Update -  Forest Service Proposed Temporary Use Permits for the Nantahala River 

Representatives of the North Carolina Youth Camp Association met with several Nantahala River outfitter guides just prior to the expiration of the comment period on the Forest Service’s proposal to issue temporary use permits to camps, school groups and other organizational users of the Nantahala River.  The hope is that the summer camps and the outfitter guides may jointly propose a solution to the recent impasse over summer camps access to the river for kayaking, canoeing, and rafting.    

The Forest Service extended the comment period on its proposal to September 17 from September 10.  No reason for the extension was given.

The Association gave conditional support to the temporary use permit proposal in its comments on the Forest Service proposal.   While supportive of the proposal because it would allow summer camps that currently do not have a permit to get one, the Association felt that restrictions on the number of boats and on the time a camp could stay on the river did not reflect the camps’ current usage.

“The Forest Service’s proposal is a step in the right direction,” said Chuck McGrady, the Association’s Executive Director.  “However, there are a number of ways that summer camps might regain their historical access to the river, and we’re open to discuss any proposals that might treat all summer camps the same.”

Three NCYCA summer camps - Camp Rockbrook, Eagles’ Nest Camp, and Camp Highlander – currently have permits which date back to when the current permit system was instituted in the 1980’s.  The majority of summer camps that use the river, however, do not have permits and currently have to use an outfitter guide to get access for their paddling programs.

Senator Richard Burr’s office has been working with the Association to reach an equitable solution to the river access issue.  The Forest Service has indicated that any new user permits would be issued early next year.

Our own, Chuck McGrady, will join the North Carolina General Assembly as one of its freshman members when it convenes on January 26, 2011.   He is currently a Henderson County Commissioner, but qualified for the legislative position and drew no opposition.  Thus, his election is virtually assured.

Having been Falling Creek Camp’s owner and director for the better part of twenty years and been active in the camp community and with the American Camp Association on public policy issues, McGrady says he expects to remain interested in issues which affect summer camps.

“I’m interested in working on a better school calendar law and also understand how building and health codes sometimes don’t allow camps to operate in the manner they’ve operated for decades.  While I’m going to miss working with the Association, I suspect I’ll be more valuable to the summer camps by being in the General Assembly than I can be working as their lobbyist.”

McGrady is a long-time environmental advocate who has worked on a variety of public lands issues.  These issues are likely to also be of interest to the camp community.

McGrady has always pressed the summer camps to be involved in influencing public policy and that it will be really good to have someone with his background representing Henderson County, the home to many summer camps.

McGrady is not the first summer camp director to serve in the General Assembly.  Former Keystone Camp owner and director, Bill Ives, served from 1992-1998, representing Transylvania County, another county that has many summer camps.

NCYCA is currently in the process of searching out another Executive Director to fill McGrady’s position by late summer/ early fall.

The beginning phase of the Economic Impact Study for resident camps in western North Carolina is nearing completion.  After our research team from NC State distributed the first set of surveys to the directors of camps located in the the four county study region (Buncombe, Henderson, Jackson and Transylvania counties), they have collected data from over 75% of those camps polled.  This participation surpasses the previous EIS performed in 1998. 

The EIS is examining and quantifying the contribution summer camps make to the economies of western North Carolina. The next phases of the study will take place during and following the summer camp sessions. The research team will distribute surveys to the parents of camp children and camp staff members. The study will be completed in early 2011.

Hats off! to all camp directors who completed these surveys.  We understand this was not an easy task, and we thank you for your time and efforts. Without your camps’ individual information, we would not be able to compile this valuable study.

Dr. Michelle Gacio Harrolle and Dr. Samantha Rozier-Rich of the Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management at NC State University are leading the research. The study is collecting and tabulating the local economic activity of summer camps’ direct impact, as well as that of their employees and camper families who visit the area each summer. A final report will be presented in January 2011.

“We are confident the study will confirm what most business and community leaders already know: summer camps are vital to the economy of Western North Carolina. We want to provide actual data as evidence to community leaders, business leaders and elected officials,” said Chuck McGrady, Executive Director of the North Carolina Youth Camp Association.

Western North Carolina has one of the highest concentrations of organized camps in the United States. Erica Rohrbacher, the American Camp Association’s Southeastern Section Executive Director noted that this study will be invaluable to the camp community “There are approximately 55 summer camps in the four county area and we hope to get all of them to participate.”

The American Camp Association works to preserve, promote, and enhance the camp experience for children and adults. This is accomplished through the only nationwide accreditation program, through professional development, and through public awareness programs and public policy monitoring. ACA-accredited camp programs ensure children are provided with a diversity of educational and developmentally challenging learning opportunities. There are over 2,400 ACAaccredited camps that meet up to 300 health and safety standards nationwide.

The North Carolina Youth Camp Association is a trade association formed by North Carolina summer camps to expand public understanding of youth camps and to represent their interests with local, state and federal policymakers. The Association seeks to strengthen and expand the educational, environmental and recreational opportunities provided by North Carolina’s camps.

Contact:
Chuck McGrady (828) 692-3696
chuck@ncamps.org 

Erica Rohrbacher (919) 402-4336
Erica@acasoutheastern.org