Think our Camps have Been Saved? Think Again...
The original "property plan" announced by GSEIWI announced on February 5, 2013, called for all four camps owned by the Council to be sold: Camp Conestoga; Camp Little Cloud; Camp Tahigwa; and Camp L Kee Ta. According to the Council, that "plan" was carefully developed by its Property Committee after 5 years of continuous study, which included input and presentations by consultants from GSUSA, as well data obtained from numerous "surveys" circulated by the Council to Scouts and families. Despite the fact that the overwhelming response of members attending the town hall meetings was strong opposition to selling the camps, as well as numerous suggestions and offers of help, the Council forged ahead with its February 5, 2013, plan.
And then the lawsuit happened. (Read about the Lawsuit)
On March 27, 2013, only moments prior to the court hearing on the petitioners' motion for a preliminary injunction (which would have ordered the Council not to sell any camps) the Council suddenly withdrew its February 5 plan, presented another plan attached to its Answer, then announced that its Board would meet again to draw up yet a third plan. On April 11, 2013, the Board voted to approve the "new" property plan and the media celebrated how courageous the Council was to "save" all 4 camps. But the devil is in the details. The wording of the new plan clearly allows the Council to sell off the camps piecemeal, or all at once, depending upon whenever someone in the Council determines that any camp land is "not needed." (The only exception is that portion of Conestoga which would be used for a new, imagined resident camp, if that becomes reality.)
Take a look below at the comparison and language of the 3 plans developed by the Council to-date or view the pdf version:
And then the lawsuit happened. (Read about the Lawsuit)
On March 27, 2013, only moments prior to the court hearing on the petitioners' motion for a preliminary injunction (which would have ordered the Council not to sell any camps) the Council suddenly withdrew its February 5 plan, presented another plan attached to its Answer, then announced that its Board would meet again to draw up yet a third plan. On April 11, 2013, the Board voted to approve the "new" property plan and the media celebrated how courageous the Council was to "save" all 4 camps. But the devil is in the details. The wording of the new plan clearly allows the Council to sell off the camps piecemeal, or all at once, depending upon whenever someone in the Council determines that any camp land is "not needed." (The only exception is that portion of Conestoga which would be used for a new, imagined resident camp, if that becomes reality.)
Take a look below at the comparison and language of the 3 plans developed by the Council to-date or view the pdf version:
