In 2000, Boy Scout Troop 161 formulated a dream to secure a couple of acres of land to build a cabin for troop meetings and to provide some storage for camping equipment. The site search led this group to Lakeside Industrial Park. The developer of Lakeside agreed to make the acreage available, at a reduced price in a corner of the industrial park.
What was once a dream of a few acres turned into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase 58 acres of beautiful wetlands and natural habitat—all within the City limits of Philomath.
Members of Boy Scouts — in particular Philomath Troop 161 and Philomath Pack 161 – were the backbone of volunteers and supporters from the inception of the project in 2000. A small active following of volunteers within the Girl Scout ranks and within Benton County 4-H joined the project as well. These groups envisioned this project and were willing to stand behind the work and do whatever was necessary to push the project forward.
After 5 years of intensive fund-raising, the 58-acres was paid off, in-full in June 2005. In the following years the Lodge itself was built and opened for use in the fall of 2008.
