COVINGTON, Ga. — A teenager died at a Newton County Scout camp.
Editor’s note
This story has been updated to remove the identifying information of the deceased child at the request of Newton County Coroner Tommy Davis. A statement from a Boy Scouts official has also been added.
A reporter was turned away by Scout employees at the entrance to the camp on Scout Road in rural Newton County on Monday afternoon.
“We had an incident on camp,” programs director Ryan Girard said.
Tracy Techau, Scout executive and CEO of the Atlanta Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, later issued this statement:
“This is a very difficult time for our Scouting family. We are sad to confirm the death of one of our Scouts following a weather-related incident at Bert Adams Scout Camp. We offer our deepest condolences to the victim and his family, and we will support them in any way that we can. Please join us in keeping all those affected in your thoughts and prayers.”
A van from the coroner’s office pulled away from the camp at about 5:20 p.m. Monday.
Investigator Jeff Alexander, public information officer of the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, could not be reached for comment.
Bert Adams Boy Scout Camp was beginning the fourth week of Boy Scout summer camp, according to the facility’s website.
The camp bills itself as a 1,300-acre camp with new state-of-the-art facilities. Activities including biking, archery, swimming and riflery.
Managing Editor Jackie Gutknecht contributed to this report.
