Posted on November 24, 2012

Dale Earnhardt Foundation Gives $2 Million for Girl Scouts' Retreat

The Girl Scouts, Hornets' Nest Council in Charlotte has announced a $2 million gift from the Dale Earnhardt Foundation to develop the council's 700-acre Oak Springs retreat.

The largest single award ever received by the council will help fund the ongoing development of an outdoor learning campus, which will be renamed the Dale Earnhardt Environmental Leadership Campus. The council is implementing a long-range development program that to date has included infrastructure improvements, challenge courses, nature trails, an archery range, and camping areas and cabins. In partnership with the Catawba Lands Conservancy, the vast majority of the property will be kept naturally forested, with all development to be handled in an environmentally sensitive manner.

"Dale was an avid sportsman and outdoorsman; whether it was spending time at the Earnhardt Farm or traveling across the country on a hunt, he loved outdoor adventure," said Earnhardt Foundation executive director Teresa Earnhardt. "We are proud to put Dale's name on a campus like this with its beautiful wooded environment, wildlife native to the area, and such a strong program teaching young people the importance of respecting nature."