BY CINDY TOOPES COURIER STAFF WRITER
December 01, 2008 11:49 pm
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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.
“The council made the decision without any input from any of the scouts or scout leaders and parents. They asked for no input from committee meetings or executive board meetings,” he said.
Miller is active in the scouting program and his son, Eric, is an Eagle Scout.
“There was no indication of budget problems” last year when Brewer hosted a “fireside chat” at Strothers Lodge, according to Miller.
“Brewer said the council had no intentions of closing Camp Wapello for the foreseeable future,” he added.
The Courier’s call to the Mid-Iowa Council was not returned by press time.
Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com.
Camp meeting Wednesday night
OTTUMWA — The Mid-Iowa Council of Boy Scouts of America will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Strothers Lodge near the Indian Hills Community College campus to discuss the council’s proposal to stop using Camp Wapello near Drakesville.
Directions: Use the college’s Alta Vista Avenue entrance and proceed through two stop signs. As you see the Hellyer Center on the left, go by it and watch for road to the Child Development Center and turn right. The road takes you back to the cemetery and beyond there is the lodge, which is actually on Boy Scout property.
Those interested in contacting the Mid-Iowa Council can do so by writing to Mid-Iowa Council, BSA, P.O. Box 3009, Des Moines, IA 50316; or calling (800) 999-SCOUT or (515) 266-2135.
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