February 12th, 2004

Scouts take steps to deal with financial woes
By Dylan Thomas
Free Press Staff Writer
MANKATO - The Boy Scouts Twin Valley Council announced Tuesday it will sell a portion of one of its camps and lease office space in its headquarters to reduce its crippling debt burden.
"This is the first step in a very long process," council Executive Director Paul Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson was alluding to the council's five-year plan to reduce its approximately $900,000 long-term debt and improve its programming.
The council's executive board arrived at the difficult but necessary decisions Monday night after months of debate, Wilkinson said.
The council anticipates leasing the space in its Center for Scouting building will generate about $28,000 annually.
The 2,174-sqare-foot space - currently occupied by the Scout Shop - may have a new occupant by the end of the month, Wilkinson said. The shop will relocate to a smaller space within the building.
The council also plans to sell about 163 acres of land from Camp Cuyuna, located in Crosslake, valued at about $1 million.
The parcel includes Big Pickerel and Little Pickerel lakes, an area now used for family camping.
"We know there are going to be some people who are unhappy with this," Wilkinson said, especially older volunteers with "memories tied-up in Cuyuna."
Wilkinson emphasized the sale would not affect scouting activities at Cuyuna. The parcel being considered is not used by the Boy Scouts at camp, he said.
Wilkinson said several groups have expressed interest in the land, including youth and family camp programs. The council is also exploring the option of selling the land to the state Department of Natural Resources.
The council's debt burden has made it difficult for the council to make much-needed improvements to Cuyuna and its two other camps: Norseland, near New Sweden Township, and Cedar Point, just south of Fairmont.
As Wilkinson explained, the council hopes improving the camp programming will increase enrollment in scouting, which has been dropping.
That, in turn, could help shore up finances. About 30 percent of the council's income comes from fundraising done by Scouts, such as annual popcorn sales, Wilkinson said.
Still, whether the council will make improvements to its two other camps, sell them both to buy a new camp or find some other option is still up in the air, he said.
"The board stated they don't want to put money into the camps until they get a long range plan," Wilkinson said.
The executive board plans to evaluate the results of the sale and lease at an Aug. 12 meeting.
The council mailed a letter to Scouting parents and volunteers announcing the decision made by its executive board Tuesday.

Last Updated: February 16, 2004