Two Manatee County Kiwanis clubs pooled $35,000 to rebuild a storm-damaged pavilion at Camp Flying Eagle in Bradenton, and on Sunday, July 26, they gathered with Scout leaders and campers to dedicate the finished structure.

The Bradenton Kiwanis Club contributed $25,000 toward construction of the new Kiwanis Pavilion, while the Kiwanis Club of North Manatee added $10,000, according to Pulse of Manatee. The original covered gathering space sustained significant damage when Hurricane Milton tore through Manatee County on Oct. 9, 2024, with peak wind gusts exceeding 100 mph.

Members of both clubs, Scout leaders, campers, and community supporters attended the dedication ceremony at the 185-acre camp on the Manatee River. Volunteers, donors, and community partners were recognized for their roles in the rebuild.

A camp nearly a century old

Camp Flying Eagle, at 16009 Upper Manatee River Road, is one of the oldest continuously operated Scout camps in Florida. The Manatee County Boys Development Association purchased 140 acres along the river in 1929, and a local farmer later donated 45 additional acres. The Southwest Florida Council of Scouting America operates the camp and serves Manatee County families through its Manatee District, drawing Scouts from communities across the county including Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, and Palmetto.

Hurricane Milton's toll

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key as a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph. The National Centers for Environmental Information estimates Milton caused $34.3 billion in damage across Florida. Camp Flying Eagle's pavilion was among the local structures that needed rebuilding in the storm's aftermath, and the two Kiwanis clubs stepped forward with funding to restore it.

The Kiwanis Club of North Manatee serves Palmetto, Ellenton, Parrish, Terra Ceia, and surrounding North Manatee County communities. The Bradenton Kiwanis Club meets at Kiwanis Hall on the second floor of the Manatee Performing Arts Center, 502 3rd Ave. W., Bradenton.

Residents interested in Scouting programs at Camp Flying Eagle can find year-round camping information at swflcouncilbsa.org.