The fight to save Camp Crowell-Hilaka is going to be an uphill battle.  Friends of Camp Crowell-Hilaka is committed to this battle, but we need your help.  GSNEO needs to know that Crowell-Hilaka is a vibrant place that is important to girls and leaders alike. Right now, GSNEO sees Crowell-Hilaka as a financial drain in a tough economic period.  We at FoCH believe that if camp is restored to full operation and new programming is put in place, it can become an economic asset rather than a liability. The word of a few FoCH members isn’t going to convince them, however.  We need YOU to let them know that Camp Crowell-Hilaka is important.  Please write to GSNEO to tell them why this camp should be kept open.   We understand that this is a busy time of year, but camp can’t wait. A personal letter would be best, but for those of you with limited time on your hands consider using one of the following letters that we’ve written to help you, which require minimal effort on your part, but will let council know that you think Crowell-Hilaka is an important place for girls and has passionate people that support its continued use.  Use all or part of a letter. Mix and match pieces of different letters to make it your own.  If you don’t agree with something or haven’t experienced something, take it out. Just let GSNEO know that Crowell-Hilaka is important to the members they serve!

Send your letters to:

Board of Directors, GSNEO

One Girl Scout Way

Macedonia, Oh 44056-2156

Or fax your letter to:

330-467-1901

*Letter to council from Troop leader/co-leader/adult volunteer, the “values Girl Scouts wants to promote” approach

To Whom it may concern:

            My name is ___________ and I am the leader/co-leader/adult volunteer of _______ (Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, Ambassador, etc)Troop _____ from service unit _____ in _______.  I am writing to you because I am concerned over the recent decision to close Camp Crowell-Hilaka, effective October 1, 2009.  I believe that this is a decision that will be detrimental to the members of GSNEO.  Girl Scout camping is an experience that cannot be duplicated by other organizations. At Girl Scout camps girls have a chance to escape an outside world that often has little time for childhood. At camp they can learn new skills, explore the science of nature, and gain confidence as they navigate the out-of-doors.  I understand that GSNEO has many camps for girls to choose from, but Crowell-Hilaka is very special to me/my troop  ____________ (Explain why you believe this camp is important to your troop or to you)_______________.  Crowell-Hilaka has countless opportunities to promote the values GSNEO considers important.  Your website states that the mission of GSNEO is to build girls of “Courage, Confidence, and Character, who make the world a better place.”  There is no better place than Camp Crowell-Hilaka to develop these qualities in young girls.  ____________(Explain why Crowell-Hilaka, in particular can help girls develop these traits. Tell a story about a time you witnessed “courage, confidence, or character” being exhibited at camp, describe something your girls learned at C/H that they took home to “create a better world”, explain why C/H gave these qualities to you so you can pass them on to your girls, etc.)___________.  I have personally witnessed my troop grow and change because of their Crowell-Hilaka camping experiences.  I am therefore committed to support the effort to save Camp Crowell-Hilaka.  I ask that the Board of Directors and all officials at GSNEO also take the time to work with the Friends of Crowell-Hilaka to keep this camp open and operating so that even more girls can experience the character building and growth that Crowell-Hilaka can offer. Please help to teach the girls that GSNEO really does serve them. 

Sincerely,

________________

*Letter from a parent, the “outdoor classroom” approach

To whom it may concern:

I am a parent of a child in _________ (Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, Ambassador, etc) Troop _______.  I am deeply concerned with the recent decision to close Camp Crowell-Hilaka on October 1, 2009.  I understand this decision is meant to be temporary, but unless we begin to work on the needed repairs now I do not believe it will re-open.  This is troubling for a number of reasons.  In the first place, this camp is loved by many girls, not just my daughter.  Closing it will deprive them of yet another resource in an economy that has already taken away too much from young children.  The schools are being forced to limit programs in the arts and sciences and so as a parent, for my child to have access to have access to this type of program I must look elsewhere.  Camp Crowell-Hilaka can be a perfect supplement to the loss of school programming in the arts and sciences.  At Camp Crowell-Hilaka my daughter has learned ________________ (songs, stories, history from the Mill museum, about the stars, about wildlife, etc).__________.  Camp Crowell-Hilaka is an outdoor classroom.  More than that, it is a place where my daughter can be herself, and make friends in a safe, non-threatening environment.   While she is having fun, I value the fact that she is in a camp that is entirely fenced in.  I also value this particular camp because ______________________ indicate any other reason why camp is important for you/your daughter_________________.  Closing Camp Crowell-Hilaka, now, after my daughter has learned to love it will only teach her that the council that is supposed to represent her needs and desires cannot be counted on to do so when the going gets tough.  Help show my daughter and other girls and young women that they can persevere even through the toughest circumstances.  Make the lesson my daughter takes to the future a positive one, not one of defeat and loss. 

Sincerely,

_______________

*Letter from any adult volunteer, the “let the volunteers help” approach

To whom it may concern:

I am ____________ describe your role in Girl Scouting ___________.  I am deeply upset about the recent decision made to close Camp Crowell-Hilaka.  Although it may solve some financial woes in the immediate future, in the long run closing camp will hurt the girls for whom this council works for.  Of the camps operated by GSNEO, Camp Crowell-Hilaka is the only camp that offers platform tents, historic houses, cabins, Adirondacks, and primitive camping sites all in the same camp. Crowell-Hilaka is the only camp with a Girl Scout museum, which is itself housed in a historic building.  Because of the variety of sites available, girls can grow inside the camp, trying new camping experiences while at the same time growing to know, love, and take pride in a place. The history of the space helps to teach the girls to connect the past with the present.  These attributes have the great potential of creating generations of girls committed to keeping the camp open and in good condition. This could be the perfect opportunity to create new programming that would allow the girls to help restore camp.  __________ give an example of a program for girls that could also help camp: i.e. a carpentry seminar, a gardening workshop, a service day where sites are cleaned or trails are cleared, an art program where murals are painted/restored, etc. ___________.  I understand that girls cannot do everything the camp needs, but they can be useful.  GSNEO needs to take advantage of the volunteers who already feel this strong connection to camp and are willing to help keep Crowell-Hilaka operating.  Yet, in the past, girls and adult volunteers alike have been dissuaded from helping to keep camp in shape for future campers.  ______________ Give an example of this _____________. Let the girls help. Use members’ contacts to get services the camp needs. The girls and adults who have camped at Crowell-Hilaka are still committed to keeping it open. Please show us that this council and its current officers will work with the members to keep camp open.  Show the girls that they really are the heart and soul of this movement.  Let them help maintain their camp and show them that what they value is important to you too. 

Sincerely,

__________

*Letter from someone who has not camped recently/ has never been to Crowell-Hilaka, the “all programs for girls are important” approach

To Whom it may Concern:

I have never camped at Crowell-Hilaka/ I have not camped at Crowell-Hilaka recently. _______ explain why _____________.  I am, however, very concerned at the thought of it closing in October.  Many girls and adults love this camp and are very attached to it. The closing of camps, like the closing of programs sets a dangerous precedent. If this camp is closed, despite the objection of many members, what is to stop other important programs and sites from being closed down?  Additionally, just because I have never camped at Crowell-Hilaka/ have not camped there recently does not mean that this will never occur.  I would consider camping there or sending my girls there if _____________ I had access to camp equipment, someone else would take my troop/ daughter, there was financial aid for my troop to camp there, the registration process was easier, etc. _______________.  It is unfair to the girls to close down something they love without letting them work to try to save it.  Even if me/ my girls never camp at Crowell-Hilaka/never go back they can learn valuable lessons by working to save the camp for others to use.  They can gain financial literacy and improve their leadership skills through fundraisers for camp. They can learn lessons about science and technology as the dam and waste water treatment system are fixed.  They could have the opportunity to work with women who work in non-traditionally feminine careers such as carpentry, or talk to women who have achieved success in their careers and network.  ____________ explain what aspect of saving camp would be useful to your girls. __________. Working to keep camp open will introduce many new worlds to my girls in a safe environment and will show them that GSNEO really does listen to the members and that it is not setting a precedent for closing down programs without girl/ member input. 

Sincerely,

______________

*Letter from a Girl Scout alum, the “future generations” approach

To Whom it may concern:

            My name is ______________ and I was a Girl Scout from __ to ___.  During that time I learned to love Camp Crowell-Hilaka.  It greatly distresses me to hear that GSNEO has decided to close the camp in October.   My experiences at camp have greatly influenced my life since Girl Scouts.  ______________ explain how.  i.e. I still sing the songs I learned around the house to my kids, my career is based off of my GS camping experience, my camp experience provides happy memories that I cherish, etc. ___________.  I feel that present and future girls and leaders deserve to have the same opportunities as I had at camp. 

            I understand that Crowell-Hilaka requires repairs that will cost a considerable amount of money, but the only way for Girl Scouts to make money is to provide programming for the girls. 

During my camp experiences __________ was a program that involved camp and thus collected money for the council.  I believe similar programming could be implemented today.  A variety of programs, that includes camping at Crowell-Hilaka, will keep girls within the scouting movement.  Continually shutting down programs will cause girls to look elsewhere for their programming needs.  Camps like Crowell- Hilaka are what makes the Girl Scouting experience unique.  Please commit to keeping this resource open for the girls of the present and future. 

Sincerely,

__________

*Letter from a girl member, the “it’s OUR camp” approach

  To Whom It may Concern:

I am a ___ year old member of Troop _______ from _______.  I am very upset that you have decided to close Camp Crowell-Hilaka in October.  ____________tell them why _________.

Girl Scouting is supposed to be for the girls.  This is my camp.  It seems to me like council is making decisions without asking its girl members.  I know that it will take a lot of money to fix things at camp and keep it open, but I think we should do everything we can to keep camp open. _____________ give your suggestions for fundraisers/ways to make money and ways that council can repair camp___________.  I would like to help camp by ____________________  tell council how you can help save camp.  For example, you could say you would like to volunteer to work at a service day at camp, say you will donate a dollar to a camp fundraiser, convince your troop to camp there if it stays open, spread the word about ways to help camp.___________.  Council has run programs about girls getting their voices heard and I would like you to listen to me about Camp Crowell-Hilaka.  I want my camp to stay open.  It is important to me and I believe that it is important to other girls too.  Please listen to us, because we are telling you that we do not want our camp closed.

Sincerely,

___________

*Letter from a girl, the “questions” approach

To Whom it may concern:

I am a _____ (daisy, Brownie, junior, cadette, senior, ambassador, etc) member of Troop _________.  I am very upset that you have decided to close Camp Crowell-Hilaka in October and I have some questions for you.  Why was the decision to close camp made in MAY but not announced until June?  If camp needs money and repairs don’t we need all the time we can get to fundraise?  Why don’t more girls like me have more of a say in what happens to Camp Crowell-Hilaka?  I know there are two girls on the Board of Directors and there are delegates who represent me but they won’t say exactly what I want to say to you.  I want to tell you why Camp Crowell Hilaka is important to me.  _____________ explain why Crowell-Hilaka is important to you.___________.   Because camp is so important to me I want to save it, but so far I haven’t been allowed to help save camp.  I can’t fundraise and I haven’t been allowed to do camp service projects.  Why amI not allowed to help?  This camp means a lot to me and I want to help it.  If I could help I would ______________ explain what you would like to do to help save camp.___________.  Please help girls like me who want to save Camp Crowell-Hilaka!

Sincerely,

____________