More than half the outdoor camps in Southeast Michigan have closed their doors and sold their acreage to builders. When Camp Wathana was teetering the edge of closing, the conservancy negotiated to buy a conservation easement over all 250 acres. Neighbors and donors raised $150,000 which helped keep the camp afloat. Renovation of the camp buildings was allowed, a portion of the forest was set aside for income producing timbering, and normal operation of the camping program for boys and girls was allowed to continue in the terms of the easement. The conservancy retained a bog, a lake, a watershed outlet, open fields, acres of trees and a permanently open space in the heart of Rose Township, not to mention natural lake frontage and significant wetlands.
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