OGDEN — What would you do with a $1.25 million gift?
The Trapper Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America has received just that and plans on using most of the funds to renovate Camp Hunt, its well-worn 75-year-old adventure camp on the western shore of Bear Lake.
"This is the largest singular gift in the history of our local Scouting program and an amazingly generous gesture from civic-minded people in Utah," said Michael R. Marchese, Scout executive and chief executive officer of Trapper Trails.
The gift came from T.I.F.I.E. Humanitarian, Goal 0, Provo Craft and Sorenson Capital.
Camp Hunt, just less than 12 acres, has been around since 1935.
"We were the first and premier facility for youth at Bear Lake," Marchese said. "It has been a well-worn camp."
However, its facilities have deteriorated over the years, and a Camp Hunt Oversight Committee has been established to maximize use of the donation.
Plans will include restoring the camp's central point, the lodge. It will be remodeled and reroofed, with new windows.
Also, a world-class boat house will be constructed. In that building's second story will be showers and a dormitory for camp staff. Two new campsites will be created, and another will be taken out, leaving a net gain of one site.
Construction will begin this summer but won't go into high gear until Aug. 16, when the last campers leave.
New sailboats and docks have already been ordered and should be in place this summer.
The improved camp will have more of a high-adventure focus.
"Our hope is to draw older Scouts into this facility," Marchese said.
Most of the gift — $1 million — will go directly toward improving Camp Hunt. The remaining $250,000 will be funneled through the council's endowment program. This will be a perpetual gift in an account the generates interest, dividends and income. Endowment funds provide a steady stream of income to enhance Scout programs.
The council is also planning a fundraising effort to not just match but hopefully raise another $2 million beyond this gift, which would enhance some of the council's other seven camps.
The Trapper Trails Council is headquartered in Ogden and is one of the state's three Boy Scout councils. It serves 47,000 youths through 23,000 volunteers and 3,777 units in northern Utah, southwestern Wyoming and southeastern Idaho.
The Great Salt Lake Council of the Boy Scouts also has a camp at Bear Lake, the Bear Lake Aquatics Base, on the east side of the lake. It opened new facilities last summer.
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