“Let me use this small window to cut through the confusion and – yes – deliberate misinformation that has been swirling around our group and our plans,” said Tim Healy president of Minnesota Catholic Youth Partnership (MCYP).
MCYP announced in September that they had purchased 600 acres of land at Wilder Forest. The organization purchased the land with the goal to operate the site as a faith-based overnight summer camp and winter retreat center. During the summer, the camp hopes to host approximately 200 campers a week.
Since news of the sale was announced, there has been a strong reaction from River Grove families and area residents have raised concerns about the future of the school and the environmental impact on the land and area lakes.
“We have done a lot of listening these last couple of months and are willing to adjust our initial plans. Most notably for you is that we are not planning on using Square Lake for our primary swimming area. We are also looking into options of adding a driveway from a paved road that would reduce and/or eliminate all traffic on the township’s rural roads,” said Healy.
Last week, the board of supervisors for May Township held a special meeting. During the meeting, Supervisors, John Pazlar, John Adams and Steve Magner voted to direct staff to come back Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, with a proposal that strikes “youth camp” as an allowed use within the township’s conservancy zoning district.
Any change to the definition could impact the MCYP’s ability to have a camp at Wilder Forest.
“We are a group of Catholic parents who have come together as individuals concerned about the young people in our community and believe that a camping experience would make a positive impact in the lives of many,” said Healy.
“We have seen the struggles and pain gripping so many young people now. We worry that the 24/7 pull of social medial and the constant elevation of materialism and consumerism are increasing isolation, sadness and loneliness. We earnestly and sincerely believe a respite from these forces – even if only for a week – can alter a young person’s trajectory. We believe this because we’ve experienced it ourselves and seen its benefit in others.
“Faith-based camps and retreats are effective in changing the lives of young people. Kids need to encounter the person of Jesus now more than ever. Our activities will include singing, praying, listening to talks and testimonies, playing games, laughing, swimming, canoeing, and sitting in front of a campfire. Our interactions with the land and natural environment while we engage in those behaviors will respect God’s beautiful creation.
“Our mission is to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to offer others the opportunity to hear that news while enjoying a brief island of calm and reflective fellowship. “We will continue to make our case in a respectful and responsible manner,” he said.
Before the special meeting, Healy sent a letter to residents of Square Lake to let them know, “We have done a lot of listening,” explained Healy.
The letter reads in part, “We are Minnesota Catholic Youth Partnership, a Minnesota-based nonprofit seeking to serve the community by creating a place where young people can get away from the “noise” of the today’s hyper-connected, always-on world to better hear the quiet voice of God. It is our belief that the need for such spaces has never been more urgent or important. Many young people are struggling to maintain their mental health, battling feelings of isolation and struggling with addiction to substances but also to social media and video games. The camp we hope to start will be a counterweight to these forces, a positive alternative for our youth. We’re seeking to purchase property owned by the Wilder Foundation in Washington County’s May Township, a 600-acre site that hosted thousands of campers from the 1950s to as recently as 2015.
“We’re committed to being a good neighbor and a positive member of the May Township community. We’re seeking to restore this property to its historical purpose in a way that is respectful and neighborly. We want to preserve and protect the character of the property and to make it accessible to a critically important cohort: the children throughout this region who – but for a camp like this in a location like this – might never experience the wonders of the natural world and the joy that comes from faith, fellowship and friendship.
“Our commitment to you is to be a great neighbor, respect the peace and tranquility of your community, respect the land and values of the community, listen to your concerns and develop solutions that are acceptable to you today and into the future… “We want to restore the Wilder property to its original purpose as a summer camp and retreat center as it was in the 1980s. The camp will offer young people an energetic, exciting, faith-based experience and life-changing encounters.
“In the summer months, we envision conducting eight weeklong sessions, Sunday to Friday. During the non-summer months, we plan to offer weekend retreats and science camps…Our plan preserves and protects the natural beauty of the property and makes use of the existing structures, many of which date to the property’s prior existence as a camp. Those buildings would be supplemented with a new lodge to serve as the camp’s primary meeting space and its meal service…Over time, we anticipate building a smaller retreat center to host smaller groups, cabins for campers, an activity barn for indoor activities and cabins for staff and faculty. Any new construction would be planned and executed with a goal of having the least impact on the property.”
The letter also outlined the types of activities the camp will offer including high- and low-rope challenge courses, vertical climbing wall, low ropes/team building, a giant swing, zip lining, Frisbee golf, paintball, wiffle ball field, field games, swimming and canoeing.
“We believe the camp will significantly reduce the amount of vehicular traffic around the property. During the summer weeks, most of the traffic will be Sunday afternoon bus drop-offs and Friday afternoon bus/car pickups. During the school year most, traffic will be by bus. We are also looking into options to bring in a driveway from a paved road to virtually eliminate any traffic on the rural township roads,” says the letter.
Healy also stated, “We know our neighbors are rightly concerned about the environmental impact of the camp and we share this concern. Accordingly, we’re committed to preserving the character of the property, to being thoughtful and deliberate to minimize the impact of any construction or renovation and to respecting both nature and the rights of our neighbors to enjoy that natural beauty.”
Recently, MCYP and DrewGoodson, executive director for from River Grove school, engaged in some communication in hopes to negotiate an alternative plan for the school. However, the school raised concerns about the organization’s authority to do so.
On Nov. 17, 2022 Healy sent a letter to Goodson and another official at River Grove saying,
“As I hope we’ve been able to make clear, we have great sympathy for your community and how this unwelcome situation is disruptive and hard on students, parents and staff.
“It is our sincere hope that we can minimize that disruption and help the school in its transition but to do so we need the school’s input on its plans and its needs.
“Our board has discussed scenarios, for example, in which the school could remain in its current location until the end of the 2023-24 school year but to make such a scenario a reality, we need to hear from the school. Specifically, we need to know what work – if any – has been done to secure a new location for the school, a preferred timetable for moving the school and how school-related activities and uses could safely and productively co-exist on site with any preparatory work we may undertake.
“To date, we have been unable to arrange such a meeting and we are concerned that the window for doing so is rapidly closing. If you see any value in such a meeting, please let us know as soon as possible. Perhaps you already have made other arrangements; if so, then perhaps our concerns are unfounded. If, however, the school would like to have such a conversation, we would welcome that opportunity.”
On Nov. 18th, Goodson sent a response saying, “The school is willing to engage with the MCYP in conversations regarding a lease agreement if/when you have tangible authority to make these legal decisions. As the Wilder Foundation does have this authority we would be amenable to discuss an extension with them. However, as stated previously, Wilder is not willing to engage in this conversation and has stated we need to be off the property at the end of our lease in no uncertain terms…At this time is a 14-month lease extension on our current lease from Wilder.”
Healy sent another message to Goodson on Nov. 20, 2022 stating, “It is our full intent to close on the property in the near future and be the owner. We are in the position to make the school an offer once we can sit down with you and understand your needs and future goals. Hopefully by Dec 1st. If we can sit down with you and understand your needs, then we can go to Wilder and talk to them on your behalf as the next owners. Wilder made it clear on their position. We cannot speak for Wilder, and Wilder does not speak for us. Please let’s sit down so we can discuss your needs and understand your future. We may be able to help your situation. Our board is fully prepared to meet with you at your request. Let’s get something set up.”
“We are interested in pursuing different avenues but are unsure how MCYP can help us do that. They face their own challenges with the proposed use of the land. Ultimately, we would love if Wilder would reconsider,” said Goodson.
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