Community Corner

The Campaign To Save Lafayette's Girl Scout Camp

Adults and children alike are holding fundraisers and getting the word out to keep Camp Twin Canyon open

It's more than the 35 acres of oak trees and grassland.

It's more than the archery range, the day camp and the campfires.

Camp Twin Canyon in the Lafayette hills is a place where Girls Scouts -- and their male counterparts -- learn about leadership and life.

Now, the camp at the end of Springhill Road is in trouble. It's facing closure and those who have enjoyed it and benefitted from it are rallying to save it.

"I've literally grown up here," said Ali Doster, 16. "I love it here. It's so serene."

"It's part of the Girl Scout community," added Alena Slaughter, 17. "It would be devastating if we lost it."

The camp has been owned by the Girl Scouts since 1954.

In January 2012, officials at the Girls Scouts of Northern California told Twin Canyon folks that the camp was losing money and was on the list of possible closures.

Several dozen parents quickly formed the Twin Canyon Site Committee. They were told the camp needed to make up at least half of the deficit in its annual $90,000 budget every year.

By October 2016, the camp needed to break even or it would be shuttered.

Sandra Patterson and Elizabeth Johnson are two of the parents who've been working ever since to save the camp.

"This is one of the few places where you can drive 10 or 20 minutes from your house and be at a wilderness camp," said Patterson.

"It's a resource for both the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts," added Johnson. "It's a place where children can learn camping skills. It's also an open space buffer."

So far, the committee has raised $5,000 through events, secured $2,000 in grants and got $500 in extra rentals for the Diablo Day Camp, which runs spring and summer programs at the facility.

On Sunday, the committee held a hike-a-thon to raise more funds. About 50 adults did the hike along the camp's trails in the morning while 400 Girl Scouts participated in the afternoon, raising money and earning their legacy badges.

"It was important to show that we are taking action," said Patterson. "It's important to show we can make good on this."

Many of the Scouts are helping, too.

Some of the girls have produced a YouTube video that shows the virtues of the camp.

Doster and Slaughter are also getting the word out.

They have been coming to the camp since they were 3 years old.

They've enjoyed staying overnight in the cabins, attending activities at the day camp and learning archery.

Now, they're Elves, older Scouts who mentor the young camp attendees.

"You're a role model," said Slaughter. "I've learned so much at the camp and now I want to give back."

"You can't do this in your back yard and you can't do it at Heather Farm Park," added Doster.

Patterson and Johnson say the public can help by donating money, getting the word out about the campaign and volunteering for some of the capital improvement projects at the camp.

"I'm doing this because I believe in the Girl Scouts," said Patterson. "It's going to take courage, but we want to show them you can do anything you set your mind to do."


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