Finance committee approves 1-year $100 lease for Girl Scouts’ Camp Carefree property

Finance committee members voted Friday to recommend a one-year lease between the City of Cheyenne and the Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming for 45.93 acres near the former Round Top Water Treatment Facility.

Jason Sanchez, community recreation and events staff, told the committee the city and the Girl Scouts have partnered for decades at the site, commonly referred to during discussion as Camp Carefree. "This is a partnership we've had with the Girl Scouts, for many decades," Sanchez said, and the city set a one-year contract while it waits for potential state-level partnership actions.

The lease charges the Girl Scouts $100 for the year and requires the organization to help maintain the property. A representative for the Girl Scouts said the regional council regularly uses three other camps — in Casper, Wyoming; Red Lodge, Montana; and Butte, Montana — and that the group uses Camp Carefree extensively, "almost all 49 acres," according to committee remarks. The representative also said local troops often take on service tasks such as tree planting and trail maintenance.

Committee members asked whether the Girl Scouts still used the property at the same levels as in the past and whether local troops could assist with trail work at nearby Belvoir; the Girl Scouts representative expressed willingness to coordinate service-unit efforts. Committee discussion otherwise focused on confirming the parcel, the annual fee and the short term of the contract while awaiting state action.

Mr. Moody moved to approve the lease for $100 for one year; Mr. Esquivel seconded. The committee approved the recommendation by voice vote; a roll-call tally was not recorded in the transcript. The recommendation will be forwarded to the Monday city council meeting for final action.