Camp Perry Revitalization

HARLINGEN — They told Terry Fossum’s father his three sons would never achieve anything.

They didn’t hear that.

Terry Fossum became an officer in the United States Air Force. His brother is a dentist. And, the other brother, Michael Fossum? Well, he’s an astronaut.

They attribute much of their success to scouting, and many of those hours in scouting were spent at Camp Perry.

But, the camp is almost 100 years old now.

The Rio Hondo Camp is the oldest continually-operating Boy Scout Camp in Texas.

And as expected, age has taken its toll and the facilities have fallen into disrepair.

That’s why the Fossums and other leaders of the Rio Grande Council traveled around the Valley throughout the day yesterday to help kick off an effort to raise more than $10 million.

So far, the council has pledges and challenge grants totaling $5.3 million.

The Rio Grande Council still has work to do to reach the $6.1 million figure, which will be used to revitalize and expand Camp Perry.

More than 600 interested citizens, ex-scouts and community leaders turned out for the campaign launch — called Adelante con Camp Perry!

It was about a year ago that following a feasibility study, the board of the Council authorized the campaign effort.

Yesterday, the effort was officially launched at a breakfast in Brownsville, luncheon in Harlingen and dinner in McAllen.

The reason, to talk about the details of the plan to the public and beyond.

One thing is for sure, there’s already a list of projects planned with drawings and plans in the works.

Those include a new dining hall, health and fitness center, new waterfront, archery range, shooting range and swimming pool. Additionally, new roads, new campsites and even an ATV/BMX course are a few of more than 20 different improvements planned to be made.

What’s wrong?

While the facilities at Camp Perry are still in active use, fewer scouts are using them.

“The main reason kids are drawn to the Boy Scouts are the outdoor activities,” said Terry Fossum. “Camp Perry is falling apart.”

One of the problems is the dining hall. In years past, visitors were happy with an open air dining hall. These days, people look for a place to escape the heat. Overall, people are traveling elsewhere for scouting activities. If they can’t afford it, they don’t go.

“We want scouts to stay here,” Terry Fossum said.

Importance of facility

His brother Michael Fossum, an astronaut, for whom a middle school has been named in McAllen, also encouraged the raising of funds for Camp Perry.

“Camp Perry was kind of the center of my scouting world,” he said. “Some of the facilities need to be upgraded. When I grew up there, it was great.”

When scouts first begin camping there and earning merit badges, he said, they don’t fully comprehend the value of the experience.

“When they get older, then they get to understand the good it’s done,” he said.

He recalled many nights and days of camping, seeing nature in its process, raccoons, possums and the constellations slowly turning over head, constellations he’d one day move toward a little closer from his tent.