'Friends' Unite to Save Girl Scout Camp

Eagle Island has been a Girl Scout Camp serving local girls from Essex and Hudson counties for 70 years. And local fans of the camp on Upper Saranac Lake in New York  plan for it to be around for at least another 70.

The Friends of Eagle Island, Inc. will hold an official public gathering on Saturday, April 2 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Morrow Church, 600 Ridgewood Road, Maplewood to discuss the group's efforts to re-open the camp.

The group stated in a release, "Everyone who has been a camper, counselor, or parent of a camper, anyone who has attended Family Camp or Women’s Weekend; and anyone else who is a fan of the camp is invited to attend. Check our website www.friendsofeagleisland.org for more information or contact 973-996-8306."

The camp, set on 32 acres in the Adirondacks, was originally built as a private summer retreat in 1903 for Levi Morton, vice president of the United States under Benjamin Harrison. Architect William Coulter designed the buildings in the Adirondack Great Camp style. The property received a National Historic Landmark designation in 2004.

The island was sold to Henry Graves, Jr. in 1910. After losing two sons in accidents, the Graves family generously gifted the island to the Girl Scout Council of the Oranges and Maplewood in 1937. The camp operated continuously from 1938 to 2008. The camp offered adventures in sailing, canoeing, hiking and water sports and was geared for older girls.

"We believe this legacy – Henry Graves’ intent for children to 'play there always' – should be continued, " The Friends of Eagle Island wrote in a fundraising letter on it's website. "We accept the challenge that we can repair the camp for the safety and enjoyment of campers, staff, family campers, work and women's weekenders, and, during an expanded season of use, a broader public of visitors and guests who can enjoy and help support and maintain this historic Adirondack Great Camp."

"This decision was a difficult one for all who were involved and the path taken to make it was inclusive and thorough," Susan Brooks, CEO of GSHNJ, told Patch last December. "We appreciate the efforts of our volunteers, our Board, and our staff that assisted us during this process. We will continue to give each girl a great experience at our remaining camps." The GSHNJ cited the expensive upkeep of the camp, declining attendance and the six-hour drive in the decision to close and sell the camp.

Last fall, Livingston High School senior Emily Reich talked to Patch about her wonderful memories of camping at Eagle Island. "There was canoeing and swimming," Reich shared. "But my best memory is the first time that one of the older girls took me out sailing. I had been sailing before, but she really knew a lot about what she was doing."

Friends of Eagle Island member Chris Hildebrand said that the Friends of Eagle Island organization began lending assistance to the camp as early as 2006, putting  a new roof on the building, fixing up docks and more. The Friends are now asking GSHNJ to sell the property to them. She said that existing local Girl Scout camps didn't offer the same amenities.

"We would open it as a girls camp, not a Girl Scout camp," explained Hildebrand. "We would market it throughout the state."

- Sonya Kimble-Ellis contibuted to this story.