After several years without an active Scouting presence, the program is returning to Clarendon County with a new pack and troop set to launch this weekend.
A recruitment event for Family Pack 68 and Troop 68 will be held Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at American Legion Post 68 in Manning, marking the official restart of Scouting opportunities for local youth ages 5 to 18. The new group will operate under the leadership of Stephen Dooley, who will serve as both Scoutmaster and Cubmaster.
Dooley’s name may already be familiar to local readers. His daughter, McKenzie Dooley, is Clarendon County’s first female Eagle Scout, a milestone that reflects both her dedication and her family’s deep ties to the program. Now, he’s turning that experience into an effort to rebuild Scouting locally.
“There’s no scouts in Clarendon County. To my knowledge, there’s nobody on this side,” Dooley said, noting that families have had to travel to Sumter in recent years to participate.
The gap dates back to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the closure of a previous unit he led in Manning. At the time, that group included 22 Cub Scouts and 14 troop-level Scouts, a number he hopes to rebuild and eventually surpass.
Now, with his own children continuing in the program and fewer responsibilities tied to the Sumter troop, Dooley said the timing felt right to bring Scouting back to Manning. More importantly, he said, the need has only grown.
“I’m a community person, and there’s a need,” Dooley said. “There’s not much to do in Manning or Clarendon that I’m aware of, especially for youth ages five to 18.”
The new pack and troop will follow the traditional Scouting structure, with Cub Scouts serving younger children — typically kindergarten through fifth grade — and the troop serving older youth through age 18. The approach shifts as children grow, beginning with family-centered activities and moving toward independence and leadership.
For younger participants, Dooley said the focus is on building character and reinforcing the values outlined in the Scout Oath and Law, with strong involvement from parents and guardians.
“It’s more family style, more family involvement at home,” he said. “We’re instilling those characteristics — trustworthy, loyal, helpful — so they can be passed on.”
As Scouts get older, the program emphasizes outdoor skills, service and personal growth, with opportunities ranging from camping and first aid to community projects and environmental awareness.
“It’s more about community service, nature preservation, outdoor living — learning about themselves,” he said.
The program is open to both boys and girls, something Dooley said was non-negotiable in bringing the program back. He credits his daughter with helping shape that commitment as more girls have joined Scouting in recent years.
“That was the number one rule that Kenzie made me do if I was going to keep it,” he said with a laugh.
No prior experience is required, and Dooley said the program is designed to meet participants where they are.
“We all start at one,” he said. “Skill level doesn’t matter.”
In addition to youth participants, the group is seeking adult volunteers to help lead and sustain the program, with training available for those interested. Initial registration fees are $150 for youth and $100 for adults, with assistance available for families who need support.
For Dooley, the return of Scouting to Manning is about more than restarting a program — it’s about creating opportunities for connection, growth and time outdoors in a community where those options can be limited.
“Just getting off the games and getting outside,” he said. “Opening the doors for outdoor activity and community involvement — that’s what we’re looking forward to.”
