Owasippe is THE oldest continous Boy Scout camp in the United States having been built in 1911 and in operation non stop since 1912. OWASIPPE consists of over 5,000 acres of rolling hills, towering forests, crystal lakes, and clear streams in the heart of Michigan’s water wonderland. Surrounded in part by the Manistee National Forest, several thousand additional acres are available for hiking and many other scout activities.

As a 3rd generation scouter, I was most pleased to visit Owasippe with my son the 4th generation in my family.

Have been attending Owasippe for almost 30 years. There is not a better place on earth for a fully rounded scout summer camp expirience.

I%27ve+gone+to+Owasippe+twice%2e+From+what+I+can+tell+so+far+it+is+the+best+camp+anyone+can+go+to%2e+%0d%0a

I+am+astonished+that+this+fantastic+camp+has+no+web+site%2e++I+looked+and+all+I+could+find+was+a+web+page+for+the+staff+association%2e++Why+does+the+council+devalue+the+camp+so+much+that+they+don%27t+even+mention+it+on+their+%22under+construction%22+website%3f%0d%0a

Owasippe+Scout+Reservation+is+the+oldest+boy+scout+camp+in+the+world+with+continious+operation%2e+Approx%2e+5%2c000+acres%2c+which+border+the+Manistee+National+Forest%2c+located+just+NW+of+Grand+Rapids%2e+%0d%0a

Actually%2c+it%27s+the+oldest+Boy+Scout+Camp+in+the+U%2eS%2e%2c+followed+by+a+tie+between+Treasure+Island+and+Teetonka%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a

What+a+wonderful+camp%21++We+attended+three+years+ago+and+the+boys+still+talk+about+returning%2e++The+lakes+are+huge%21++The+campfire+location+is+postcard+beautiful%2c+overlooking+the+lake%2e++The+OA+tapout+ceremony+is+very+well+done%2e++Staff+have+excellent+knowledge+of+scouting+principles+and+consistently+demonstrate+good+scout+spirit%2e++The+museum+located+near+the+registration+headquarters+is+a+must+see%2e++Order+a+group+photo+upon+arrival+but+don%27t+expect+duplicates%2e++We+tried+unsuccessfully%2e++As+scoutmaster%2c+I+also+recommend+ordering+pizza+for+Friday+night+%28keep+it+a+secret%29%2e++I%27ve+never+heard+so+many+scouts+say%2c+%22We+love+you+scoutmaster%22%2e++On+a+scale+of+10+this+camp+rates+a+strong+10%2e++They+don%27t+miss+a+thing+as+they+even+mail+your+employer+a+follow%2dup+letter%2c+commending+you+for+volunteering+your+time+for+young+scouts%2e++That%27s+Scout+Spirit%21+%0d%0a

This+was+our+troop%27s+first+time+at+Owasippe+%28summer+2002%29+and+will+hopefully+not+be+our+last%2e++The+boys+fell+in+love+with+this+camp%2e++The+lake+was+clean%2c+the+staff+was+excellent+and+the+new+food+service+was+top+notch%2e++Our+older+boys+took+advantage+of+the+submarine+overnighter+and+had+a+ball%2e+++%22Camp+Blackhawk%22++GO%21%0d%0a

If+You+have+not+heard+yet+our+elustrious+%22Paid+Professionals%22%2c+are+trying+to+sell+our+most+beloved+camp%2e++Scout+Excecutive%2c+Jim+Stone+and+Assitant+Scout+Executive%2c+Anthony+Gibbs%2e++For+more+info+on+current+events+please+vist+www%2eowasippe%2ecom%2e++The+paid+professionals+are+giving+us+volunteers+till+Jan%2e+2003+to+raise+10%2d15+million+dollars+for+an+endowment%2e+Any+help+would+certainly+be+appreciated%2e++This+is+not+only+our+camp%2c+it+belongs+to+all+scouts%2e++As+a+member+of+the+brotherhood+of+scouting+I+urge+all+interested+in+scouting+to+help+save+one+of+scouting%27s+original+homes%2e++B%2eS%2eA%2e+est%2e+1910+Owassippee+est%2e+1911%0d%0a

Wow%2e+I+just+visited+Camp+Glen+Gray+in+N%2eJ%2e+on+10%2f26%2f02+and+heard+the+news+about+the+possible+sale+of+Owasippe%2e+Is+this+a+trend%3f+The+same+happened+to+Camp+Charles+Hook+in+Ohio%2e+I+have+a+very+good+scouter+friend+who+attended+Owasippe+in+the+60%27s+and+never+had+anything+but+grand+memories%2e+This+will+bring+him+to+tears%2e+I+have+another+pilgrimage+to+make%2c+it+appears%2e%0d%0a

We+are+Troop+609%2c+Chicago+Area+Council%2c+and+have+what+we+believe+to+be+the+longest+continuous+record+of+attending+Owasippe+under+our+own+adult+leadership%2c+1927+through+current+without+a+single+missed+year%2e++TAKE+THE+OPPORTUNITY+TO+GO%2c+IN+CASE+THE+WORST+CASE+SCENARIO+COMES+TO+PASS%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a

I+am+the+Chairman+of+the+Chicago+Area+Council+Camping+Committee+and+a+41+year+camper%2fstaffman%2fvolunteer+at+Owasippe%2e+I+chair+the+efforts+to+Save+Owasippe+called+the+Owasippe+Outdoor+Education+Center+%28visit+www%2eowasippe%2ecom%29%2e%0d%0aWe+are+far+from+dead+and+are+in+the+middle+of+a+capital+campaign+to+raise+the+money+needed+to+purchase+the+camp%2e+Join+us+in+our+cause%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aP%2eS%2e+609+DOES+have+the+longest+running+streak+at+the+%22O%22%2e+How+is+Don+Epley+%28sp%29+doing%3f%0d%0a%0d%0aJoe_Sener%40Owasippe%2ecom%0d%0a%0d%0a

I+am+a+%27local%27+having+lived+in+the+Owasippe+area+my+entire+life%2e+People+have+NO+idea+what+a+TREASURE+this+place+is+and+how+close+to+losing+it+you+are%2e+The+good+Lord+is+NOT+making+any+more+real+estate%2c+so+this+is+it%2e+%22What+you+got%2c+you+got%22%2e+Hopefully+the+foundation+to+save+the+reservation+INTACT+will+succeed+for+future+generations%2e+Otherwise+I%27m+afraid+we%27ll+be+looking+at+lots+of+private+estates+complete+with+McMansions%2c+manicured+lawns%2c+and+lots+of+privacy+fences+and+paved+lanes%2e+The+developers+are+just+waiting+to+pounce%2e+Dig+deep+people%2c+do+what+you+can%2c+or+this+unbroken+expanse+will+be+lost+forever+and+scouts+will+be+camping+in+someone%27s+back+yard+in+future+generations%2e+What+a+tragic+loss%21%21%0d%0a

Owasippe+is+currently+in+a+fight+for+its+life+and+needs+the+support+of+all+those+who+want+to+preserve+pristine+campgrounds+for+our+Scouts+as+they+are+just+NOT+making+any+more+of+it%2e++It+indeed+is+an+incredible+outdoor+laboratory+and+just+a+great+program+resource+for+Scouting%2e++To+close+the+camp+would+be+a+huge+loss+and+shameful+given+what+are+movement+is+all+about%2e++For+more+information+on+the+effort+to+save+the+camp+and+for+ongoing+program+information+for+the+camp%27s+2004+camping+season%2c+go+to+Owasippe%27s+%22Unwebsite+and+E%2dzine%22+at%2e%2e%2e+http%3a%2f%2fscarlet_sassafras%2etripod%2ecom%2e+++For+any+followup+or+ideas%2c+you+can+correspond+with+Owasiron%40juno%2ecom%2e%0d%0a

Not+only+is+our+beloved+Owasippe+America%27s+OLDEST+continually+operating+Scout+Camp%2c+but+from+1924+thu+the+Spring+of+1955%2c+The+original+area+around+Owasippe+Lake+had+its+own+Post+Office%7e+OWASIPPE%2cMICH%2e+Then%2c+from+the+Summer+of+1955%2c+it+became+OWASIPPE+RURAL+STA%2e%2c+WHITEHALL%2cMICH%2e+A+number+of+years+later+OWASIPPE+RUR%2e+STA%2e+became+part+of+the+Twin+Lakes%2c+MI+49457%2c+Post+Office%2e+Owasippe%27s+own+PO+ceased+to+exist+in+the+early+1980s%2e+Only+a+few%2c+other+Scout+Camps+can+boast+of+having+their+own+Post+Office+at+one+time+or+another%21%0d%0a

Not+only+is+our+beloved+Owasippe+America%27s+OLDEST+continually+operating+Scout+Camp%2c+but+from+1924+thru+the+Spring+of+1955%2c+The+original+area+around+Owasippe+Lake+had+its+own+Post+Office%7e+OWASIPPE%2cMICH%2e+Then%2c+from+the+Summer+of+1955%2c+it+became+OWASIPPE+RURAL+STA%2e%2c+WHITEHALL%2cMICH%2e+A+number+of+years+later+OWASIPPE+RUR%2e+STA%2e+became+part+of+the+Twin+Lakes%2c+MI+49457%2c+Post+Office%2e+Owasippe%27s+own+PO+ceased+to+exist+in+the+early+1980s%2e+Only+a+few%2c+other+Scout+Camps+can+boast+of+having+their+own+Post+Office+at+one+time+or+another%21%0d%0a

This+summer+%282004%29+i+attended+owasippe+for+the+first+time%2c+it+was+so+incredibly+awesome+i+have+applied+to+staff+there+next+summer%2c+Owasippe+has+great+waterfront%2ctons+of+sites%2e%2e%2eit+even+has+its+own+horse+ranch%2e%2e%2ethe+Diamond+O+ranch%2e%2e%2e+i+am+16+years+old+nearly+eagle+scout+rank+and+i+have+been+to+Philmont+and+i+must+say+Owasippe+easily+matches+up+to+Philmont%2eand+if+you+go+ask+for+camp+wolverine+%22ZAXIE%22%0d%0a

2006+will+be+my+3rd+year+summer+camp+at+Owasippe%2c%0d%0aour+troop+scoutmaster+our+council+office%2c+and+other+leaders+ask+why+dont+you+go+to+camp+at+our+council+owned+camp%3f+answer+visit+Owasippe+and+then+you+tell+me%21%21+++Camp+Blackhawk+GO%0d%0a%0d%0a

Reality+Check+%2d+Owasippe+is+a+grand+camp+with+a+proud+tradition+but+has+anyone+looked+at+the+Chicago+Area+Council+lately%3f++Unlike+other+metro+cities+like+Houston+%26+Atlanta%2c+all+of+the+affluent+areas+around+Chicago+have+their+own+councils+%26+camps%2e++What+is+left+is+the+inner+city%2c+an+area+with+a+declining+number+of+scout+troops%2c+at+least+anything+that+we+would+recognize+as+a+Boy+Scout+Troop%2e++What+you+have+left+is+a+ton+of+%22Scoutreach%22+and+Learning+for+Life+groups%2c+most+of+which+have+no+interest+in+heading+off+to+a+camp+200+miles+away+in+another+state%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aIt+does+not+matter+how+many+grandparents+remember+those+good+old+days+when+the+camp+had+their+own+Post+Office%2e++The+Chicago+Area+Council+today+is+a+much+changed+organization%2c+raising+funds+to+pay+for+thousands+of+regisrations+for+Learning+for+Life+in+order+to+justify+their+existance%2e++The+entire+existance+of+the+council+now+is+to+woo+enough+Fortune+500+donors+to+sustain+Scoutreach+%26+Learning+for+Life%2e++For+the+professionals+and+council+leadership+your+Camp+Owasippe+is+just+an+expensive%2c+far+away+albatross+they+want+to+be+rid+of%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aIt+is+truly+shocking+to+see+Owasippe+operate+as+a+summer+camp+for+just+three+weeks%2c+and+even+then+only+with+the+help+of+a+number+of+out+of+council+units%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aSince+Chicago+Area+Council+wants+the+camp+to+end+they+are+not+going+to+invest+in+marketing+the+camp+%28which+could+more+than+double+it%27s+revenue+and+weeks+operating%29%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+only+way+to+really+save+this+camp+is+to+change+the+demographics+of+Chicago+Area+Council+or+suck+in+about+five+of+the+surrounding+affluent+councils+%28and+that+is+certainly+not+going+to+happen%29+and+somehow+convince+them+to+support+going+to+Owasippe%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThis+is+truly+a+sad+situation+but+there+is+hardly+any+scouting+left+in+this+council+that+would+even+want+to+support+your+camp%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aIt+is+time+to+dispose+of+the+property%2c+hopefully+to+a+council+that+still+has+a+strong+cadre+of+real+Cub+Scout+Packs+%26+Boy+Scout+Troops+that+want+and+can+support+a+camp+like+Owasippe%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a

In+response+to+that+last+comment%3a+You+have+no+idea+how+many+people+you+would+anger+if+they+read+this%2e+How+dare+you+say+they+should+sell+a+camp+that+brings++happiness+to+4%2c000+campers+a+summer%2e+It+is+the+oldest+scout+camp+in+the+nation%2e+And+to+correct+you%2e+We+are+open+for+6+weeks+a+year%2e+From+Late+June+to+Early+August%2e+You+say+it+is+too+underused%2c+well+then+support+the+OOEC%2c+they+want+to+buy+the+camp+and+continue+it+as+a+boy+scout+summer+camp%2c+but+also+use+it+year+round+for+other+activities%2e+Please+choose+your+words+carefully+next+time+and+get+your+facts+straight%21%0d%0a

The+comments+posted+a+couple+of+messages+above+are+simply+based+on+misture+of+incorrect+information+%5bsuch+as+number+of+weeks+operating%5d+and+the+opinion+that+Scouting+can+not+appeal+to+boys+other+than+those+in+%22affluent+areas%22+%5bfrom+the+comment%2c+not+my+wording%5d%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aOwasippe+continues+to+operate+and+welcomes+units+from+anywhere+in+the+Scouting+world%2e++The+natural+enviornment+of+the+4%2c700%2b+acres+%5band+9+miles+of+lakeshore%5d+that+is+owned+by+the+Council+is+only+a+part+of+the+facility%2e++Owasippe+is+also+a+gateway+to+the+adjacent+Huron%2dManistee+National+Forest+with+more+than+1%2dmillion+acres+of+public+land+and+recreation+facilities%2c+including+7+rivers%2c+several+of+them+designated+as+National+Sceneic+Rivers%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aYes%2c+it+is+true+that+the+Chicago+Area+Council+has+been+attempting+to+sell+the+Owasippe+property+over+the+past+several+years%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0aNo%2c+they+have+not+been+successful+in+doing+so+and+have+committed+to+continue+to+operate+the+Owasippe+facility%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+nation%27s+oldest+Boy+Scout+Camp+still+welcomes+another+generation+of+Scouts+and+there+is+no+reason+to+believe+that+plans+to+camp+at+Owasippe+to+mark+it%27s+100th+Anniversary+%5b2011%5d+should+be+cancelled%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aMany+more+people+who+want+Owasippe+to+grow+and+prosper+are+involved+compared+to+the+number+of+BSA+Professionals+and+Executive+Board+members+who+want+to+cash%2dout+the+Council+from+owning+any+camping+properties%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aSign%2dup+your+Unit+for+a+week+or+more+at+Owasippe%21++Let+the+majority+of+the+comments+from+above+be+your+guide%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aYour+need+for+a+%22Reality+Check%22+will+be+at+the+end+of+your+stay+at+Owasippe%2e++It%27s+all+that+a+Scout+summer+camp+should+be%2e%2e%2e%2eand+more+than+many%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a

GREATEST+B%2eS%2e+CAMP+EVA%0d%0aCAMP+BLACKHAWK+GO%21%0d%0a

Camp+Wolverine+on+the+Owasippe+Scout+Reservation+%28Chicao+Area+Council%29%2e++The+camp+is+near+Muskegon%2c+Michigan%2e++Oldest+scout+reservation+in+the+country+and+still+doing+it+right+after+90%2b+years%2e++Don%27t+be+afraid+of+the+%22hot+pack%22+meal+system+%2d%2d%2d+it+was+wonderful+and+the+food+was+very+good%2e++Hot+water+showers+and+flush+toilets+in+EVERY+campsite+%28Michigan+law%29+was+nice%2c+too%2e++Mature+staff+and+merit+badges+had+to+be+earned%2e++Opportunities+to+do+special+group+activities+like+horseback+trail+rides+and+river+tubing+floats%2e++Open+scheduling+for+MB+classes+provided+tremendous+flexibility+for+scouts%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a

I+was+a+scout+in+the+early+to+mid+50%27s+from+the+northwest+side+of+Chicago%2e+We+went+to+scout+camp+at+what+I+thought+all+these+years+was+Camp+Dan+Beard+near+Whitehall%2c+MI%2e+Is+Camp+Owasippe+the+same+camp%3f+We+went+by+train%2c+by+the+way%2e%0d%0a

Camp+Dan+Beard+was+one+camp+of+several+that+are+known+as+the+Owasippe+Scout+Reservation%2e+I+start+my+camping+at+Owasippe+in+the+late+forties+at+Dan+Beard%2e+Might+have+met+you+there%2e+Camps+Beard%2c+Stuart+and+West+were+sold+off+years+ago%2e+That%27s+when+12%2c000+acres+shrunk+to+5%2c000+acres%2e+We+have+a+new+team+of+Professionals+and+Board+members+and+the+current+4%2c700+plus+acres+will+remain+intact+for+scouting+use+and+off+season+use%2e+No+place+like+it+on+Earth%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aReinhard+Plaut+C%2eA%2eC%2e+Board+member+and+longtime+camper%2e%0d%0a

Owasippe+Scout+Reservation+holds+many+fond+memories+for+me+from+1966+to+2010%2e+I+attended+for+many+years+as+a+youth+and+have+returned+for+many+more+years+as+an+adult%2e+The+camp+property%2c+lakes+and+the+trails+are+second+to+none%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aIf+your+unit+is+looking+for+a+wonderful+summer+camp+experience%2c+come+to+Owasippe+in+2011+for+the+camps+100th+anniversary%2e+This+is+a+camp+experience+and+program+that+you+will+always+remember%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aIt+always+provides+me+with+a+great+week+of+%22sanity%22+and+childhood+memories+and+new+experiences+every+year%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aCamp+Blackhawk%2c+GO%21%21%0d%0a%0d%0aBob+Lagerquist%2c+Troop+42%2c+WD+Boyce+Council+%0d%0a

As+an+old+timer+who+started+camping+there+in+1947%0d%0awhen+the+Reservation+owned+12%2c000+acres+and+only+missed%0d%0aa+year+when+the+army+drafted+me%2c+I+would+echo%0d%0athat+even+today+with+it%27s+4700+plus+acres+it+is%0d%0aunparalleled+both+by+its+beauty+and+more%0d%0aimportantly+by+the+program+opportunities+it%0d%0aprovides+to+the+scouts%2e+Don%27t+miss+it%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0aCamp+Blackhawk+Site+4+5th+period+%0d%0aTroop+923+Chicago%0d%0aSee+at+at+camp+Bob%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aReinhard+Plaut%0d%0a

Camp+Wolverine+%22ZAXIE%22+is+my+second+home%2e+I+love+the+staff+as+family%2c+and+the+same+goes+for+the+reservation%2e+I+had+a+blast+at+the+100+year+centennial+celebration+in+2011%2e+I%27m+looking+forward+to+go+back+summer+2012%0d%0a