A couple of months ago the Michigan Crossroads Council of the Boy Scouts of America decided to sell or lease for gravel the 270 acre Silver Trails Scout Reservation west of Jeddo. The buyer or lessee is expected to mine the entire camp for gravel. For 50 years the Silver Trails camp was owned by the former Blue Water Council of the Boy Scouts and served St. Clair and Sanilac counties. That council was dissolved in 2012 and consolidated within the Michigan Crossroads Council. The new council made the decision to sell or lease the property, and some are questioning that decision. Friends of Silver Trails has started a survey on their Facebook page which seeks public opinion regarding the camp and what should happen to it. The group states that just over 50 active scouts and scouters responded to the Friends of Silver Trails survey so far. The group believes the Michigan Crossroads Council has not delivered what was promised. Bill Collins of the Friends of Silver Trails said that of the 75 that have responded to the survey so far just over 50 of them are active Boy Scouts of America members. He went on to say that 75 percent want to return to how the council was prior to the 2012 consolidation. Mr. Collins says that 80 percent have noticed no improvements since the Michigan Crossroads Council was formed in 2012. We will have more on this story in the future.
