Camp Agawam
Contact Information
Comments
After+the+statewide+consolidation+of+all+councils+this+camp+property+was+determined+to+be+underused+and%2c+while+still+owned+by+the+Michigan+Crossroads+Council%2c+is+closed+for+all+scout+activities+until+further+notice%2e++See+the+PDF+report+for+details%2e%0d%0a
Local+Press+report+on+the+status+of+the+camp+can+be+found+here%3a%0d%0a%0d%0ahttp%3a%2f%2fwww%2etheoaklandpress%2ecom%2fgeneral%2dnews%2f20130320%2fcamp%2dagawam%2din%2dorion%2dtownship%2dis%2dnot%2dbeing%2dsold%2dwill%2dreopen%0d%0a
Update+on+camp+status%3a%0d%0a%0d%0ahttp%3a%2f%2fwww%2eclarkstonnews%2ecom%2fArticles%2dNews%2di%2d2014%2d08%2d06%2d255792%2e113121%2dsub%2dOrion%2dTwp%2dpurchases%2dCamp%2dAgawam%2dfor%2d1025%2dmillion%2ehtml%0d%0a%0d%0aOrion+Twp%2e+purchases+Camp+Agawam+for+%241%2e025+million%0d%0a%0d%0a%0d%0aNews%0d%0aMiguel+Cabrera+works+with+future+baseball+pros+at+LOHS%0d%0aCommunity+center%2c+library+taxes+rejected%0d%0aAddison+supervisor+wants+to+place+NOTA+tax+on+Nov%2e+ballot%0d%0aMasked+man+rides+again%21%0d%0aResident+discovers+Oakland+Co%2e+official%27s+drunk+driving+arrest%0d%0aSome+Pearl+St%2e+folks+want+wall+between+them%2c+new+alleyway%0d%0aMan+assaults+girlfriend%2c+kills+himself%0d%0ashadow%0d%0aExtras%0d%0aemaile%2dmail+this+article+link+to+a+friend%0d%0alettersletter+to+the+editor+about+this+article%0d%0aprintprint+this+article%0d%0afacebookfacebook%0d%0atwittertwitter%0d%0adiggdigg+it%0d%0ashareshare%0d%0afont+size+Larger+%7c+Smaller%0d%0ashadow%0d%0aAugust+06%2c+2014+%2d+By+Meg+Peters%0d%0a%0d%0aReview+Staff+Writer+%0d%0a%0d%0aCamp+Agawam+has+a+new+owner%3a+Orion+Township%2c+and+a+potential+future+owner%3a+the+Michigan+DNR%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aFor+%241%2c025%2c000+the+township+approved+the+resolution+to+purchase+the+Boy+Scout+camp+on+Clarkston+Rd%2e+from+the+Michigan+Crossroads+Council+Monday+night+at+the+board+meeting%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+appraised+value+for+the+scout+ranch+was+%241%2e5+million%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aUltimately+the+plan+would+be+to+swap+the+near+137+acre+camp+for+76+acres+of+the+state+owned+chunk+of+Bald+Mountain+Recreation+Area+adjacent+to+Civic+Center+Park+at+Joslyn+and+Greenshield+roads%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aCamp+Agawam+would+become+an+extension+of+Bald+Mountain+Recreation+Area%2c+which+would+only+be+divided+by+Greenshield+Rd%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aAccording+to+Bald+Mountain+Director+Andrew+Cole%2c+the+DNR+would+end+up+with+a+slightly+higher+value+when+the+swap+is+finished%2c+and+if+that+were+the+case%2c+the+township+would+trade+less+of+the+acreage%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThis+process+would+take+upwards+of+six+months+to+one+year%2c+however%2c+by+this+time+next+year+more+than+just+boy+scouts+could+enjoy+the+camp%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+resolution+included+an+exclusive+use+agreement+with+the+Boy+Scouts+to+allow+them+to+use+the+camp+for+three+different+weekends+during+the+school+year+for+special+events%2c+and+two+specific+weekends+during+the+summer+for+Cub+Scout+day+programs%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aAll+other+times+the+camp+would+be+used+as+a+State+Park%2c+with+rental+facilities%2c+camping+opportunities+for+organizations+such+as+church+youth+groups+and+girl+scouts%2c+and+community+residents%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22Since+we+have+camps+that+are+so+close+to+it%2c+it+probably+would+have+remained+closed+until+sometime+where+we+could+have+sold+it+or+found+some+other+opportunity+like+this%2c%22+Chuck+Truza%2c+Michigan+Regional+chairman%2c+said%2e+%22This+was+a+perfect+opportunity+because+now+we+can+literally+turn+the+property+back+to+the+community%2c+we+can+keep+it+in+its+natural+state%2c+and+the+scouts+have+an+opportunity+to+still+take+advantage+of+the+fine+facility%2e%22%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+scare+of+many+community+members+was+that+Camp+Agawam%2c+which+opened+in+1918%2c+would+be+sold+off+to+a+hungry%2c+residential+developer+when+times+were+looking+dim+for+the+camp%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aOfficials+from+the+Great+Lakes+Council+closed+the+camp+gates+back+in+November%2c+2012%2c+after+a+consolidation+analysis+was+conducted+on+the+16+Boy+Scout+camps+in+operation+in+the+Lower+Peninsula%2e+Apart+from+Agawam%2c+Camp+Holaka+of+Lapeer%2c+Lost+Lake+Scout+Reservation+of+Clare+County+and+Paul+Bunyan+Scout+Reservation+near+Rose+City+were+also+closed%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aAfter+pleas+from+local+Agawam+volunteers+and+camp+directors+it+reopened+for+two+summer+day%2dcamp+sessions+in+June+and+July%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+participation+was+much+lower+than+what+the+camp+originally+hoped+for%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22This+camp+being+right+in+the+heart+of+the+Great+Lakes+Field+Service+Council+has+historically+provided+opportunities+for+people+to+have+somewhere+close+to+come%2c%22+Denver+Laabs%2c+Program+Leader+for+the+MI+Crossroads+Council%2c+who+has+helped+run+the+day+programs+at+Camp+Agawam%2c+said%2e+%22We%27ve+always+had+boy+scout+troops+out+camping+on+a+weekend+basis%2c+that%27s+one+of+the+mainstays+and+baseline+parts+of+our+program+that+I+don%27t+think+will+ever+change%2e%22%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+deal+struck+up+about+two+years+ago+between+Orion+Township+and+the+Great+Lakes+Field+Service+Council%2c+one+of+the+four+regional+service+councils+in+Michigan+that+operates+the+camp%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aTownship+Treasurer+Mark+Thurber%2c+who+is+a+passionate+scout+along+with+his+sons%2c+introduced+the+purchase%2flease+back+prospect+to+the+scout+administration%2c+who+were+very+receptive%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22The+DNR+cannot+purchase+land%2c+nor+does+it+have+funds+to+erect+new+structures%2c+but++it+DOES+have+the+funds+to+maintain+existing+buildings%2c%22+Thurber+said%2e+%22On+the+other+hand%2c+the+camp+has+many+historic+buildings%2c+and+no+funds+to+maintain+them%2e+I+figured+there+must+be+some+way+to+bring+this+match+together%2e%22%0d%0a%0d%0aNot+long+later%2c+early+meetings+led+to+budget+planning+for+2014%2f15%2c+and+the+board+saw+the+same+win%2dwin+in+the+idea%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22We%27re+seeing+a+lot+of+growth+and+development%2c+but+we+think+our+board+saw+this+as+a+legacy%2c+that+we+took+this+space+and+were+able+to+preserve+it+forever+as+recreation%2c%22+Township+Supervisor+Chris+Barnett+said%2e+%22It+makes+sense+because+it+is+connected+to+our+existing+space%2e+I+understand+the+taxpayer%27s+concern+but+we+have+saved+this+space+from+being+developed%2e+It+allows+us+to+have+permanent+green+space%2c+which+is+one+of+the+things+that+people+love+about+our+community%2e%22%0d%0a%0d%0aWhen+residents+heard+a+rumor+in+2012+that+the+property+had+sold+to+a+developer%2c+emotions+flared+high%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22Many+families%27+grandparents+learned+how+to+tie+knots+here+100+years+ago%2c%22+Barnett+said%2c+adding+that+a+number+of+developers+have+recently+inquired+about+its+purchase%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aLong+time+volunteers+and+camp+directors+are+ecstatic+that+campers+will+return+to+the+full+outdoor+experience%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22It%27s+a+much+safer+location+for+the+kids+being+that+it+is+close+to+the+public%2e+We+have+more+controlled+interaction+between+kids+and+outsiders%2c%22+camp+director+Allison+Roberts+said%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aLast+summer+scouts+were+sent+to+Independence+Oaks%2e+The+exclusive+use+agreement+would+only+allow+scout+troops+during+the+designated+weekends+throughout+the+year%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22Here%2c+they+are+getting+a+complete+camp+experience%2e+They+are+getting+to+hike+through+the+woods+going+to+their+different+stations+and+activities%2c+still+doing+their+cadences+and+singing+in+between%2e+It+is+just+a+complete+throw%2dback+in+time+of+what+camp+used+to+be%2c%22+Roberts+said%2e%0d%0a
Camp+Agawam+is+located+in+the+heart+of+Orion+Township%2c+Michigan%2e+The+camp+was+previously+owned+and+operated+by+the+Boy+Scouts+of+America%2c+until+2014+at+which+point+Orion+Township+took+ownership%2e+Camp+Agawam+offers+a+wide+variety+of+opportunities+for+all+ages%2e+With+roughly+140+acres%2c+numerous+campsites%2c+rental+facilities%2c+walking+trails%2c+a+chapel%2c+and+beautiful+Tommy%27s+Lake%2c+this+is+truly+a+picturesque+park+in+the+middle+of+suburban+life%2e+%0d%0a
Post a Comment
Comments
After+the+statewide+consolidation+of+all+councils+this+camp+property+was+determined+to+be+underused+and%2c+while+still+owned+by+the+Michigan+Crossroads+Council%2c+is+closed+for+all+scout+activities+until+further+notice%2e++See+the+PDF+report+for+details%2e%0d%0a
Local+Press+report+on+the+status+of+the+camp+can+be+found+here%3a%0d%0a%0d%0ahttp%3a%2f%2fwww%2etheoaklandpress%2ecom%2fgeneral%2dnews%2f20130320%2fcamp%2dagawam%2din%2dorion%2dtownship%2dis%2dnot%2dbeing%2dsold%2dwill%2dreopen%0d%0a
Update+on+camp+status%3a%0d%0a%0d%0ahttp%3a%2f%2fwww%2eclarkstonnews%2ecom%2fArticles%2dNews%2di%2d2014%2d08%2d06%2d255792%2e113121%2dsub%2dOrion%2dTwp%2dpurchases%2dCamp%2dAgawam%2dfor%2d1025%2dmillion%2ehtml%0d%0a%0d%0aOrion+Twp%2e+purchases+Camp+Agawam+for+%241%2e025+million%0d%0a%0d%0a%0d%0aNews%0d%0aMiguel+Cabrera+works+with+future+baseball+pros+at+LOHS%0d%0aCommunity+center%2c+library+taxes+rejected%0d%0aAddison+supervisor+wants+to+place+NOTA+tax+on+Nov%2e+ballot%0d%0aMasked+man+rides+again%21%0d%0aResident+discovers+Oakland+Co%2e+official%27s+drunk+driving+arrest%0d%0aSome+Pearl+St%2e+folks+want+wall+between+them%2c+new+alleyway%0d%0aMan+assaults+girlfriend%2c+kills+himself%0d%0ashadow%0d%0aExtras%0d%0aemaile%2dmail+this+article+link+to+a+friend%0d%0alettersletter+to+the+editor+about+this+article%0d%0aprintprint+this+article%0d%0afacebookfacebook%0d%0atwittertwitter%0d%0adiggdigg+it%0d%0ashareshare%0d%0afont+size+Larger+%7c+Smaller%0d%0ashadow%0d%0aAugust+06%2c+2014+%2d+By+Meg+Peters%0d%0a%0d%0aReview+Staff+Writer+%0d%0a%0d%0aCamp+Agawam+has+a+new+owner%3a+Orion+Township%2c+and+a+potential+future+owner%3a+the+Michigan+DNR%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aFor+%241%2c025%2c000+the+township+approved+the+resolution+to+purchase+the+Boy+Scout+camp+on+Clarkston+Rd%2e+from+the+Michigan+Crossroads+Council+Monday+night+at+the+board+meeting%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+appraised+value+for+the+scout+ranch+was+%241%2e5+million%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aUltimately+the+plan+would+be+to+swap+the+near+137+acre+camp+for+76+acres+of+the+state+owned+chunk+of+Bald+Mountain+Recreation+Area+adjacent+to+Civic+Center+Park+at+Joslyn+and+Greenshield+roads%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aCamp+Agawam+would+become+an+extension+of+Bald+Mountain+Recreation+Area%2c+which+would+only+be+divided+by+Greenshield+Rd%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aAccording+to+Bald+Mountain+Director+Andrew+Cole%2c+the+DNR+would+end+up+with+a+slightly+higher+value+when+the+swap+is+finished%2c+and+if+that+were+the+case%2c+the+township+would+trade+less+of+the+acreage%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThis+process+would+take+upwards+of+six+months+to+one+year%2c+however%2c+by+this+time+next+year+more+than+just+boy+scouts+could+enjoy+the+camp%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+resolution+included+an+exclusive+use+agreement+with+the+Boy+Scouts+to+allow+them+to+use+the+camp+for+three+different+weekends+during+the+school+year+for+special+events%2c+and+two+specific+weekends+during+the+summer+for+Cub+Scout+day+programs%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aAll+other+times+the+camp+would+be+used+as+a+State+Park%2c+with+rental+facilities%2c+camping+opportunities+for+organizations+such+as+church+youth+groups+and+girl+scouts%2c+and+community+residents%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22Since+we+have+camps+that+are+so+close+to+it%2c+it+probably+would+have+remained+closed+until+sometime+where+we+could+have+sold+it+or+found+some+other+opportunity+like+this%2c%22+Chuck+Truza%2c+Michigan+Regional+chairman%2c+said%2e+%22This+was+a+perfect+opportunity+because+now+we+can+literally+turn+the+property+back+to+the+community%2c+we+can+keep+it+in+its+natural+state%2c+and+the+scouts+have+an+opportunity+to+still+take+advantage+of+the+fine+facility%2e%22%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+scare+of+many+community+members+was+that+Camp+Agawam%2c+which+opened+in+1918%2c+would+be+sold+off+to+a+hungry%2c+residential+developer+when+times+were+looking+dim+for+the+camp%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aOfficials+from+the+Great+Lakes+Council+closed+the+camp+gates+back+in+November%2c+2012%2c+after+a+consolidation+analysis+was+conducted+on+the+16+Boy+Scout+camps+in+operation+in+the+Lower+Peninsula%2e+Apart+from+Agawam%2c+Camp+Holaka+of+Lapeer%2c+Lost+Lake+Scout+Reservation+of+Clare+County+and+Paul+Bunyan+Scout+Reservation+near+Rose+City+were+also+closed%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aAfter+pleas+from+local+Agawam+volunteers+and+camp+directors+it+reopened+for+two+summer+day%2dcamp+sessions+in+June+and+July%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+participation+was+much+lower+than+what+the+camp+originally+hoped+for%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22This+camp+being+right+in+the+heart+of+the+Great+Lakes+Field+Service+Council+has+historically+provided+opportunities+for+people+to+have+somewhere+close+to+come%2c%22+Denver+Laabs%2c+Program+Leader+for+the+MI+Crossroads+Council%2c+who+has+helped+run+the+day+programs+at+Camp+Agawam%2c+said%2e+%22We%27ve+always+had+boy+scout+troops+out+camping+on+a+weekend+basis%2c+that%27s+one+of+the+mainstays+and+baseline+parts+of+our+program+that+I+don%27t+think+will+ever+change%2e%22%0d%0a%0d%0aThe+deal+struck+up+about+two+years+ago+between+Orion+Township+and+the+Great+Lakes+Field+Service+Council%2c+one+of+the+four+regional+service+councils+in+Michigan+that+operates+the+camp%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aTownship+Treasurer+Mark+Thurber%2c+who+is+a+passionate+scout+along+with+his+sons%2c+introduced+the+purchase%2flease+back+prospect+to+the+scout+administration%2c+who+were+very+receptive%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22The+DNR+cannot+purchase+land%2c+nor+does+it+have+funds+to+erect+new+structures%2c+but++it+DOES+have+the+funds+to+maintain+existing+buildings%2c%22+Thurber+said%2e+%22On+the+other+hand%2c+the+camp+has+many+historic+buildings%2c+and+no+funds+to+maintain+them%2e+I+figured+there+must+be+some+way+to+bring+this+match+together%2e%22%0d%0a%0d%0aNot+long+later%2c+early+meetings+led+to+budget+planning+for+2014%2f15%2c+and+the+board+saw+the+same+win%2dwin+in+the+idea%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22We%27re+seeing+a+lot+of+growth+and+development%2c+but+we+think+our+board+saw+this+as+a+legacy%2c+that+we+took+this+space+and+were+able+to+preserve+it+forever+as+recreation%2c%22+Township+Supervisor+Chris+Barnett+said%2e+%22It+makes+sense+because+it+is+connected+to+our+existing+space%2e+I+understand+the+taxpayer%27s+concern+but+we+have+saved+this+space+from+being+developed%2e+It+allows+us+to+have+permanent+green+space%2c+which+is+one+of+the+things+that+people+love+about+our+community%2e%22%0d%0a%0d%0aWhen+residents+heard+a+rumor+in+2012+that+the+property+had+sold+to+a+developer%2c+emotions+flared+high%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22Many+families%27+grandparents+learned+how+to+tie+knots+here+100+years+ago%2c%22+Barnett+said%2c+adding+that+a+number+of+developers+have+recently+inquired+about+its+purchase%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aLong+time+volunteers+and+camp+directors+are+ecstatic+that+campers+will+return+to+the+full+outdoor+experience%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22It%27s+a+much+safer+location+for+the+kids+being+that+it+is+close+to+the+public%2e+We+have+more+controlled+interaction+between+kids+and+outsiders%2c%22+camp+director+Allison+Roberts+said%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aLast+summer+scouts+were+sent+to+Independence+Oaks%2e+The+exclusive+use+agreement+would+only+allow+scout+troops+during+the+designated+weekends+throughout+the+year%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%22Here%2c+they+are+getting+a+complete+camp+experience%2e+They+are+getting+to+hike+through+the+woods+going+to+their+different+stations+and+activities%2c+still+doing+their+cadences+and+singing+in+between%2e+It+is+just+a+complete+throw%2dback+in+time+of+what+camp+used+to+be%2c%22+Roberts+said%2e%0d%0a
Camp+Agawam+is+located+in+the+heart+of+Orion+Township%2c+Michigan%2e+The+camp+was+previously+owned+and+operated+by+the+Boy+Scouts+of+America%2c+until+2014+at+which+point+Orion+Township+took+ownership%2e+Camp+Agawam+offers+a+wide+variety+of+opportunities+for+all+ages%2e+With+roughly+140+acres%2c+numerous+campsites%2c+rental+facilities%2c+walking+trails%2c+a+chapel%2c+and+beautiful+Tommy%27s+Lake%2c+this+is+truly+a+picturesque+park+in+the+middle+of+suburban+life%2e+%0d%0a