|
Lake Berryessa scout camp to be made over into overnight retreat
Share
Email
Print
CommentAn old scout camp at Lake Berryessa could soon get a new life as an environmental education center.
The Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District is entering into an agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation to turn the former scout facility into an overnight facility for schools, youth groups and nonprofit organizations for environmental education and research.
The Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District is entering into an agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation to turn the former scout facility into an overnight facility for schools, youth groups and nonprofit organizations for environmental education and research.
The Boy Scouts abandoned the camp in 2005, at the end of their lease with the Bureau of Reclamation, which manages Lake Berryessa and its shoreline. The federal agency continues to own the 25-plus acres off north of the Putah Creek Bridge.
The primary goal is to provide an overnight facility for youths and nonprofit groups, said John Woodbury, general manager for the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District. For example, fifth-graders could come for a week-long environmental camp as could other youth groups and nonprofit organizations.
The primary goal is to provide an overnight facility for youths and nonprofit groups, said John Woodbury, general manager for the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District. For example, fifth-graders could come for a week-long environmental camp as could other youth groups and nonprofit organizations.
School groups have no such facilities in Napa County, he said.
The district could rent the site to companies for retreats at market rate when youth groups do not need the center, and then use that money to subsidize the youth groups, Woodbury explained.
The district could rent the site to companies for retreats at market rate when youth groups do not need the center, and then use that money to subsidize the youth groups, Woodbury explained.
Woodbury, who will prepare grants to pay for a business plan and engineering plans, estimates the needed improvements for the site will cost about $1 million.
The water well has been shut off and the scouts' septic system failed, Woodbury said.
"Nothing is in very good shape," he added. "Actually, construction will be the easiest."
Under the agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation, the district has 18 months to develop the plan for the overnight facility.
Jason Lewis, program director for the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council in Pleasant Hill, which oversees boy scouts in Napa, Contra Costa and Lake counties and most of Solano County, said the scouts would camp at the center.
Carol Kunze, executive director of the Berryessa Trails and Conservation, a nonprofit group that plans to build a trail around the lake, was favorable to the center. Children could go there for water sports and to learn about Napa's nature, she said.
"I think it would be a terrific place for kids," said Kunze, who plans to locate the future trail in the vicinity of the center.
"The camp is in a lovely area," Kunze said.
The water well has been shut off and the scouts' septic system failed, Woodbury said.
"Nothing is in very good shape," he added. "Actually, construction will be the easiest."
Under the agreement with the Bureau of Reclamation, the district has 18 months to develop the plan for the overnight facility.
Jason Lewis, program director for the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council in Pleasant Hill, which oversees boy scouts in Napa, Contra Costa and Lake counties and most of Solano County, said the scouts would camp at the center.
Carol Kunze, executive director of the Berryessa Trails and Conservation, a nonprofit group that plans to build a trail around the lake, was favorable to the center. Children could go there for water sports and to learn about Napa's nature, she said.
"I think it would be a terrific place for kids," said Kunze, who plans to locate the future trail in the vicinity of the center.
"The camp is in a lovely area," Kunze said.
Join the conversation
Comment guidelines
All comments will be screened and may take several hours to be posted.
• Keep comments clear, concise and focused on the topic in the story.
• Comments exceeding 300 words will not be posted.
• Refrain from personal attacks, degrading comments or remarks that do not add to a constructive dialogue.
• Comments implying suspects in crime-related stories are guilty before they have been proven so in a court of law will be deleted.
• Do not post e-mail addresses or links except for pages on Napavalleyregister.com or government Web sites.
• Comments will not be edited - they will be approved or declined.
• Comments may be used in the print edition of the newspaper.
• If you feel a posted comment has violated our guidelines, please contact dross@napanews.com or bkennedy@napanews.com
For further information on the comment guidelines, click here.
|
|
twocents wrote on Oct 31, 2007 10:12 AM:
mikeb wrote on Oct 31, 2007 11:29 AM:
berryessa mom wrote on Oct 31, 2007 11:33 AM:
boots wrote on Oct 31, 2007 5:53 PM:
Lucy White wrote on Nov 1, 2007 12:19 AM: