Obviously, Hilaka's future is quite uncertain right now. We are unsure at this point if GSNEO will even authorize us to help repair the camp or raise funds to do so.
At the meeting last week, Council gave us a list of repairs that needed to be done at Camp. These items were CLEARLY rough figures, and they had a hard time answering where the estimates came from. Many items on the list were very vague, for example, "Roads, Culverts, and Ditches" - it is unclear if this means that they want to pave more of the roads, or do they need more gravel, or do the ditches need to be filled in? There was a lot of doubt on whether or not some of the repairs on the list were even necessary.
Other things that stuck out from the list was a $350,000 cost of repairing the pool and poolhouse. We were all extremely confused about this particular item because obviously the state of the pool should not hold back the use of the camp. The pool was mainly used for resident camp anyways, and since they did away with that years ago, the pool should NOT be a top priority. Obviously, if Council plans on making full use of the camp again it will be considered, but there are many other projects that need to be taken care of first, of course the dam and water treatment plant being of the utmost importance. We can re-stain the outhouses and build porches later.
The grand total was $802,000...but again, these are just estimates and I have a feeling some of these projects will be considerably MORE expensive than listed.
A property specialist from GSUSA is coming out to Camp Crowell-Hilaka on August 4, and the FOCH will have 2 members present representing our cause, and council will obviously have representatives there as well. The board will meet in the days following and decide where to go from there, maybe even IF there is anywhere to go from there. FOCH is well represented at the Aug 4. meeting at camp, but it is a bit nerve wracking nonetheless. This guy will only be at camp for a couple hours, just basically the amount of time it takes to walk through all the units. Council seems to be moving about the situation quite leisurely, while all of us at FOCH are eager to speed up the process and get the how on the road. So, we shall see how that situation pans out.
I think that we should get Crowell-Hilaka on the track to become accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA) and offer resident camp during the summers again. Every since resident camp has been taken out of the picture, the camp has gone steadily downhill from there. Camp Crowell-Hilaka currently has the most expensive troop camping rates in the State of Ohio, mostly because they are not able to make revenue from any other kind of programming. It is such a waste to let such a beautiful and historic campground go to waste the way Hilaka has been going.
I believe that within the next 3-5 years we can, and should, make Hilaka ready for summer camp again. It will be difficult, as the past nine years of non-activity will make it difficult to find staff that are as connected with the camp as the previous group of staff were. Hilaka sold off all the horses in 2005, which will be difficult as well because a good majority of girls who came to camp were in horse programs. I think that we can get back to where we were eventually, if we act quickly and with the camp's long term future in mind.
What do you guys think? What do you see in Camp Crowell-Hilaka's future?
At the meeting last week, Council gave us a list of repairs that needed to be done at Camp. These items were CLEARLY rough figures, and they had a hard time answering where the estimates came from. Many items on the list were very vague, for example, "Roads, Culverts, and Ditches" - it is unclear if this means that they want to pave more of the roads, or do they need more gravel, or do the ditches need to be filled in? There was a lot of doubt on whether or not some of the repairs on the list were even necessary.
Other things that stuck out from the list was a $350,000 cost of repairing the pool and poolhouse. We were all extremely confused about this particular item because obviously the state of the pool should not hold back the use of the camp. The pool was mainly used for resident camp anyways, and since they did away with that years ago, the pool should NOT be a top priority. Obviously, if Council plans on making full use of the camp again it will be considered, but there are many other projects that need to be taken care of first, of course the dam and water treatment plant being of the utmost importance. We can re-stain the outhouses and build porches later.
The grand total was $802,000...but again, these are just estimates and I have a feeling some of these projects will be considerably MORE expensive than listed.
A property specialist from GSUSA is coming out to Camp Crowell-Hilaka on August 4, and the FOCH will have 2 members present representing our cause, and council will obviously have representatives there as well. The board will meet in the days following and decide where to go from there, maybe even IF there is anywhere to go from there. FOCH is well represented at the Aug 4. meeting at camp, but it is a bit nerve wracking nonetheless. This guy will only be at camp for a couple hours, just basically the amount of time it takes to walk through all the units. Council seems to be moving about the situation quite leisurely, while all of us at FOCH are eager to speed up the process and get the how on the road. So, we shall see how that situation pans out.
I think that we should get Crowell-Hilaka on the track to become accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA) and offer resident camp during the summers again. Every since resident camp has been taken out of the picture, the camp has gone steadily downhill from there. Camp Crowell-Hilaka currently has the most expensive troop camping rates in the State of Ohio, mostly because they are not able to make revenue from any other kind of programming. It is such a waste to let such a beautiful and historic campground go to waste the way Hilaka has been going.
I believe that within the next 3-5 years we can, and should, make Hilaka ready for summer camp again. It will be difficult, as the past nine years of non-activity will make it difficult to find staff that are as connected with the camp as the previous group of staff were. Hilaka sold off all the horses in 2005, which will be difficult as well because a good majority of girls who came to camp were in horse programs. I think that we can get back to where we were eventually, if we act quickly and with the camp's long term future in mind.
What do you guys think? What do you see in Camp Crowell-Hilaka's future?
I'd staff resident camp in a heartbeat. I'm still sad that I never got to go when I was a kid because it was too expensive. :(
ReplyDeleteQuestion: are any of the buildings besides the mill on the National Register of Historic Places? It seems as if a few of them should be, and if worse comes to worse beign on register would keep them from being torn down if camp closed.
Yes, I am certain that the Mill is on the Register, but I don't believe any of the others are. Of course, we want to make sure that these buildings are preserved but ultimately we should work on keeping them in our hands!
ReplyDeleteI will for SURE staff res camp. Hell, I'll be the goddamned Director!! I just want future generations to be able to experience what we all did.
And hopefuly at a lower price too! Perhaps we could get more girls to go if it wasn't so expensive! Novel idea huh?
Best summers of my life were spent at Crowell/Hilaka. Please blog about any fundraisers. I'm out of state now but I'd love to try to help.
ReplyDelete