EASTON: Losing a crown jewel

I don’t think the Boy Scout program ever intended to have luxury drugstore camps of the type commanded by rich parents; the type that wealthy “Harvard-destined” children are privileged to. The scout program has historically been to teach boys self-reliance, self-confidence, survival-type skills, outdoor life, a myriad of skills and attitudes, understandings, and platitudes emphasized in the Scout Oath and Law. A camp that troops could work toward improvements, maintenance; assume responsibility for.

The planned “new camp” appears to be a luxury-oriented camp akin to private boys’ camps. Camp Easton has always been a camp to get scouts away from the luxuries, the distractions of city life. A camp should be the antithesis of city life. Campfires with microphones, amplifiers, chapels with rock band technology? No thanks.

There is NO site on the lake that comes close to that of Easton. Because the wealthy want it is a poor reason to try to rationalize it away because of money. Safety? It’s only become less safe with the influx of the developments; therefore let them correct the safety problem, such as an overpass, underpass, fencing, whatever.

Fred Fitze and Stanley Easton are turning over in their graves.

RON BOOTHE

Kingston