Mark Baylis, the founder of VALOR Clinic Foundation in Kunkletown, approached the Chestnuthill supervisors Tuesday night to present a plan to hopefully purchase the Trexler Boy Scout Camp adjacent to the Valor Clinic and house.

“I am requesting to see if maybe we can work out or maybe I could partner on some grant applications through the Chestnuthill Township; I was hoping I could talk for a second about what we would do at Camp Trexler,” Baylis said.

He planned to give a written copy of the plan to Dave Albright, township manager, for review.

“But the Reader’s Digest version is that in my capacity as the CEO for Valor Clinic Foundation, we are concerned like much of the community about the future of Camp Trexler,” he said.

Baylis said VALOR could use Camp Trexler to benefit veterans “and protect the serenity of where we have our homeless shelter out there in the West End.”

The Minsi Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America announced last March it will consolidate its camping areas in the Poconos and sell Camp Trexler Reservation on Jonas Road in Polk Township to raise money for its contribution to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. Richard Christ, Scout executive and CEO, said the money is needed to resolve scouting related sexual abuse claims. There are more than 82,000 sexual abuse claims against BSA National.

Under the Chapter 11 agreement, $2.7 billion must be contributed to a victim abuse fund. The local council’s contribution is $2.6 million.

The council will also be selling its service center on Postal Road in Allentown. The center houses staff offices and the Scout store. These operations will be relocated.

In 2024, all camping operations will be moved to Camp Minsi on Stillwater Lake in Pocono Summit. The council said the consolidation is because of a decline in camping and Scouts.

Baylis reviewed the plans and maps on the camp’s property that covers two townships, with Polk Township the largest amount of the camp’s property and Chestnuthill Township the remaining property.

“I’m aware Camp Trexler straddles two townships, but we believe we have an effective use consistent with what Mr. Trexler would have wanted and the history says that it was a resting place after World War I before the donation to the trustees,” Baylis said.

“The Hoovers have been trustees to oversee the property for the Scout Council in the Lehigh Valley. The instructions for them were listed in the deed. Mr. Albright now has a copy of the original donation where it was sold to the Hoovers to be the trustees of Camp Trexler for Mr. Trexler for $1. But the Scouts didn’t buy Camp Trexler. There was a donation I think that’s going to be significant at some point in all these discussions we just wanted to point it out,” he said.

“I read the summary that you put together and I think it explains everything very well. So all right, let’s give the board a chance to digest those things,” Albright said. “But not sure how this will relate to grant applications. You should contact Congressman Matt Cartwright to see if there are any American Rescue Plan funds left.”

Baylis will be at the Polk Township meeting on Jan. 23.

The Pocono Heritage Land Trust also has been working on saving the land from development.

“We’re looking for a partner who shares our passion for the natural world,” said Louise Troutman, executive director of the land trust. “We can’t pay more for land than its appraised value. While Pocono Heritage Land Trust hopes to be able to purchase the property, the asking price will likely be significantly higher than the appraised value.”

In a release last fall, Troutman said, “Our goal is to protect the property forever. If we can’t do that by ourselves, we’re happy to work with another entity - a hunting club, church group, camp, family, or even an individual - and once they take ownership, to protect the land with them. We could purchase a portion of the undeveloped land outright or place some of the property under a conservation easement.”