To the editor:

Your editorial concerning Hidden Valley Camp (July 26) and preserving this 40-acre parcel of land at Kasold and Bob Billings Parkway appeared just as volunteers are putting the finishing touches on a history of the camp and celebration for our 50th anniversary of Hidden Valley Camp.

The camp is not owned by the Kaw Valley Girl Scout Council or by GSUSA. Hidden Valley has never received funding from Girl Scout cookie money nor the United Way. It is owned by the registered Girl Scouts of Lawrence.

The cost of taking care of the camp and insuring it continue to rise. While we all love the fun we have at camp, it is hard, serious work to be the stewards of 40 acres of established camp sites. The work would be less difficult if we had enough funding for general maintenance, for emergencies, and more improvements to the property. It is funded primarily by the Alfred Bromelsick Trust, small grants and private donations.

For the camp’s 50th birthday, the Friends of Hidden Valley have established a gift that we hope will keep on giving forever: an endowment fund with the Douglas County Community Foundation to which anyone can donate. Please attend our 50th Birthday Bash on Sept. 23 from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Come see for yourself why we love Hidden Valley.

Karen Warner, chair,

Friends of Hidden Valley,

Lawrence