Camp Greilick To Close In 2016

The Michigan Crossroads Council - a local council of the Boy Scouts of America - announced Friday it is closing Traverse City's Camp Greilick at the end of the 2016 season.

The 512-acre camp located between Spider, Bass and Rennie Lakes is owned by Rotary Charities of Traverse City, which has leased it to the Boy Scouts since 1955. In an open letter Friday, the Michigan Crossroads Council Executive Board announced they had voted to end operations at camps including Greilick, Kiwanis, Northwoods, Teetonkah and Kalkaska's Tapico in 2016.

"The Outdoor Adventures Strategic Planning Task Force, which has been evaluating all of our camp properties for the past four years, identified these particular properties for closure based on the following factors: density of population served; lack of summer camp operation; utilization that is significantly below the average, proximity to other camp properties; and is not now or is forecast to be financially sustainable in the future," the board wrote.

Operations of the five camps was generating a deficit of $250,000 annually, according to the letter, and analysis found that "there are adequate external camping and public properties that can offer Cub or Boy Scout members a camping experience in those areas." The decision to close the camps was "not one that was made lightly," the board stated.

Executive Director Marsha Smith and Associate Director Becky Ewing of Rotary Charities issued a statement Friday in response to the news, saying they were "saddened" to hear of the board's decision. "The Camp Greilick property has been owned by Rotary since 1923 with an intention of providing recreation and camping opportunities for area youth," Smith and Ewing wrote. "As the owner of the property, we are committed to working with the Boy Scouts and other area organizations to help plan for the future uses of the property. The camp is protected by a conservation easement, which limits development, so we intend to look for compatible uses with that permanent easement."

Smith and Ewing added: "We appreciate the advance notification from the Boy Scouts and look forward to a smooth transition."

According to the Michigan Crossroads Council Executive Board, "properties impacted by this decision will be available for reservations through August 31, 2016."