Scout Canada’s 3rd Prince George West Scout Troop and dedicated volunteers arrived at Camp Hughes Friday night, ready for a weekend of camping, but found a scene of destruction.
“It had been broken into, all the windows smashed out, the fireplace blown up, and all the appliances in the place busted up,” said Troop Scouter Davy Greenlees.
There was also extensive graffiti, and fire extinguishers were discharged throughout the building.
“We’re guessing probably about $25,000, and once we get the chimney and stuff inspected it could go up from there,” Greenlees said.
He added the adults cleaned up to make it safe to use, but the kids had to camp in another area that over the weekend.
“A lot of us have put in a lot of time and effort into maintaining that camp for the use of our community are pretty disappointed,” he said.
“It takes a lot of work and a lot of effort and a lot of fundraising and money out of our own pocket just to keep it going, and to have someone come in and just do that kind of thing to it is very disappointing.”
Camp Hughes was donated to Scouts Canada in 1960 by Ted Williams, and has been the location for numerous events over the years.