Was there about 5 years ago great place, with lots of beautiful pine trees and old cabin that dates back into the 1920's.
Wed, 08-Mar-00
Was there about 6 months ago, and it's not a beautiful place any more. All the beautiful old pine trees are gone, they were Clear Cut for profit. All of they land is now up for sale. I stayed at this camp as a Boy Scout back in the early 1950's. It makes me sad to see this beautiful old camp look the way it does now. I don't understand what this Council is coming to. History must not mean as much as it did when I was a boy.
Thu, 16-Mar-00
I also camped there as a boy in the 1960's. I agree with the last persons statements. I was there about three months ago, when a boy Scout who had been there told me of what had happened. I couldn't believe it when i saw the damage that had been done to this beautiful old camp.I wonder if this is what scouting is coming to in Westark Area Council.
Comments
Was there about 5 years ago great place, with lots of beautiful pine trees and old cabin that dates back into the 1920's.
Was there about 6 months ago, and it's not a beautiful place any more. All the beautiful old pine trees are gone, they were Clear Cut for profit. All of they land is now up for sale. I stayed at this camp as a Boy Scout back in the early 1950's. It makes me sad to see this beautiful old camp look the way it does now. I don't understand what this Council is coming to. History must not mean as much as it did when I was a boy.
I also camped there as a boy in the 1960's. I agree with the last persons statements. I was there about three months ago, when a boy Scout who had been there told me of what had happened. I couldn't believe it when i saw the damage that had been done to this beautiful old camp.I wonder if this is what scouting is coming to in Westark Area Council.
This+camp+was+not+Clear%2dCut+however+very+extensive+selective%2dcutting+was+done%27+as+most+of+the+pine+trees+on+this+camp+had+a+disease+known+as+%22red%2dheart%22+and+these+trees+could+fall+on+structures+or+people+at+any+time%2c+if+you+will+look+at+these+stumps%2c+they+were+nearly+all+hollow%2e++as+for+why+the+land+was+sold%2c+the+reason+is+simple%2c+this+camp+was+constantly+being+burglarized%2c+and+the+costs+to+maintain+it+were+so+high+that+the+council+would+have+had+to+charge+to+let+people+camp+there%2e++After+the+council+began+reviewing+the+camp%2c+the+county+condimed+it+so+that+they+could+reroute+the+county+road%2c+and+at+that+time+the+council+came+to+the+same+solution+that+Firestone+has+come+to+by+closing+the+Decater%2c+IL+plant%2c+It+was+the+most+cost+effective+solution%2e++This+camp+is+now+privately+owned%3b+however+the+owner+does+still+allow+camping+on+the+camp%2e++I+hope+that+this+addresses+everyone%27s+concerns%2e%0d%0a
It+makes+me+extremely+sad+that+the+adults+seem+to+only+express+concern+for+a+beloved+place+when+it+is+too+late%2e++Let%27s+set+an+example+for+our+boys+and+be+proactive+instead+of+waiting+until+our+camps+disappear+and+then+complain+about+what+the+counsil+has+not+done%2e++Friends+of+Scouting+can+always+use+a+little+more+help+keeping+all+our+camps+wonderful+places+to+make+memories%2e%0d%0a%0d%0asign+me+an+old+girl+scout+with+3+sons%0d%0a
I+drove+to+Rudy+last+week+05%2f05%2f06+to+go+find+Camp+Tom+Futral%2e++As+a+Scouter+in+the+WestArk+Area+Council+and+a+history+buff%2c+I+wanted+to+see+what+was+left+of+the+camp%2e++It+seems+the+land+has+been+partioned+into+3+or+4+plots%2c+and+a+couple+of+houses+have+been+built%2e++What+remains+of+the+camp+buildings+are+the+old+lodge+building+and+what+must+have+been+the+Ranger+or+Camp+Director%27s+house+%28more+accurately%2c+a+shack%29%2e++Much+to+my+horror%2c+the+owner+of+the+parcel+that+has+the+lodge+and+the+Ranger%27s+house+is+a+defunct+Fireworks+Operator+and+has+really+trashed+out+the+land%2e++%28A+neighbor+said+he+defaulted+on+his+payments+and+he+thinks+that+the+land+is+back+in+the+hands+of+the+Boy+Scouts%2e%29++There+is+an+old+semi+tractor%2c+discarded+fireworks+mortars%2c+cut+boards%2c+and+LOTS+and+LOTS+of+trash+and+overgrowth+all+over+the+land+immediately+in+front+of+the+lodge%2e++The+lodge+is+in+really+terrible+shape+with+a+hole+in+the+roof+and+mounds+of+trash+and+ply%2dboards+in+the+lodge%2e+Part+of+the+rock+and+mortar+foundation+has+given+way%2c+there+is+a+hole+in+part+of+the+floor%2c+and+the+lodge+is+a+really+sorry+sight%21++I+saw+graffiti+of+Scout%27s+names+and+Troop+numbers+from+the+early+1990s%2c+and+earlier%2c+on+the+walls+inside+the+lodge%2e%28What+ever+happen+to+leave+no+trace+and+respecting+property%3f%29%0d%0a%0d%0aThere+really+isn%27t+any+place+to+camp%2c+except+on+a+pad+that+was+cleared+just+north+of+the+lodge+to+build+a+house+on%2e++Permission+must+be+gained+from+one+of+the+homeowners%2e++The+landowner+that+I+talked+to+said+he+had+been+to+Camp+Rudy+when+he+was+a+Scout%2c+and+he+would+be+willing+to+let+Scouts+access+the+Frog+Bayou+through+his+property%2c+if+they+came+and+camped%2e++Anyway%2c+it+was+a+real+heartbreak+to+see+what+has+happened+to+a+piece+of+WestArk+Scouting+History%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0aYIS%2c%0d%0a%0d%0aA+Razorback+District+Scouter+%0d%0a