DRAKESVILLE — For 75 years, Camp Wapello has been “home” to countless Boy Scouts as they learned and played in the timber, in open spaces at Lake Wapello State Park near Drakesville.

Those days could be over. The Mid-Iowa Council of Boy Scouts of America has sent a letter to its members and stated “financial facts” make it necessary to stop using Camp Wapello.

Scouts, the council argues, should use Camp Mitigwa instead, according to Scout Executive A. Ely Brewer Jr.

“The plan for 2009 will be run five weeks of camp at Camp Mitigwa. There will be plenty of space, especially in weeks three to five, for all scouts and leaders who want to attend. We can work to make spaces available in weeks one and two if necessary,” Brewer wrote.

Camp Mitigwa is near Boone, Kathy Fortney of Eldon told the Courier Monday. Fortney and her family have been involved with Scouts for years.

“No one wants to travel that far, to have their kids that far away, instead of just a few miles,” she said. “We hope to get former leaders and former scouts to join a call to arms to get the decision reversed.”

Dr. J.L. “Doc” Stogdill of Pulaski is still waiting for his copy of the letter. Stogdill is chairman of the Camp Wapello Preservation Board.

“I’m chairman of the group that owns Camp Wapello,” he said.

“I’ve seen the letter but, as of today, neither at home, office nor Camp Wapello press mailbox have I received the letter.”

Stogdill said his board had received a letter from the council one year ago and “everything was fine.”

“[The council] extended the contract through 2016,” he said. “We have a signed, valid contract, and have received no word the contract won’t be honored.”

Stogdill speculated that Boy Scouts in southeastern Iowa may attend Camp Eastman in Nauvoo, Ill. He also questions the council’s reasoning for the proposal.

“I’m hearing ‘financial, financial.’ I just found out they have a brand-new scout building in Des Moines,” he said. “I think the council is more worried about facilities than our scouts.”

Stogdill’s other opinion involves Brewer, who wrote the council’s letter. Brewer has tried “from the day he took over as scout executive to do everything he can to get rid of Camp Wapello and this is the final thing,” Stogdill insists.

Ed Miller of Ottumwa is “very disappointed” about the council’s proposal and “even more disappointed in the process.