Supporters Oppose Closing of Landmark Girl Scout Camp
Friends of Eagle Island Camp seek to purchase property used by Scouts for decades.
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According to Girl Scout Emily Reich, the camp at Eagle Island was a beautiful getaway for her and many of her fellow Girl Scouts. Located in Upper Saranac Lake, NY, the camp is about to be put up for sale by the Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey (GSHNJ).
Nestled near the Northern Adirondacks, the summer camp was gifted to the Girl Scout Council of the Oranges and Maplewood (as it was known then) back in 1937 by the Graves family of West Orange.
Up until the end of the summer of 2008, Girl Scouts from Essex, Union and Hudson counties visited the camp for anywhere from two to six weeks. A senior at Livingston High School, 16-year-old Reich has been going to Eagle Island for seven years. "There were usually about ninety girls who would be there," said Emily, who has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten. "The girls were from our old Girl Scout Council, so they were mostly from Essex and Hudson counties. There would be girls from Upstate New York too."
Soon after that summer, the current Council decided to close the camp. "In 2009, it didn't open," said Chris Hildebrand, a member of Friends of Eagle Island, a local non-profit organization developed to keep the Island in use for young girls. "This is the second year it hasn't opened. The council had been saying that it wasn't being opened because there were too many things that needed to be fixed." Friends is comprised of nearly 1,000 supporters, former staff and alumnae of the camp.
In a meeting held October 11, the GSHNJ's Board of Directors voted to divest itself from Eagle Island and sell the land. The decision, the board explained in an issued statement, was made after an 18-month evaluation.
"This decision was a difficult one for all who were involved and the path taken to make it was inclusive and thorough," said Susan Brooks, CEO of GSHNJ. "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."
Both Sides of the Issue
Adirondack winters are very harsh, said Hildebrand. So if the Eagle Island Camp wasn't continually maintained, the cost to prepare it for each summer would be large.
According to Hildebrand, the Friends of Eagle Island organization began lending their assistance to the camp as early as 2006. That's when they learned that several local Girl Scout Councils in Essex, Union and Hudson counties would be merging. "We later put a new roof on the building," Hildebrand said. "We spent money doing repairs, fixing up docks, etc. Eagle Island is a landmark. Then when the merger came, they wouldn't let us do any more."
Hildebrand also said that their group had volunteers who would go up to the camp, set up the tents and put the dock back in the water to prepare for each season. The new Council, she added, never allowed alumni to raise money for the camp. Their priority, she said, is on their other camp in Western New Jersey called Camp Hoover.
"It's on a tiny lake," she said. "They don't have high mountains to climb or other beautiful things for the girls. We believe that the Council feels like they have a camp and that that's enough."
In the summer of 2009, the Council commissioned C.T. Male Associates, P.C. to perform an engineering study of the camp. In part, the study revealed that the camp needed a good deal of renovations and repairs to meet safety codes and standards.
"When coupled with the camp's declining attendance over the last eight years and the approximate six-hour drive to reach the camp," their statement said, "it was determined the costs were too prohibitive to continue to maintain and run the camp."
From the girls' point of view, Reich said that she and many of the other scouts really enjoyed Eagle Island Camp and the activities it offered. Because of the large lake, there were a lot of water activities available to the girls, she said. For two years, Reich participated in the camp's sailing program. "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." "
Not just content on being a girl scout, Reich has lent her time and energy to helping the Friends of Eagle Island keep the camp open. She used a slide show presentation to try to raise interest among other girls and within the Council.
The Friends of Eagle Island have submitted a detailed plan to the Board of Directors of the Council. They've done a real estate analysis of the property and have asked the Council to sell it to them for a minimal amount.
"We would open it as a girls camp, not a Girl Scout camp," explained Hildebrand. "We would market it throughout the state. We haven't heard back from them. But we gave the proposal to them the night they made their announcement to sell."
In response, the GSHNJ gave this statement to Patch: "Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey (GSHNJ) has completed the process of winterizing Eagle Island Camp. We are in the early stages of establishing a committee, which will be focused on the divestiture of the camp. We will be considering all fair and reasonable offers that support the long-term needs and strategic direction of GSHNJ. No selling price for the camp has been set at this time."
Chris Hildebrand
1:03 pm on Wednesday, December 15, 2010
if anyone wishes to help save Eagle Island as a camp for girls as it has been for our local communities for over 70 years, contact chrishil@verizon.net . I am communications coordinator for the Friends of Eagle Island. Eagle Island is designated a National Historic Landmark, was built for V.P. of the US Levi Morton . If you want to learn more about Eagle Island visit www.friendsofeic.org as there are many postings and links there.
Chris Hildebrand
Chris Hildebrand
6:45 pm on Wednesday, December 15, 2010
There was no intent in this interview to minimize Camp Hoover, the only remaining sleep away Girl Scout Camp in the Heart of New Jersey. The camp is very different from Eagle Island, by its location and programming and that was the point we were making. It is very unfortunate the Council decided not to keep both camps.
Chris Hildebrand
Sally Chew
7:11 pm on Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Our family loves both Eagle Island Camp and Camp Hoover and we are very sad that the council did not keep both camps as they complement each other beautifully.
Grace Ibanez
8:42 pm on Thursday, December 16, 2010
Does the council still own the oval in west orange/maplewood? I thought that was a sleep away camp too. I whole heartily am in support of saving Eagle Island
Chris Hildebrand
8:40 am on Friday, December 17, 2010
The oval in the South Mountain Reservation is one of the Coucil's two " day camps." Please send you e-mail addresses if you wish to join the Friends of Eagle Island e-mail list to save our Adirondack Treasure.
kelly alday
10:15 am on Friday, December 17, 2010
I worked at EIC for 2 summers, as both life guard and water front director. I fell in love with the land and the people that gave it so much love and care, it is sad to see that the council has decided to sell - but the Friends of EIC seem to be extremely dedicated to preserving the welfare and meaning of the island and why it was gifted to the scouts to begin with. I hope with all of my heart that the council does everything that they possibly can do to allow them to purchase the island and continue the tradition. I have been a scout for 26 years and attended and worked at camps from age 6 thru 21, some of my best memories come from those summers, it would be a shame to lose another outlet for our children, especially one and unforgettable as Eagle Island. I hope that one day my 17 month old daughter will spend her summers on the island, canoeing, sailing, doing crafts and forming life long bonds with other girls - bonds that cannot be made in any other way.
Kelly Alday
Jen_S
4:16 pm on Friday, December 17, 2010
I attended Eagle Island for many years, as a camper and a junior counselor. It is a beautiful and truly special place. I am sad to hear about the camp closing - it was and, in my heart, will always be a one-of-a-kind treasure that created special memories for so many young women.
Jenifer Steig Strugger, Maplewood
Judy O'Neil
1:53 pm on Saturday, December 18, 2010
Eagle Island is a one of kind place. As a former camper, counselor, Sailing Director and family camper I was saddened the camp did not open in the summers of 2009 and 2010- but hoping the new Council was making improvements to reopen in 2011. I was therefore devastated to hear of the news that they plan to sell this unique camp. I truly feel the newly merged council doesn't full understand what a gem they have. This is a huge blow to girls from Northern NJ-to be able to experience the stunning beauty of the Adirondacks was a 70 year old tradition on an Island, on a gorgeous lake, nestled amongst the high peaks of the North Country-this was not your average Girl Scout camping experience. The lasting impact this camp had on girls that camped there, is evidenced by the dedicated group of alum and friends known as "the Friends of Eagle Island". I only hope "Friends" are able to purchase the property and continue the tradition and continue the legacy that the Graves family intended when they donated it to the Girl Scouts so many decades ago.
John Eckart
7:54 pm on Saturday, December 18, 2010
John Eckart
My daughter spent nine summers at EIC and absolutely loved every minute of it. We're convinced her essay about her times at EIC and her love for the camp got her admitted to a very prestigious university; one that she probably would not have been admitted to if she hadn't written such a heartfelt essay. So you see, EIC has an impact beyond summer fun and camping experiences. I'm also active in the Boy Scouts and spent a week last summer doing a canoe trek from Floodwood camp near EIC. My wife and I have also done some hiking in the area, so I can tell you first hand, the Adirondaks and Upper Saranac Lake are truly unique treasures and a camp for girls like EIC should be kept open for girls to enjoy if at all possible, although I imagine this would take a major fundraising effort. Let me know if I can help!
JoAnne DeStefon
9:30 pm on Tuesday, January 4, 2011
JoAnne Clayton DeStefon
I attended EIC as both a camper and then as a family camp counselor for many years. I also worked work weekends for probably 15 years with my family as well as my husband. The only reason that I stopped attending work weekends was that I started my own family and I could not bring my children to camp because they were not old enough. I am extremely disappointed that GSHNJ were not able to maintain both properties. I know that this is not the first time that the number of scout attending camp declined. I can remember being a camper when Cricket was camp director and she was the one who went out to every service units in the Council every year to create excitement and interest in summer camp. Within a couple years there were campers everywhere, they had to put girls into the staff house and into the boat house because there was not enough room for all of the girls who wanted to attend camp.
I am sure that this could have happened again if someone at the council with an love and understanding of Eagle Island had taken the time to invest in the programs and the experiences that are so unique to this property. The question that I have is, can the property be sold? I seem to remeber hearing that in the original gift from the Graves family the property could never be sold? I am not sure if this was just part of the rededication ceremony, or is this infact the case? I certainly hope that the council will consider the transfer to Friends of EIC.
Chris Hildebrand
10:18 pm on Tuesday, January 4, 2011
JoAnne, thank you for your heartfelt comments. We are trying very hard to acquire Eagle Island so that girls in this area and beyond can continue to have the life-changing summers we all enjoyed.
In answer to your question, unfortunately there is nothing that legally prohibits the Girl Scouts from selling the property. As you mention from your recollections of the rededication ceremony, clearly, the Graves family intended for their gift to allow for the scouts to always use the camp in memory of their own children who were killed in tragic accidents at a very young age. We are in touch with members of the Graves family, including some who remember their childhood summers on that magical island, just as we do. They are very concerned that the camp remain for children. We feel, as they do, that the camp was a gift to the Girl Scouts, and if they no longer want it, it should be passed on as a gift or for a very low price to those who are willing and able to continue its legacy and traditions, and honor the family who gifted it 72 years ago. Eagle Island is designated as a National Historic Landmark due to the architectural magnificence of its buildings designed by William C. Coulter and that remain as they were over 100 years ago when they were built for a Vice President of the U.S. Levi Morton. There is great fear that if the camp goes to private sale, the buildings will be demolished and the pristine forest destroyed. contact chrishil@verizon.net to help save EIC.
Dang
5:15 am on Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Booh Hooh,
I was a Boy Scout growing up and we also camped up in the Adirondacks at Crossett Lake Scout Reservation. I spent 10 summers up there and the memories will last a lifetime but life goes on. The camp was sold by the Essex council BSA years ago to a private owner and has never been developed and never will be according to the current owner. None of the existing buildings were ever demolished and things there are pretty much the same as it was left , including the sign to the camp itself. I remember staying at Eagle Island once when we did a 50 mile canoe trip Across the Adirondacks. It's a shame that these camps can't be held onto for generations to enjoy but if you can no longer afford to keep something then it's time to move on. It's not about and never should be about things but rather the experiences we have and what we take out of them. So much today is centered around possessions and one upmanship that we tend to lose sight of this fact. Scouting isn't about you or what you want , it's about your kid's and there happiness and the great thing about that is kid's will be happy anywhere.