Girl Scout officials hear pleas to keep Camp Tahigwa in operation

Shanna Putnam speaks as moderator Lee Mauer listens

A crowd of around 60 people from as far away as Shellsburg and Independence gathered MOnday night at First Lutheran Church in Decorah to discuss the proposal by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois to close Camp Tahigwa and three other camp properties and build a centrally located outdoor facility to serve the entire area.

Girl Scout Properties Committee member Lee Mauer told the group the recommendation was "driven by five years of work" on the issue.  Mauer spoke to the group about the "challenges" of running camping programs now that there are softball camps, soccer camps, church camps, dance group camps and "10 different options" for girls to choose.  Not only that, said Mauer, but it's getting increasingly harder to get adults to commit time to leading camp weeks.  "If you have leaders who aren';t interested in the outdoors...there are lots of challenges," he said.

But Sue Russell of Ridgeway argued for keeping Camp Tahigwa.  "We've put a lot into this camp," she said, adding, "Camp Tahigwa is a very beautiful camp."

Lynn Carlson, who had traveled to the meeting from Independence, pleaded with Girl Scout officials, "Give us all a chance to keep our camps."

Shanna Putnam of Decorah said camping enables Girl Scouts to learn respect, responsibility, problem solving and confidence.

Monday night's meeting in Decorah was the fifth Town Hall meeting on the topic.  The full 28 members of the Board of Directors of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois is expected to vote on the issue at its next meeting on March 28th.

Lynn Carlson of Independence

Sue Russell of Ridgeway

Moderator Lee Mauer