To drive by it, you might think that Girl Guide Camp Aneesh is just a bunch of cabins — but to many its memories.
Those memories will now be halted as the Girl Guides of Ontario have decided to close 16 provincial camps – Camp Aneesh being one of them.
The camp is located in the Keppel Area on Girl Guide Road located on 50 acres.
Bev Hoffer – spokesperson for the Guides has spent 35 years volunteering with area guides and is upset over the closure of the camp.
Hoffer says in recent years the number of girls joining girl guides has decreased dramatically – and less than 100 girls are members in the entire Grey, Bruce and Owen Sound Area.
Hoffer says they did not meet the criteria set out by the government to keep the camp open so they were told they must close the camp and sell it by this July.
Hoffer said the main reason for closing is revenue – the camp is solely funded on donation – and the donations just aren’t there anymore.
Proceeds of the sale of the camp and land will go right back into the provincial girl guides.
Hoffer says the focus of the camp was always teaching outdoor activities and bonding.
Hoffer says great friendships were made and the camp will be missed.
The provincial Guide council says the 33 Girl guide camps in the province are operating at a deficit of over one million dollars for 2008.