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After months of rumors Campfire USA has confirmed Camp Ojiketa on Big Green Lake, is for sale. Andrea Dwyer, Campfire Director, said the Board of Directors’ plan to have it sold by August 31, the end of the organization’s fiscal year.

Dwyer said the Campfire Board came to a decision in October 2005 that the organization could “no longer support its four camps...by and large the population (served by Campfire) no longer sees summer camp experience in the same light,” Dwyer added. Ojiketa and Blue Waters are being liquidated.

Campfire USA is in the process of finalizing an appraisal and land survey to develop specifics about the camp’s market value and exact dimensions. Considering lakeshore lot prices and the general buildability of the site an acquisition price for Ojiketa could be estimated around several millions of dollars.

All this information was being digested by a group of some 20 people who came together March 9 at Chisago City Hall to see if Ojiketa can be preserved.

Attending were past camp staffers, directors, campers, foundation activists, a representative from Trust for Public Land, local politicians and others-- all expressing keen interest in keeping Ojiketa a viable public nature experience and out of the hands of developers. Some offered substantial personal donations but nobody came prepared to write a check for the full amount.

Camp Ojiketa is 75 to 80 acres.

It wraps around the southeast corner of Big Green Lake adjacent to Chisago City, in Chisago Lake Township. It’s been in use for some 80 years.

There are two lodges and several smaller bunk-style cabins, a chapel, camp director residence, small beachhouse, swim area and all the usual recreational amenities you’d find at a camp.

Dwyer told those gathered, “Ideally (the Board of Directors) would love to see the camp kept as open space, but we also have a fiduciary responsibility.” Dwyer said the directors must see the highest value realized for all of Campfire’s assets, while balancing the organization’s ability to continue to offer programming.

Dwyer was asked if Campfire would consider cooperating with another entity to keep the camp operating while reducing Campfire’s direct expenses and liabilities.

Dwyer said, no, the Board is “set on selling.” Campfire USA needs the cash to continue its mission.

Dwyer said she had come to the meeting last week with the Board’s full knowledge, and that Campfire is willing to work on any options that might be brought forward, but the August sale date is quite firm.

Campfire attorney Jim Walston explained that the appraisal will be retained by Campfire for its private purposes; so if any outside organization, the county or any combination of government units is interested in acquiring the parcel they’ll need their own appraisal.

Walston said Campfire will entertain any legitimate offer from any buyer group but he could make no promises to those attending the meeting without having an actual offer to bring to the Campfire Board.

Trust for Public Land representative Bob McGillivray said the Trust doesn’t have the kind of money readily available that Ojiketa requires but certainly would offer services to coordinate a pledge drive or fundraiser, etc. As a non-profit the Trust and other organizations represented at last week’s meeting offered to channel donations to allow them to be tax deductible.

Jean Lund, with Higher Destiny Ministries, mentioned her non-profit is exploring purchase but probably won’t be able to come up with the funds alone. She said the group has rented a camp near Deerwood, MN for years to offer a camp experience for youth up through high school age.

The ministry would, “...relish working with this community and any other groups,” to create a year-round facility at Ojiketa Lund said. She recently walked the grounds and said it was “stunning...I could almost hear the campers laughing and see the history there...”

Chisago City has taken the lead in organizing an effort to preserve Ojiketa, with much support from Campfire alumni. Chisago City Administrator John Pechman was in St. Paul March 9 and unable to attend this gathering because he was lobbying for legislation that could earmark state, matching monies to save Ojiketa. Senator Sean Nienow and Rep. Peter Nelson are working to introduce a bill that would appropriate bonding money to be matched by private contributions to acquire Ojiketa.

Chisago City Planner Courtney Wiekert and parks director Doris Zacho moderated the meeting last week.

Said Wiekert, “It’s too soon to just give up... we all felt we couldn’t just say it can’t be done without first trying. We feel the (site) is too valuable to simply not do anything.”

No proposals have been submitted to Chisago City for developing the parcel, she added. Located in Chisago Lake Township the county zoning office and planning commission are currently the responsible oversight.

County Zoning Administrator Mary Schmitz said nobody has expressed interest in the parcel at the county zoning office. Schmitz noted that the County Water Festival, a day-long, outdoor science class for school districts in Chisago county, is held at Ojiketa.

Laird Mork, County Parks Director, said without the legislative funding assistance it’s going to be an “uphill battle” to retain Ojiketa unless there’s a major groundswell of support for the county, city and maybe Chisago Lake township to do something jointly.

County Commissioners Mike Robinson, Rick Olseen and Bob Gustafson attended the meeting but made no commitments, basically listening.

Olseen said if local legislators are successful in securing the state aid the local match could still be some $3 million. He commented that the county alone can’t support the debt service (tax burden) on that.

Local resident Jeremy Kalin, a former state office candidate and active in causes, advised alumni attending the meeting to roust up support quickly amongst Campfire alumni and record financial pledges that would help impress upon lawmakers the importance of preserving this site.

City parks coordinator Zacho said Chisago City will receive and retain all correspondence of support for the camp and package it to be presented to lawmakers in support of the state bonding aid.

Anybody who wants to share what Camp Ojiketa means to them personally, or who represents a school group that has utilized Ojiketa should write.

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