This is what I know so far...

1. The Girl Scouts of Lake Erie Council were forced to merge with the 4 other councils in the Northern Ohio area a few years back, forming the new Girl Scouts of North East Ohio Council. Things have not been the same since.

2. Camp Crowell-Hilaka has been suspended for the next program year and will "officially" close on October 1, 2009.

3. The camp is in need of major repairs involving the dam and wastewater treatment plant, among other smaller issues. Word on the street is that these repairs could cost upwards of a million dollars.

4. There is a Yahoo group called FriendsofCrowellHilaka that is trying to promote Camp Crowell-Hilaka and stop it from closing for good . They will have a meeting at the Macedonia council office on July 20, 2009 at 6 PM. I know I will be there.

5. Camp Crowell-Hilaka is one of the most beautiful places I have ever known. It saddens me to think that the new generations of scouts may not be able to experience the history and beauty that we all have.

6. This plan to close camp must be stopped. We have one year to come up with a plan and save Camp Crowell-Hilaka!