EAST BAY TOWNSHIP — Dozens of “Old Goat” scout leaders volunteered their time Saturday to help clean up historic Camp Greilick in preparation for a phased-in opening of the property as a new Grand Traverse County park.
Despite the scorching temperatures, about 60 volunteers labored throughout the day in key areas of the 196-acre-property, including the waterfront and extensive trail system.
They were joined by youngsters from Cub Scout Pack 31, as well as others with a personal connection to scouting.
“I was really impressed by the turnout,” said GTC Commissioner Darryl Nelson, himself a former scout leader. “They had me removing old signage all over the place. Everywhere you looked, people were pitching in.
“It was also great to see some of our old friends going back 40 years, especially former scout leaders and youth from Troop 31, Philmont 6-11 and Trek.”
“Old Goats” is a term of endearment for former scouts going back many decades. In some parts of the country, they use the term “Bald Eagles” or the “Y-Knots.”
FEDERAL CUTBACKS
The local effort comes on the heels of federal budget cuts that cancelled a planned work team visit by the National Civilian Community Corps, part of the U.S. AmeriCorps program.
Originally, the NCCC was scheduled to send 12 volunteers to Camp Greilick. They were expected to put in about 28,000 hours of work cleaning and updating the park at no cost to the county.
But it was not to be.
On April 13, NCCC officials told volunteers they would be dismissed April 30 because it could “no longer sustain operations” due to federal budget cuts and new priorities from the White House.
As a result, the GTC parks and recreation department went from announcing the AmeriCorps program on April 8 to announcing its cancellation on April 17 — going from “elation to sadness” according to Director John Chase.
“But when it comes down to it, we will persevere, we just have to find a different way to do it,” Chase said at the time.
“So like I said, it’s going to slow down our progress but it’s not going to stop our progress. We’re still doing everything we can to get the park open so people can come and enjoy the park.”
As proof of that local can-do attitude, Nelson said Saturday’s volunteer effort was “a positive response” to a community need that was “based on love for Camp Greilick and not politics.”
County Commissioner Rob Hentschel, himself a former scout camper, echoed those sentiments.
“We can’t control what happens in Washington, but we can take action locally to make things better,” he said. “What happened on Saturday is a perfect example of that.”
Cara Eule, assistant director of parks and rec, told volunteers on Saturday: “I’ve never seen the property full of people before. It’s so full of life today!”
Another volunteer work day is scheduled for July 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration details are available on the parks and rec website.
A TURN OF FORTUNE
Originally purchased in 1923 by the Traverse City Rotary Club, the Camp Greilick property was leased to the Scenic Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America in 1955.
Over the ensuing years, thousands of young people attended scout camp there, leaving many with a strong emotional attachment to the property.
Located about 14 miles from downtown Traverse City, Camp Greilick features 4,310 feet of combined frontage on Rennie, Spider and Bass lakes within the Boardman-Ottaway River watershed.
In 2016, Boy Scout operations at Camp Greilick ended and the property sat vacant for several years.
The site was later known as GO-REC (Greilick Outdoor Recreation & Education Center) from about 2016 to 2024, when it was offered for sale.
Seeing an opportunity to save the property from private development and increase recreational opportunities, Grand Traverse County acquired Camp Greilick in August 2024 for $3 million. It was the largest addition to the county’s park system since the Maple Bay purchase in 2002.
Funding for the purchase came primarily from federal ARPA grants that Congress appropriated during the COVID-19 pandemic. In mid-September 2024, the county board committed another $500,000 from marijuana tax revenues.
To help support the park’s maintenance, supporters also established an endowment fund called “Forever Camp Greilick,” which is administered by the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation. Donations are still welcome on the GTRCF website.
WHEN WILL IT OPEN?
The master plan for Camp Greilick calls for a “phased opening” with the first phase tentatively starting in late summer or early fall of this year.
However, more needs to be done before that can happen, including an East Bay Township site plan review on Aug. 5, officials said. The exact opening date for Phase I is yet to be determined.
“We want to make sure that it’s safe for the public before we open,” Chase said. “There’s a fair amount of work to do before we get there.
“Our intention is to do what’s right for the property and the community.”
Camp Greilick currently has 59 structures of various sizes and condition. Some of those will be demolished in accordance with a final site plan and historical study.
In the May-August 2025 time frame, efforts are focusing on trail restoration and reconstruction, disc golf course work and hazards removal. New way-finding signage will also be installed later this summer.
Former boy scouts aren’t the only ones pitching in.
On June 6, a volunteer group helped restore the human foosball court.
A week later, a volunteer SEEDS crew worked on the so-called “Lagoon Loop” trails. They also replaced rotted steps leading to Camp Greilick’s Chipmunk, Great Owl, and Raccoon cabins.
More details on the phased opening plan will be posted on the GTC parks and rec website as they become available, officials said. Visit: https://www.gtcountymi.gov/2779/Camp-Greilick-Updates.