In 1946 the Vincennes University “sold” 10.5 acres of land just that was to have been the expanded Vincennes University campus, on Washington Avenue, to the girls of the Vincennes Indiana Girls Scout Council for $1.00 and Camp Wildwood became a reality. Dr Walter A. Davis, President of Vincennes University, made the presentation. The ground was to be used as a camp ground for Girl Scouts.
In 1965, the national Girl Scout organization reorganized the councils and ordered that the Vincennes Girl Scout Council be merged into the Shagbark Girl Scout Council on Southern Illinois. A transfer deed was drawn up transferring the camp to the Shagbark Council, with the provision that the property must be used as a Girl Scout camp for forty-nine (49) years. It contained a clause that if the camp was closed, prior to the 49 years, the property would revert to the Vincennes Girl Scout Council or its successors.
Shortly thereafter, The Vincennes Indiana Girls Scout Council became Vincennes Indiana Girls, Inc. The Girl Scout name was not allowed to be used by the Girl Scouts of America. The camp continued to be used by Girl Scouts from Vincennes, Knox County and Illinois for many years, until in 2009, Camp Wildwood was closed by the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, the successor of Shagbark Council, and the local girls prohibited from using the camp. The camp was advertised for sale.
Local action was swift and sure, as the Vincennes Indiana Girls, Inc was restored and began seeking help to save the camp. Mr. Bob Bierhaus, Jr. stepped forward to help provide funds to challenge the sale. The initial group included Jim Gislason, Bobette Phillips and Eva Benson. Mr Brent Stuckey, of HartBell law firm was hired to represent Vincennes Indiana Girls, Inc., suit was filed and an injunction requested to stop the impending sale of the property.
The sale was halted and, unfortunately, Mr. Bierhaus passed away before a final judgment was reached, but Mr. Stuckey carried on. The Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois argued that a law passed in 1993, limiting the “Revertor Clause” in the contract to 30 years applied and the Girl Scouts could sell the property. Mr. Stuckey argued that the statute passed in 1993 did not apply to any contract that was signed prior to that date, as it was prohibited by the Indiana Constitution and the US Constitution as “ex-post facto”.
The judge of Knox Circuit Court, Sherry Gilmore, agreed and entered a verdict in the case favoring the Vincennes Indiana Girls, Inc. The Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois appealed.
The Girl Scouts appealed to the Indiana Court of Appeals, and was passed up to the Indiana Supreme Court that held a hearing. The Supreme Court ruling, written by Justice Loretta H Rush, stated that the ownership rights of the local Girl Scouts was guaranteed under the Contracts Clause of the Indiana Constitution. “Since the parties bargained for a 49-year land use limitation on Camp Wildwood, terminating that restriction after just 30 years would substantially impair (the local group’s ) Contract rights.
Shortly after the verdict of the Indiana Supreme Court, the Vincennes Indiana Girls, Inc. organization was disbanded and the current Camp Wildwood Foundation was organized in 2013. This group was made up of several local organizations: First United Methodist Church, First Christian Church, and the members of the former Vincennes Indiana Girls, Inc.
Camp Wildwood Foundation, Inc is registered as a Non-Profit organization with the State of Indiana and has received a 501(c)(3) designation as a Charitable organization by the Internal Revenue Service. The Camp Wildwood Foundation mission statement is to preserve Camp Wildwood as a community asset and to utilize the camp for educational, religious, and recreational activities and events for youths, families, and groups of Knox County, Indiana.
In 1965, the national Girl Scout organization reorganized the councils and ordered that the Vincennes Girl Scout Council be merged into the Shagbark Girl Scout Council on Southern Illinois. A transfer deed was drawn up transferring the camp to the Shagbark Council, with the provision that the property must be used as a Girl Scout camp for forty-nine (49) years. It contained a clause that if the camp was closed, prior to the 49 years, the property would revert to the Vincennes Girl Scout Council or its successors.
Shortly thereafter, The Vincennes Indiana Girls Scout Council became Vincennes Indiana Girls, Inc. The Girl Scout name was not allowed to be used by the Girl Scouts of America. The camp continued to be used by Girl Scouts from Vincennes, Knox County and Illinois for many years, until in 2009, Camp Wildwood was closed by the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, the successor of Shagbark Council, and the local girls prohibited from using the camp. The camp was advertised for sale.
Local action was swift and sure, as the Vincennes Indiana Girls, Inc was restored and began seeking help to save the camp. Mr. Bob Bierhaus, Jr. stepped forward to help provide funds to challenge the sale. The initial group included Jim Gislason, Bobette Phillips and Eva Benson. Mr Brent Stuckey, of HartBell law firm was hired to represent Vincennes Indiana Girls, Inc., suit was filed and an injunction requested to stop the impending sale of the property.
The sale was halted and, unfortunately, Mr. Bierhaus passed away before a final judgment was reached, but Mr. Stuckey carried on. The Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois argued that a law passed in 1993, limiting the “Revertor Clause” in the contract to 30 years applied and the Girl Scouts could sell the property. Mr. Stuckey argued that the statute passed in 1993 did not apply to any contract that was signed prior to that date, as it was prohibited by the Indiana Constitution and the US Constitution as “ex-post facto”.
The judge of Knox Circuit Court, Sherry Gilmore, agreed and entered a verdict in the case favoring the Vincennes Indiana Girls, Inc. The Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois appealed.
The Girl Scouts appealed to the Indiana Court of Appeals, and was passed up to the Indiana Supreme Court that held a hearing. The Supreme Court ruling, written by Justice Loretta H Rush, stated that the ownership rights of the local Girl Scouts was guaranteed under the Contracts Clause of the Indiana Constitution. “Since the parties bargained for a 49-year land use limitation on Camp Wildwood, terminating that restriction after just 30 years would substantially impair (the local group’s ) Contract rights.
Shortly after the verdict of the Indiana Supreme Court, the Vincennes Indiana Girls, Inc. organization was disbanded and the current Camp Wildwood Foundation was organized in 2013. This group was made up of several local organizations: First United Methodist Church, First Christian Church, and the members of the former Vincennes Indiana Girls, Inc.
Camp Wildwood Foundation, Inc is registered as a Non-Profit organization with the State of Indiana and has received a 501(c)(3) designation as a Charitable organization by the Internal Revenue Service. The Camp Wildwood Foundation mission statement is to preserve Camp Wildwood as a community asset and to utilize the camp for educational, religious, and recreational activities and events for youths, families, and groups of Knox County, Indiana.
Camp Wildwood Board
Laura Harper
Dayna Adams
Bobette Phillips
Jim Gislason
Susan Duffey
Will Drews
Howard Greenlee
Laura Harper
Dayna Adams
Bobette Phillips
Jim Gislason
Susan Duffey
Will Drews
Howard Greenlee