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PHOTO: Chris Bernier, of Winslow, fires a signal arrow into the air above Great Pond at Camp Bomazeen, in Belgrade. (Submitted photo)
WINSLOW – Longtime Scout and leader Chris “Montawagon” Bernier has started a letter-writing campaign to urge the community to help keep Camp Bomazeen from being sold.
The camp, on Great Pond, in Belgrade, was donated to the Scouts in 1944 by George Averill, a Waterville doctor, and though it’s held in trust according to its deed, the Pine Tree Council Board of Directors is considering selling the land to help pay off debt caused by national lawsuits against Scouts BSA. The council has also told the BSA community it is selling Camp Nutter, in Acton, and Camp Gustin, in Sabattus, to help pay debt incurred by national Scouts BSA related to sex-abuse lawsuits.
In June, the state attorney general’s office, along with the Bomazeen Oldtimers Associationm filed a suit against Pine Tree Council in an effort to protect the property.
Bernier, who’s been in Scouting 38 years, including 27 as an adult leader and volunteer, said in his letter that there are better ways to raise income than selling off vital BSA property, including providing more quality programs and increasing membership.
“I would like to ask everyone in the district — every pack, troop and crew member who wants to see this stay as camp for Scouts in perpetuity — to write a personal letter stating why you think it is a bad idea to sell Camp Bomazeen specifically,” Bernier wrote. He also asks that Scouting volunteers and families contact their chartering organizational representatives and encourage them to become active in what the council does, and work to replace the current board of directors in January.
“It is crucial, even vital, now more than ever, that we let council know that selling unreplaceable property potentially protected in trust is not a good use of resources,” Bernier said. “A better use of their time should be focusing on membership, ‘quality’ program at all four camps and capital campaigns. If done properly this council could easily recover from its debts. Something the current board clearly is not focused on.”
The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly helped to disrupt Scouting, Bernier said. “The answer to debt is not selling stuff and hope membership rises,” he said. “The answer to debt is increase membership and give as many opportunities to children within Scouting at as many places as possible. Without our well-distributed camps, providing outstanding programs becomes that more challenging.”
“We the leaders of the packs, troops and crews on the ground sometimes need to remind them what they are voting on. This is one of those times as our packs troops and crews are the larger bases of income to the council. “
To read Bernier’s full letter, visit the Friends of Bomazeen Facebook page.
