01/13/2025
This is it. This is the last photo I may ever take at Camp Turrell, a place I considered sacred. Scouts, out in the forest, having the time of their lives.
Laughing. No phones. No TV. No devices. No screens. Just fun.
The first time I set foot on this sacred ground was in 1990 as a Webelo, in the fall as one of our final outings as Cub Scouts. I remember how my father borrowed a canvas wall tent from a friend, which was the same as what I would live in as a Scout at summer camp. How my friend's father was too tall for their dome tent and you could see his feet almost bursting out of the nylon.
For 33 years I was on that property either for summer camp or for a weekend trip - 8 as a youth, and 26 as an adult leader, 4 summers as a staff member. I nearly drowned putting foam under the dock - I learned construction at 15 building the archery pavilion.
That has now come to an end. NNJC has decided to sell the property. To be honest, I hope that there is an issue, and they can't sell, or they never get the asking price because what they need and what they will get are vastly different numbers.
A small ray of hope in a perfect storm at sea.
In another thread on here, I saw someone state that we shouldn't blame the council, but the executive board, or how it was the payouts from National going bankrupt, or a drop in numbers from COVID-19. It's mismanagement, egos, short-sightedness, bankruptcy, and much more.
It is a group of people running a youth program and forgetting why they are doing it in the first place. When I was a youth, you never saw a picture of a council employee without their uniform on; now, I see 99% in business suits.
Usually, it is cheaper for us to go to in-council camps - now, our council has jacked up the price so much that it's cheaper to go out of council.
Am I emotional? Yes, I have been having so many emotions that I do not know what to even call it. I was looking forward to sharing the stage at the closing campfire, Week 4, 2026 with my daughter.
Little did I know that the closing campfire, Week 4, 2025 would be the last I would participate in, let alone MC.
So, if you have $4M lying around, or know how to raise the money, let me know. The greatest revenge for me would be to have Troop 101 Eagles get together, buy the property, and make it the most profitable camp in the US.
Thanks for letting me rant. Sorry, there are no other updates - though I do have lots of pictures.
