New Birth of Freedom Council votes to end summer camp program at Hidden Valley Scout Reservation

George Stockburger
·2 min read

LOYSVILLE, Pa. (WHTM) – The New Birth of Freedom Council says they’ve voted to discontinue summer camp programming at Hidden Valley Scout Reservation starting in 2025.

New Birth of Freedom Council says on April 16 their Executive Board voted to discontinue the program and designated Camp Tuckahoe as their new summer resident camp location due to costs and split attendance between the two camps among council members.

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Hidden Valley will continue to operate year-round for campsite and cabin use, training courses, and other special events. Based on more than 830 acres near Loysville in Perry County, the camp hosted five weeks of summer camp and has been operating since 1927.

“This decision was difficult and heartbreaking, knowing how strongly many of our leaders and Scouts feel about our camps,” said Council President Jan Wagner.  “Many of our board members feel the same way.  Unfortunately, the simple reality is there are not enough Scouts in our council today to support the operation of two summer camp facilities. We cannot simply wish away the growing financial losses we are experiencing.  These losses are unsustainable.  Despite our best hopes, summer camp attendance has continued to decline, and the Board needed to act to stabilize the situation.”

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The Council says they’re seeing fewer youth members with 5,455 on their roster at the end of 2023. In addition, the council says their “combined operating deficit over the past two years was $455,664, with our camping operations accounting for $337,405 of that shortfall.”

Last year, more than 89% of the council’s operating deficit (more than $153,000) at attributed to camping operations.

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The Council released a presentation highlighting issues they’re facing and says they will hold a webinar to answer questions.

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