The winner of the sweepstakes to buy the Trexler Scout Reservation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sheltering veterans and helping them obtain quality health care.
In a letter posted to its Facebook page Thursday, the Minsi Trails Council Executive Board said it has voted to sell the 755-acre Boy Scout camp in Polk Township, Monroe County, to the Trexler Veterans Initiative for $7.8 million.
TVI will offer a leaseback agreement to Valor Clinic Foundation, which is across the street from Camp Trexler in the former Hotel Jonas. Founded by Mark D. Baylis, an Army veteran, Valor says on its website that it “provides assistance accessing benefits, and shelter to Veterans with limited or no access to care. Helps find shelter for Veterans who, due to health or means, are unable to find or keep shelter of their own, and Post Traumatic Stress resources to Veterans through our Veterans Unstoppable program.”
The reservation is named after Gen. Harry C. Trexler, the Lehigh Valley lumber and cement tycoon-turned-conservationist. It has served as a summer camp for more than 90 years. Trexler served in the Pennsylvania National Guard during World War I.
A feature of the sales agreement is that Boy Scouts will still have access to the grounds for activities.
“Knowing that both the military and Scouting were priorities for General Trexler, we are very pleased that TVI and the Valor Clinic Foundation agreed to permit the use of the property by Scout units for cabin rentals and campsite use into the foreseeable future,” Minsi Trails said in the statement. “They have also indicated that they will welcome unit service and Eagle Scout projects on the property to assist in their mission. Importantly, they plan to pursue the establishment of land preservation easements on the property at a future date, prohibiting future development.”
The agreement was worked out by commercial real estate company Avison Young’s Philadelphia office. The land will be handed to TVI and Valor on Oct. 1 after the summer camping season concludes.
The sale concludes a monthslong process that attracted the attention of several environmental activists who didn’t want the land sold for housing or industrial uses. Bidders for the land included the Pocono Heritage Land Trust and WM, formerly known as Waste Management.
PHLT Executive Director Louise Troutman told The Morning Call that Polk Township officials have invited the organization to meet with the new owner. The land trust was running a campaign to raise money to buy Camp Trexler and Troutman called the outcome “disappointing.”
“Hopefully we’ll be able to work out some kind of permanent protection for the property with the owner,” she said.
Minsi Trails Council, which covers the Lehigh Valley region, announced in March 2022 that it planned to sell the land to raise money for its share of a historic nationwide settlement with thousands of people who say they were abused when they were Scouts.
Under the BSA Chapter 11 plan of reorganization, an Abuse Victims Trust will be established and funded with at least $2.7 billion. Minsi Trails, which has been implicated in more than 130 abuse cases, is required to contribute $2.6 million to that fund.
The council announced that starting in 2024, all Minsi Trails camping activity will be transferred from Trexler to Camp Minsi in Coolbaugh and Tobyhanna townships.
Minisi Trails said in the letter that it is “undergoing a comprehensive strategic planning initiative facilitated by an outside consultant.” It is seeking feedback from more than 4,000 council parents and volunteers and will use the data to develop “an effective plan for the future of Minsi Trails Council.”