The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) and YMCA Hayo-Went-Ha Camps announced a partnership today to place a permanent, legally binding conservation easement on 354 acres of the
camp property, including nearly 6,058 feet of Torch Lake frontage. 

The easement "protects the land’s ecological and scenic values while allowing it to remain in private ownership and continue operating as a camp," the organizations said in a joint release.

The partners celebrated the move as one that would protect more than 120 years of tradition of young people spending "summers along the beautiful shores of Torch Lake, paddling, hiking, and making lifelong friends and memories at Camp Hayo-Went-Ha," the release states. "The camp’s iconic boathouse, forested ridges, and pristine shoreline are landmarks cherished by campers, visitors, and residents alike."

GTRLC Executive Director Glen Chown said the conservation easement has an appraised value of $16 million. "As a show of their commitment to the importance of preserving the land and water along with the life-changing experiences for young people the camp provides, Hayo-Went-Ha Camps made the first gift by discounting the cost to $13 million," the release states. GTRLC has been quietly fundraising and secured $10 million in donations and commitments, leaving a remaining need of $4.5 million, which includes funding the permanent stewardship of the conservation easement.

At roughly 494 acres, the camp ranks in the top six percent of all properties scored for protection by
GTRLC, representing the largest remaining undeveloped property on Torch Lake. According to the release, its ridgeline is "a defining ecological and scenic feature of the lake, comprised largely of closed-canopy, northern mesic forest that supports diverse wildlife and contributes to its scenic character. Along the shoreline, riparian wetlands and steep, forested slopes function as natural filters, slowing runoff, stabilizing soils and protecting water quality in Torch Lake and the Elk River Chain of Lakes watershed, which ultimately flows into Grand Traverse Bay."

"We are proud to be passing this gift on to future generations," said John Carlson, CEO of YMCA Hayo-Went-Ha Camps. "At their heart, these conservation easements are a powerful statement: that the land we steward is sacred, that our mission is enduring, and that we are committed to preserving both." Chown also celebrated the partnership, calling the property a "huge priority for permanent protection."