Over the last week. the Golden Gate Area Council (GGAC) Properties Committee and the Camp Wolfeboro program team have discussed and evaluated the historic season of snowfall and the implications to Camp Wolfeboro. Unfortunately, the decision has been made that Camp Wolfeboro will not operate as a 2023 Resident Camp due to a variety of reasons.  This decision was not made lightly. 

The key factors that went into this decision include:

• The US Forest Service will not open Big Meadow Campground (less than a mile from the exit to Wolfeboro) until at least July 4, 2023 due to the snowpack (270% of average).
• Camp Wolfeboro, as of April 9th, is covered in 12’ of snow.
• The septic and leech systems need dry ground for several weeks after the snow thaws to properly function, even before there is any stress from camp usage.
• In all likelihood, this summer Cal Water will periodically release runoff through the North Fork of the Stanislaus River (that divides Wolfeboro), which potentially could strand Scouts and Scouters for days at a time.

Making a decision now allows us to guarantee a spot this summer for every affected Scout and leader at either Camp Royaneh or Wente Scout Reservation. In addition, we are working with Wolfeboro Staff on relocating them to one of our other Camps for the summer.  Program staff have already started to work with each unit with a Camp Wolfeboro reservation to find them a place at Royaneh or Wente.

 

We will still have space at those two camps after July 1^st to accommodate additional Scouts from other Scout camps in Northern California that are also affected by the snowpack. 

 

While not having resident camp at Camp Wolfeboro is disappointing for all of us, it does allow the opportunity to focus on several key projects at the camp.  Since our overall access at Wolfeboro is limited every year and the heart of that time is normally devoted to resident camp, this year we can use that time in a productive way to provide new and refurbished facilities to support the camp for decades to come.

 

As the weather and runoff permit, the GGAC Properties Committee intends to use this time to: 

• Break ground on the remodeling of the Program Office as soon as it is safe for our contractor to begin work.  
• Complete the refurbishment of the kitchen facilities that were begun at the end of last summer.  
• If the river is low and safe enough to cross, the team will also renovate the Nature Lodge.
• Raise money to begin the next phase of a new Camp Director’s Cabin.  
• This opportunity also allows us to look at additional projects to bring forward in order to accelerate our investments in Wolfeboro.

We encourage everyone to save the date and/or register now for our Family Vacation Camp, which is still scheduled for July 28-30, 2023. This will be a chance to see the construction progress and participate in an exciting and fun program!