental in getting it done."

St. Andrews State Park Manager Scott Robinson walks through the new primitive youth group campground that is now open at the park. The campground has been closed since it was heavily damaged in Hurricane Michael.
St. Andrews State Park Manager Scott Robinson walks through the new primitive youth group campground that is now open at the park. The campground has been closed since it was heavily damaged in Hurricane Michael.

Closed for now: Repairs continuing to storm-damaged St. Andrews State Park pier

145-year-old schooner: Governor Stone sets sail on rebuild after Hurricane Michael

April Wilkes, executive director of the foundation, said the youth campground is an important amenity at the park because camping is a "great way to set children on" a path toward becoming environmental stewards.

The St. Joe Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization separate from the St. Joe Company, a major land development company located in Bay County.

The foundation's main duty is to distribute grants to select nonprofit organizations.

"We are proud to have supported the efforts in reopening this important resource for our community and look forward to its continued enjoyment for years to come," Wilkes wrote in an email.

A covered picnic area is part of the new primitive youth group campground recently opened at St. Andrews State Park. The campground has been closed since it was heavily damaged in Hurricane Michael.
A covered picnic area is part of the new primitive youth group campground recently opened at St. Andrews State Park. The campground has been closed since it was heavily damaged in Hurricane Michael.

The youth campground is one of two campgrounds at the park. The other is open to families and individual campers. It, like the youth site, was damaged during Hurricane Michael.

According to Robinson, two phases of the family campground also have reopened since the storm, and a third phase is under construction.

Robinson said the money donated by the St. Joe Community Foundation was used for new restrooms, a pavilion, picnic tables, campfire circle and benches at the youth campground.

For him, youth camping is an important tradition at state parks — one that not only provides a healthy outlet for children, but also can spark a passion for nature.

"I think getting back to nature is a very important and valuable thing for us," Robinson said. "(The park provides) a great opportunity for people to reconnect with their family and friends in a natural environment, especially in camping. It's a little bit slower pace ... and you can get unplugged and enjoy the natural environment."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: St. Andrews State Park reopen youth campground after Hurricane Michael