Let's keep Camp TeAta open

To the editor;

I am writing in response to the article regarding the Otahki Girl Scout Council's attempt to close Camp TeAta in Marble Hill, Mo. The reasons given by a representative of the council is that Camp TeAta is unsafe, isolated and primitive. In my family's 25-plus year affiliation with Camp TeAta, I have never heard of nor seen any type of unsafe event that occurred there. Teata is located just a few miles from the local fire and police departments, which is closer than the departments are to the other two camps maintained by the council.

I have no idea how a Girl Scout camp can't be somewhat isolated and primitive, as that is the whole point of camp. If the council is so concerned about camp safety, I don't understand why it doesn't invest more time and effort into improvement of TeAta. Proceeds from the sale are to be placed into a fund for property development costs for the other camps. This is simply not fair to the girls who live in this area or to the dedicated volunteers who have spent the past 50 years building Camp TeAta into the beautiful environment it is today.

We should not accept this decision lightly. We need the immediate support from this community to keep Camp TeAta open for the area Girl Scouts. I encourage all of you to please write the Otahki Council, 1432 Kurre Lane, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701.

AMY CHANDLER, Fenton, Mo.