Camp Scully closing for repairs

Former campers are welcome to return to Camp Scully this summer -- but only if they want to wield a paintbrush.

The co-ed children's camp on Snyder's Lake in North Greenbush, which is operated by Catholic Charities of Albany and Rensselaer Counties, will not be holding its usual summer program this year.

Instead, the warmer months will be spent doing much-needed repairs.

Much to do

According to Angela Keller, director of child care and youth services for diocesan Catholic Charities, Camp Scully needs to make many changes to "better position the camp for the future."

Among those are repainting the buildings, fixing roofs, landscaping, repairing an access road badly rutted by last year's rains, replacing sand washed away from the beach, installing steps and walkways around swampy areas, and replacing the entire waterfront dock system.

In addition, all of the camp's bunk beds must be replaced to conform to new state regulations for children's camps.

The dock and bed replacements alone will cost $40,000, said Ms. Keller, so camp officials have begun writing grant proposals to get funding.

Master plan

But besides the immediate changes, a "master plan" is also in the works to decide how to best utilize the camp in the future, including weatherizing buildings so they can be used year-round by businesses or retreat groups.

"There's a huge commitment by Catholic Charities and the [Albany] Diocese that Camp Scully is going to continue," Ms. Keller stated. "Some of the long-range plans are very costly, so we have to have an organized fundraising plan to have that happen."

Catholic Charities has already been awarded grants to hire a consultant who will advise them on ideas for the camp. Camp Scully currently serves children ages 7-14; Ms. Keller mentioned leadership development programs for older teens as one possible addition to its programs.

The director would also like to see the creation of more hiking trails through the camp's acreage, and lean-tos in the woods where hikers and campers could sleep.

"Camp Scully sits on 22 acres of land, and we use about 25 to 40 percent of it," she noted.

Alums

Another part of the "master plan" involves assembling a list of Camp Scully alumni, both campers and counselors. Ms. Keller recalled two brothers in their 70s who stopped by the camp last year and told the staff, "We came here when we were eight years old!"

"We want to hear people's stories and memories of the camp," the director stated. "Camp Scully serves 300 kids per summer, and it's been open for 85 years. I would suspect there's 50 years' worth [of alumni] here" in the Diocese.

A volunteer has already begun interviewing Camp Scully alumni about their recollections. Ms. Keller hopes alumni with fond memories of their adventures at camp donate some time, talent or treasure, as well.

"This is incredibly exciting," she said of the plans. "The time we're investing in this really invests in the future of Camp Scully."

(Camp Scully has traditionally welcomed children for week-long stays. Besides sports and crafts, campers learn six core values: service, care, understanding, love, loyalty and youthfulness. To add your name and memories to the list of Camp Scully's alumni, or to volunteer, call Angela Keller, 453-6650.)

(2/24/05)