Opinion: Vote YES For Camp Sewataro

The following was submitted as a letter to the editor. If you would like to submit a letter to the editor, email samantha.mercado@patch.com

Our family will be attending the Town Meeting on Monday May 6th to vote “Yes” to preserve the beautiful 44- acre land, also known as Camp Sewataro. Our reasons are many, but the key reason is the opportunity for our fellow Town residents to participate in preserving the legacy of this significant local treasure.

If you have not toured the property, we would encourage you to do so – as you enter the grounds, you leave “suburbia” and enter an environment reminiscent of a New Hampshire or Maine lake with forest. This is far more than just a summer camp for children – we envision an opportunity for all Town residents to benefit. There are peaceful trails for hiking (a trail map would be nice for those who wish to track their “steps”), an opportunity to host horseback riding, catch & release fishing lake, canoeing/kayaking/paddle boating, ziplining, archery, paintball, tennis, existing homes where card games and social events could be hosted. Movie nights, drama/music festivals with picnic tables & ice cream/ food trucks! The available activities are endless!

In full disclosure, our son has (and will this summer) participated in Camp Sewataro. Yes, we would love to see the summer camp continue. However, we would also like an opportunity for weekend lake swimming for families & senior citizens. We envision an integration of “young & old” – how many of our seniors would be interested to volunteer for archery, sports or arts and craft sessions with the children who are there for summer camp? (yes, one would need to complete a background check same as our volunteer coaches for our sports teams). How many would like access to one of the on-site homes for meetings, games, book clubs?

Our family has been on the waiting list for Greenwood swim club for years. Yes, we could pay to join another swim club but where else in Sudbury is there an opportunity for a vacation feel with the swimming lake and pools available at Sewataro? Spring & Fall recreational opportunities are endless with the available sporting fields, trails, existing on-site homes for scheduled programming, outdoor covered structures & restroom facilities.

Winter opportunities may possibly include an ice-skating rink, snow shoeing & cross-country skiing. Access to social gatherings, book clubs, bridge/card games at one or more of the on-site homes.

This is a rare opportunity to enhance our Town’s recreational programming for young & old, while preserving the bucolic feel of the stunning grounds & lakes.

Yes, we are well-aware of the purchase price but also recognize the opportunity (Thank you, Taylor Family for extending this offer!) to offset expenses with revenue from the camp/ or other paid services.

It is important to note, Camp Sewataro is currently a profitable business. The people who are running this business have expressed their desire to continue in their current capacity. We consider the turn-key recreational value to all Town residents of this preservation opportunity to far outweigh the minimal impact (if any) to our property tax.

Thank you for the opportunity to share our thoughts,
Lowell & Laura Briggs