9/19/14 - The Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan is idling a sleep-away camp in Livingston County amid competition from other camps and may sell the property. The organization's CEO Denise Dalrymple says officials are looking at what to do next with Camp Innisfree, located in Putnam Township, which is the largest Girl Scout camp in Michigan. Dalrymple says the camp could be open for some Girl Scout activities or it could be sold. Competition from camps devoted to academics, the arts and sports and a drop in Michigan's school-age population are factors. Camp Innisfree and Camp Hawthorn Hollow drew 660 Girl Scouts to six-day sleep-away camps this summer, down from 1,200 five years ago. Dalrymple says families told them in surveys, and by not attending, that they considered the camps too expensive and too far. She also told the Free Press that the horses in Camp Innisfree's Equestrian Center will be adopted out or returned to original owners, but they will not be sold for any use that would involve the horses being put down. There will be a "Harvest and Goodbye" event at Camp Innisfree on November 1st. The camp will be open to current and former Girl Scouts and staff, and their families from 11am to 3pm, with food and events planned. (JK)
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