2011 Feb 23 Property Committee Minutes

This document contains several important points.

  • Near the beginning is the motion to keep only two camps.  It was made by Dan Reynolds.   At that time, Mr. Reynolds was the director of Camp Y-Noah- a competing camp.  Although his intentions may have been completely honorable, the fact that he directed a competing camp was a clear conflict of interest.   Now that most of the GSNEO camps are closed,  more girls are camping at Y-Noah. Camp Y-Noah is benefiting financially from this increased usage. 

  • A few pages later, there is a list of recommended  improvements.  Many of the improvements are features of the camps that were being closed down :

  • “Indoor restrooms”  -  Camp Ledgewood ( one of the camps being kept)  had very few flush toilets.  However,   Crowell Hilaka,  Great Trail, Lejnar, and Pleasant Valley all had plenty.  

  • “ technology that allows girls to be ‘wired’ “.   It’s camp.  Most girls surveyed  said they did NOT need computer availability at camp.   If it is crucial to have online access, bring a smart phone.   Cell reception at Crowell Hilaka is excellent. 

  • “Increased waterfront usage” . The camps with large lakes and waterfront structures programs are the ones slated for sale.   Ledgewood and Sugarbush ( being kept ) each have small ponds.   Timberlane ( being kept ) has a small boating lake.  It is not suitable for swimming. 

  • The usage data charts included in this packet are from year 2010.  During that year- half of Great Trail and most of Crowell HIlaka were “mothballed” – off limits to campers.  Of course those camps will show low usage.  It was not possible for it to be otherwise.   Usage was high at Ledgwood, Timberlane, and Sugarbush because GSNEO administration chose to hold summer resident camp at those sites. 

  • The $30,000,000 cost chart is included.   Although it is labeled as the cost for making all 7 camps “premier”,  the board spokesperson told the General Assembly that it would take over $30 million to make all the needed repairs and bring all the camps up to ACA standards.   He repeated this claim to the media.    Several expensive items , such as a dining hall for Lejnar and extra land for Timberlane, are NOT required for ACA accreditation.  Neither is installation of pools, yurt villages,  or cabins costing 1.6 million apiece.