On May 5, Dutchess County Comptroller Dan Aymar-Blair issued a special report regarding the county’s $4.2 million purchase of Camp Nooteeming in 2022, including an additional $600,000 allocated for upgrades and ADA compliance, and the downfalls he said were associated with it.
The report says the county’s ownership of the 270.7-acre property in the Town of Pleasant Valley was not widely known to taxpayers. It highlights associated costs and operational struggles, primarily revolving around the camp’s operator, Pathfinder Foundation, Inc.
While the county is in the process of making changes at the camp, which may involve a new partnership or its sale, the comptroller’s office report pushes for a strengthened Request for Expressions of Interest evaluation and selection process to avoid past pitfalls.
What to know about the county’s purchase of Camp Nooteeming
In April 2022, Dutchess County purchased Camp Nooteeming from the Boy Scouts of America Hudson Valley Council, according to the comptroller’s office.
The contract of sale included two existing leases: a cellular communications tower and a for-profit soccer academy dubbed Pathfinder Academy.
Additionally, the county entered into an agreement with the nonprofit, Pathfinder Foundation. The three people leading the foundation were also to operate Camp Nooteeming.
During the summers of 2022 to 2024, the foundation worked with the Dutchess County Department of Community & Family Services to provide summer camp programs to local children, while Pathfinder Academy was a tenant on the property.
“Camp Nooteeming has welcomed thousands of young people and families for events and summer camp experiences,” Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino said in a statement.
Operational challenges and high costs of Camp Nooteeming
According to the comptroller’s office, “multiple discrepancies” were identified in the operation of the camp. Ultimately, the county investment underperformed.
Most notable was the county’s selection of the primary operating entity, Pathfinder Foundation, in March 2022.
During the three years Pathfinder Foundation operated the camp, it had contracts valued at over $1.2 million, but the foundation repeatedly asked for advance payments to cover cashflow problems.
The comptroller’s office highlighted numerous additional issues plaguing the Pathfinder Foundation, from maintaining records of camp attendance to adhering to scholarship guidelines and attracting third-party camps to the campground.
Due to the lack of third-party revenue, the county ended up footing the cost of the camp’s bills.
“It is unknown to the Comptroller’s Office why Dutchess accepted the terms of the sale or why Pathfinder Foundation was selected,” Aymar-Blair said in a statement.
“By Pathfinder’s own admission,” he said, the foundation was “unable to operate independently and without direct financial support from the County,” which was a requirement of the RFEOI, to determine the camp’s operator.
“Predictably, this issue was made apparent during the period of their involvement as operator,” he said.
What the Dutchess County Comptroller’s Office recommends moving forward
“We recognize the challenges outlined in the Comptroller’s report and agree with many of its recommendations,” Serino said.
Since the county’s purchase of the camp, which predates Serino’s time in office, the county has seen “both meaningful successes and real challenges,” she said.
Prior to the comptroller’s review, Serino had already directed several corrective actions, she said, including the termination of the prior operator’s contract.
In an effort to ensure a sustainable path forward and hold accountability, while maximizing the benefits of the property and aligning with community needs of local residents, the county is reassessing the long-term use and operational model for Camp Nooteeming through a new RFEOI process.
“This review will explore potential partnerships, possible divestment or other operational structures that minimize taxpayer cost,” Serino said.
In its report, the comptroller’s office recommended the county strengthen its RFEOI evaluation and selection process, ensuring awarded organizations fully meet the financial, operational and capacity requirements before contract execution.
This may include improved financial vetting, clearer minimum qualifications and documented justification that the awarded organization possesses the highest qualifications for award decisions.
For the 2026 summer season, the county will partner with the Town of Pleasant Valley’s recreation department, which will run the summer camp program at Camp Nooteeming, including outdoor opportunities for children across Dutchess County and potential scholarships available for income-eligible families.
Nickie Hayes is Breaking & Trending News Reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal. See her most recent articles here. Contact reporter Nickie Hayes: NHayes@poughkee.gannett.com, 845-863-3518 and @nickieehayess on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Comptroller report highlights ‘pitfalls’ in Dutchess’ $4.2M camp purchase
Reporting by Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
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