Area group still working to save Camp Tahigwa as Council plans to vote on selling camp property

by Lissa Blake

A local group is hoping there is still time to save Camp Tahigwa in rural Allamakee County.

Camp Tahigwa, located near Dorchester, has been a working Girl Scout Camp for almost 50 years. Decorah native Brecka Putnam wants to see that work continue.
Putnam, a member of Friends of Camp Tahigwa, helped organize a meeting last week in response to recent property recommendations from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois’ (GSEIWI) property committee. Around six years ago, the GSEIWI started cutting back its programming at Tahigwa, an action they say was based on dwindling attendance figures at the camp.

GSEIWI reports losing approximately $92,000 in each of the past two years at the camp. The GSEIWI property committee recently recommended the Board sell the property on the condition that it be maintained for public use.

Opponents of the sale have said the Council can’t expect attendance at the camp if they stop offering programs. Putnam, who volunteers each year to offer programming at the camp, said while she is excited the property committee wants it to be maintained for public use, she is “disappointed after six years (of volunteers) offering outstanding programs for the camp that we (Friends of Camp Tahigwa) are still not part of the conversation.”

Putnam said her group would continue its efforts and has a meeting scheduled with GSEIWI Chief Executive Officer Diane Nelson for July 29. “We are hopeful the Council will still come around and be willing to work with us,” said Putnam.

RESULTS SPEAK
Shelly Kane, vice president of development and marketing for GSEIWI, said over the past two years, the Council has encouraged volunteers to take the time to get the girls out to camp for programs offered entirely by the volunteers and has kept track of attendance at those non-Council sponsored events. “The results speak for themselves,” said Kane.

The Council is expected to vote on whether or not to put the 275-acre camp up for sale in the near future. The property committee has recommended the GSEIWI Board of Directors, as the first option for sale of the property, “develop an exploratory letter to the County Conservation Boards of Fayette, Winneshiek, Clayton and Allamakee (counties) and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation leaders. We further recommend that a task group of the Board be appointed to negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement for the divestiture of this property with final approval of any said agreement to be determined by the majority of the board of directors."