By Rachel C. Willis
It’s pumpkin season! There’s no better place to pick out the perfect orange gourd this fall than Camp Helen State Park, home of Lake Powell, the largest coastal dune lake in the northern hemisphere. Each fall, they host the largest pumpkin patch on the Emerald Coast, along with Americana Concerts in the winter, movie nights, an egg hunt in the spring and other fundraisers and events throughout the year.
The Friends of Camp Helen is the official CSO (Citizen Support Organization) for Camp Helen State Park. As a 501(c)3, the primary initiatives of the FOCH are preserving, maintaining, and improving the park through volunteer projects, community events and fundraising. There are thirteen community members serving on the Board of Directors at present.
While kayak/SUP rentals generate operational revenue for the organization, the annual pumpkin patch is their primary fundraiser, with Americana Concerts being second.
The money raised one fall funded the accessibility mats on the path to the beach.
Currently, the park needs multiple historical structural repairs/restorations, a new tractor, a new cart, as well as other repairs and equipment, while the FOCH needs to replace its kayak fleet.
With the money from fundraisers and partnerships with sponsors such as Visit Panama City Beach and Good Pedals Bike Rentals, they provide FREE community events, such as an Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt and movie nights in the park.
The Friends of Camp Helen’s ninth Annual Pumpkin Patch officially opened Saturday, September 28 at 9 a.m. and will remain open daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. throughout October.
For the first time ever, customers can purchase native plants such as dune sunflowers, Indian blanket flowers, Blazing Stars, Milkweed, Butterfly Bush, and Muhly Grass, in addition to pumpkins, an assortment of gourds, and Camp Helen branded merchandise.
Environmental partners as well as Seacoast High School students and Girl Scout Troop #10303 coordinate the activities and volunteers from the community manage the patch.
The youth volunteers create games and crafts and help guests in the patch. Under the direction and supervision of their science teacher, Annette Railey, the Seacoast kids create and lead activities and games, while the Girl Scouts manage crafts. The younger volunteers also enjoy helping customers take their pumpkins and plants to their vehicles.
Prior to the 1940s there was nothing in the way of development along this stretch of beach, for miles in either direction. William Comer purchased the 183.5-acre property from Mrs. Hicks in 1945 and turned it into Avondale Mills-Camp Helen, creating a vacation retreat for the employees of the mills. Sadly, a fire in 1986 at the Avondale Mill in Sylacauga shut the mill down and subsequently Camp Helen. It had been an extremely popular destination. For four decades while the land was operating as a vacation retreat, tens of thousands of people visited Camp Helen and fell in love with Panama City Beach and the Emerald Coast.
Families subsequently decided to purchase their own piece of property so that they could build their own “beach vacation cottage.” This spurred the growth and development of this area and adjacent communities as the “vacation destination” that it is known as today.
With all the growth in the area, the Friends of Camp Helen CSO believes in the importance of educating the public about the natural resources and wildlife that make up the unique ecosystem surrounding Lake Powell, the largest coastal dune lake in the Northern Hemisphere.
Executive Director Courtney Harper explains, “With interpretive programs and hands-on learning, we hope to inspire others to spend time here and fall in love with Camp Helen as much as we have. The more people we teach, the more they can teach and motivate others to preserve what is left of our precious ecosystem.”
Each Saturday, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. kids and their families can learn more about the park and how to take care of the resources from environmental community partners, including Panama City Beach Turtle Watch, Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, Shorebird program, Bay County Audubon, Beach Mosquito, Bay Breeze Bait and Tackle, master gardeners, Gulf World Marine Institute, Emerald and Forgotten Coast Adventures, and more.
Some programs will have touch tanks with live species and other displays, while others will lead wildlife crafts. The trail bingo game (located in the Visitor’s Center) helps families explore the park while learning more about the natural resources.
Master Gardeners will also be available to help plan Fall gardens when purchasing native plants in the patch. Guests can learn about the different pollinators for the plants. There will be educational material on birds, butterflies, and bees.
Every Saturday will also feature games, glitter tattoos, and a QR code-led scavenger hunt throughout the park to learn about the history at Camp Helen, highlighting several structures on the National Register of Historic Places.
With evidence of Civil War salt sheds and Indigenous people, Camp Helen and Lake Powell boast a rich history in addition to sensitive natural resources and wildlife habitats, creating a fun atmosphere to explore and learn.
Kayak rentals remain open for reservations and walk ins, fishing clinics continue every Saturday, and Gelato Love food truck is returning Saturdays and Sundays in the patch. Kayaks and fishing are bookable online at www.friendsofcamphelen.org.
All activities in the patch are FREE and all proceeds from pumpkins, plants, and merchandise benefit the Friends of Camp Helen for park improvements and community events.
Harper reminds everyone, “When you purchase your pumpkin from our patch, ALL of the money stays inside Camp Helen so we can continue these programs supporting the park and community.”
*Admission to Camp Helen State Park is $4 per vehicle and $2 per bicycle/pedestrian.
