08/20/2026
Update on Purchase of Wah-Tut-Ca
There has been some confusion and perhaps misunderstanding about social media and other communications regarding the purchase of Wah-Tut-Ca from the Spirit of Adventure Council.
Five years ago, Lantern Light Camps Inc. secured an exclusive term lease from the Spirit of Adventure Council. That lease terminates on December 31, 2026. During the period of lease a summer camp program was developed. As the program evolved, we focused on underserved youth in New England. Partnering with several youth-serving organizations, we introduced hundreds of urban children and young adults to the wonders of the Wah-Tut-Ca Forest and Northwood Lake. We placed special emphasis on supporting children raised by grandparents.
In 2026 readers of New Hampshire’s Manchester Union Leader voted Lantern Light Camps as, “the best camp in New Hampshire”.
In 2025, noting that the Lantern Light Lease would terminate in December 2026, we began negotiations with the Spirit of Adventure Council. We were informed in the fall of 2025 that the council would not consider extending our lease but offered us the chance to buy the property. A small group of camp staff alumni founded the Wannalancit Realty Holding, now doing business as "Wah-Tut-Ca Preservation Association." The Association’s purpose is to acquire the camp to ensure that the land is environmentally protected and preserved, and to keep it available for use by children and young adults in New Hampshire and New England as an outdoor training and recreational facility in perpetuity. Through the efforts of Wah-Tut-Ca Preservation Association, the camp would be maintained, and the Association would support Lantern Light Camps as its landlord/facility partner into the future.
In January 2026 the Association signed a letter of intent to purchase the property no latter than October 1, 2026. In March the Key Foundation Inc, pledged to raise $100,000 to be used toward the purchase.
We are now in the process of completing the legal and title requirements with an expectation of closing before the deadline.
None of this would be possible without the help of The Spirit of Adventure Council. From the very beginning, we started this process with SOA Council President Jeff Reynolds who worked, as he phrased it, “to find a win/win solution for both organizations. Throughout the lease period, we have benefited from the administrative support of SOA Director Jon Pleva.
I cannot give enough praise to SOA CEO John Judge, who balanced his fiduciary responsibilities with determination to find a way for both organizations to benefit. The council's leadership always demonstrated to me a deep respect for the Wah-Tut-Ca legacy. I believe that together we found a way for this legacy to continue serving today's youth. As a lifelong scout and scouter, I am grateful for all that Scouting has done for me personally and will continue to give it my support.
I cannot thank everyone enough who has given their time, efforts, and money to ensure a bright future for Wah-Tut-Ca.
For more information please visit: https://www.wahtutcapreserve.org/
Brian J. Lobao
Founder, Lantern Light Camps Inc.
President, Wah-Tut-Ca Preservation Association
President, (recused) The Key Foundation Inc.
For nearly ninety summers, the eastern shore of Northwood Lake, New Hampshire, has reverberated with the sounds of children playing, learning, discovering, and growing at summer camp.
