Keep-It-Wild-For-Kids! Campaign
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Metchosin Wilderness Camp - Keep It Wild for Kids! Campaign
Fundraising Campaign Purpose
The over-arching purpose of this campaign is to ensure that stakeholders are equipped with sufficient knowledge, including legal knowledge, to inform constructive dialogue on the Wilderness Camp subdivision issue. Please see below, for background and specific campaign goals. We aspire to raise at least $15,000 through this campaign and appreciate any amount that donors may contribute to help achieve (or surpass) this target.
Campaign Endorsement
This grass-roots campaign is endorsed by long-time Metchosin community leaders. Among others, we thank Carol Carman, Ken Farquharson, Frank Mitchell and Chris Pratt, for their support and encouragement.
Protecting a Community Resource
Community members have been raising concerns since learning in late 2020 of plans by the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Victoria (the Club) to subdivide and sell 40 acres of natural, forested land that is a part of the Metchosin Wilderness Camp. Over 4,000 people have signed a petition calling for an end to the subdivision process.
Wilderness Camp History
After using the 98.6-acres of crown land for 20 years to provide outdoor-based youth programs, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Victoria (the Club) acquired the Metchosin Camp property from the BC provincial government in 2004, through a preferential first option to purchase. For the next several years, the Club raised funds to offset the purchase price and equip the property for youth programs, through the Create A Ripple Campaign, supported by donations from individuals, businesses and other philanthropic sources. Over the same time frame, the Club expanded its youth programs and cultivated strong relationships with Metchosin community partners.
Recent Changes
In 2020, an application was submitted to the District of Metchosin, to subdivide off the “back” 40 acres of the property (the key wilderness component of the camp) for subsequent sale. Since then, several different stakeholder groups have tried to engage Club executive to discuss potential alternatives to the subdivision process; thus far, without success.
On February 24th, 2021, the Club, as represented by its external legal counsel, advised that, in relation to the back 40 acres, an 8-lot subdivision proposal was “ready to go”. This has caused further concern among parties who believe that the optimum, long-term use of the Wilderness Camp property is the use that was flourishing when the Club’s Create A Ripple fundraising campaign came to its successful completion.
Specific goals of this campaign and uses for funds donated to the campaign:
1. To acquire and share legal knowledge that can be used to support community efforts to preserve the Wilderness Camp property in its current state.
2. As long as the Club maintains its current pursuit of subdivision and sale: To continue building public awareness of the pending loss of this donor-and-taxpayer-supported regional asset. The loss of an irreplaceable venue for outdoor education and experiential programs for children and youth will be felt throughout the CRD, and particularly on the West Shore. We all have a stake in doing what we can, to help keep the Wilderness Camp property intact.
3. Should the Club withdraw its subdivision application(s) and seek to engage with stakeholders: To support the Club in registering a customized conservation covenant on the back 40 acres of the Metchosin Wilderness Camp property, as contemplated and represented by the Club to stakeholders in 2007
4. If, after funding the above goals, there are residual donated funds remaining in this Go Fund Me campaign account, these will be conveyed to the Association for the Protection of Rural Metchosin, for the general purpose of supporting responsible land stewardship in the District of Metchosin.
Thanks & Recognition to Donors
Sincere thanks and deep gratitude to all who are able to donate any amount to this campaign to the Metchosin Wilderness Camp - Keep It Wild for Kids! Campaign. Special thanks to Thomas Homer-Dixon and Sarah Wilde, for their very generous “kick start” donation to this campaign!
The Keep It Wild! Team
Fundraising Campaign Purpose
The over-arching purpose of this campaign is to ensure that stakeholders are equipped with sufficient knowledge, including legal knowledge, to inform constructive dialogue on the Wilderness Camp subdivision issue. Please see below, for background and specific campaign goals. We aspire to raise at least $15,000 through this campaign and appreciate any amount that donors may contribute to help achieve (or surpass) this target.
Campaign Endorsement
This grass-roots campaign is endorsed by long-time Metchosin community leaders. Among others, we thank Carol Carman, Ken Farquharson, Frank Mitchell and Chris Pratt, for their support and encouragement.
Protecting a Community Resource
Community members have been raising concerns since learning in late 2020 of plans by the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Victoria (the Club) to subdivide and sell 40 acres of natural, forested land that is a part of the Metchosin Wilderness Camp. Over 4,000 people have signed a petition calling for an end to the subdivision process.
Wilderness Camp History
After using the 98.6-acres of crown land for 20 years to provide outdoor-based youth programs, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Victoria (the Club) acquired the Metchosin Camp property from the BC provincial government in 2004, through a preferential first option to purchase. For the next several years, the Club raised funds to offset the purchase price and equip the property for youth programs, through the Create A Ripple Campaign, supported by donations from individuals, businesses and other philanthropic sources. Over the same time frame, the Club expanded its youth programs and cultivated strong relationships with Metchosin community partners.
Recent Changes
In 2020, an application was submitted to the District of Metchosin, to subdivide off the “back” 40 acres of the property (the key wilderness component of the camp) for subsequent sale. Since then, several different stakeholder groups have tried to engage Club executive to discuss potential alternatives to the subdivision process; thus far, without success.
On February 24th, 2021, the Club, as represented by its external legal counsel, advised that, in relation to the back 40 acres, an 8-lot subdivision proposal was “ready to go”. This has caused further concern among parties who believe that the optimum, long-term use of the Wilderness Camp property is the use that was flourishing when the Club’s Create A Ripple fundraising campaign came to its successful completion.
Specific goals of this campaign and uses for funds donated to the campaign:
1. To acquire and share legal knowledge that can be used to support community efforts to preserve the Wilderness Camp property in its current state.
2. As long as the Club maintains its current pursuit of subdivision and sale: To continue building public awareness of the pending loss of this donor-and-taxpayer-supported regional asset. The loss of an irreplaceable venue for outdoor education and experiential programs for children and youth will be felt throughout the CRD, and particularly on the West Shore. We all have a stake in doing what we can, to help keep the Wilderness Camp property intact.
3. Should the Club withdraw its subdivision application(s) and seek to engage with stakeholders: To support the Club in registering a customized conservation covenant on the back 40 acres of the Metchosin Wilderness Camp property, as contemplated and represented by the Club to stakeholders in 2007
4. If, after funding the above goals, there are residual donated funds remaining in this Go Fund Me campaign account, these will be conveyed to the Association for the Protection of Rural Metchosin, for the general purpose of supporting responsible land stewardship in the District of Metchosin.
Thanks & Recognition to Donors
Sincere thanks and deep gratitude to all who are able to donate any amount to this campaign to the Metchosin Wilderness Camp - Keep It Wild for Kids! Campaign. Special thanks to Thomas Homer-Dixon and Sarah Wilde, for their very generous “kick start” donation to this campaign!
The Keep It Wild! Team
Organizer
Carol Voyt
Organizer
Metchosin, BC