Scouts Canada plans to put 20 of its Ontario campgrounds on the chopping block after dwindling membership and declining revenues have forced the venerable youth organization to streamline its operations.
The move to sell the camps has angered some Scout members who say the sale of the properties represents a tremendous loss for the children who enjoy them as well as a loss of valuable property.Scouts Canada currently owns and leases 500 campgrounds across Canada, more than half of which are in Ontario. A review of its campgrounds outside the province is also under way.
Jennifer Austin, director of communications for Scouts Canada, says increasing liability, insurance and maintenance costs -- coupled with a declining membership and volunteer base -- have forced the organization to put about 8 per cent of its Ontario campgrounds up for sale.
The sales are a sign of changing times for an institution once considered the gold standard for children's leadership training and outdoor activities in Canada. During its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s, the not-for-profit organization boasted cross-country membership of more than 300,000 young people and volunteers. Today, that number sits at about 130,000 -- and it is dropping still.
Although many Canadians are still familiar with the Scouts name -- including its legions of oath-swearing, badge-wearing, knot-tying Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers -- the 97-year-old organization has struggled over the past 10 years to compete with new organizations that offer specialized instruction in organized sports, arts and adventure activities.
"Kids have a lot more options than in the '60s and '70s. Back then, Scouts Canada was really the only game in town," Ms. Austin said.She says many of the Ontario properties on the chopping block are under-utilized or are not equipped with proper toilet and septic systems. An "extensive review process" that sought the input of its members helped Scouts Canada to identify which camps should be put on the market, Ms. Austin added.
However, several local scout leaders have contacted media organizations to complain about the decision of the national organization.
Lyle Heimbecker is a 21-year Scouts member and property chairman at Peacehaven Scout Camp in Drumbo, Ont., east of Cambridge.
"We're losing not just our camps -- we're losing our history. Once you sell the camp, it's difficult to get it back," said Mr. Heimbecker, whose father was a former Scout leader for the South Waterloo area.
The 11-hectare property, located on the Nith River, opened in 1934 and is one of 20 campgrounds slated for sale as early as mid-September pending the results of a 45-day appeal process. Most of the campgrounds up for sale are currently appealing the decision.
The year-round camp, which accommodates up to 1,000 campers each week, offers kayaking, canoeing, winter camping and leader training activities for Scout members from Sarnia, Cambridge, Waterloo and Toronto.
Mr. Heimbecker argues that the sale of Peacehaven, which charges "half" the user fees of other nearby Scouts camps, does not make sense.
"I think the kids are going to suffer the most," Mr. Heimbecker said. "It is the history of scouting. It is the memories of scouting. It's less opportunity, less places to go camping."
Other camps on the chopping block include Barber Memorial Scout Camp in Guelph, Camp Mohawk in Kitchener and Camp Apple Hill in Alexandria, located about 30 kilometres north of Cornwall.
While Ms. Austin acknowledges that the decisions have been difficult, she said the "business case for keeping these camps is simply not there."
