Susan Cournoyer: Hope for Meredith’s Girl Scout Camp Menotomy property

To The Daily Sun,

This newspaper provided some of the earliest coverage of the possible sale of Girl Scout Camp property ("Camp Menotomy"), and now important ― and possibly decisive ― court dates are imminent.

In late July, a Massachusetts judge will consider whether to honor the Camp Menotomy Trust as written ― and preserve the land for camping ― or allow the trust to be broken. If released from their obligations to provide safe stewardship for ongoing access to young people, the trustees could walk away with a windfall of roughly $18 million. Two of the trustees are themselves longtime Scout leaders. But all four trustees remain silent on plans for this windfall, and whether young people will benefit at all.

I am from a French-Canadian family with many members living in New Hampshire and I grew to love the Lakes Region as a child. I have tried to support efforts to keep the land accessible for young people. My daughter and I spent many years visiting the family camp at Menotomy. While we visited, stayed, and have enjoyed many parts of New Hampshire, my daughter has told me that Camp Menotomy was magical. I agree.

I hope that the Lakes Region can stay up-to-date on what happens at Camp Menotomy. Readers can write the NH attorney general if they support ongoing access for young people. After all, while the lake offers Weirs Beach and Ellacoya for families, Camp Menotomy can teach young people to respect and love NH's beautiful high waters. And, as my daughter told me recently, "Mom, it was just so much fun."

Susan Cournoyer

Warwick, Rhode Island