Whitsett Waterfront Revival

Join us in restoring Camp Whitsett’s waterfront and preserving its legacy—your support will help rebuild, rejuvenate, and ensure future generations can continue to learn, grow, and play in this cherished space.

Friends of Camp Whitsett (3)

Defeating fire and flood: reviving Whitsett’s waterfront

The story of Camp Whitsett since 2020 is inspired as the camp not only made it through its first visitor-less summer due to COVID but also survived the burning of the Windy fire followed by multiple years of severe flooding and debris flow that ultimately silted over beautiful Lake Ida. Camp lives on! Now the waterfront urgently needs your help to rehabilitate and invigorate its future.

Friends of Camp Whitsett (FOCW) is championing a $50k fundraising campaign throughout 2024 to revive the waterfront. This campaign aims not only to correct the extensive damage done to the dock, pier, lake, and changing area from several years of severe fires and devastating floods, but also to enhance the waterfront for the future. We want the Camp Whitsett Experience to remain so youth and the young at heart can learn, grow, and play as they have done for generations already.

Whitsett Waterfront
Revival Fund

36,456

Fundraising Goals $50,000
Donations in $ as of 4/29/2025

What the $50k goal will fund:

  • repair and refinishing of the entire wooden dock and pier
  • replacement of the shade structure on the dock
  • installment of a shade structure over the changing area above the lake
  • final dredging of the swimming and boating areas
  • adding changing stalls

You can donate directly via bank or credit card, send in a check, or reach out to us with our contact form to donate via a retirement fund distribution or corporate match.

A Call to Rebuild Camp Whitsett’s Waterfront

The Camp Whitsett waterfront endures natural wear and tear from annual rain and snow, but the past few years have been exceptionally challenging. Severe wildfires upstream and in the immediate camp area caused unprecedented damage, leading to repeated flooding. This flooding brought massive debris and silt into Lake Ida, filling three-quarters of the lake, burying the docks and pier, and causing significant structural damage.

Now, the dock and pier require extensive repairs to ensure they are safe and functional for visitors and staff. In addition, this rebuilding effort presents an opportunity to improve the changing area by:

  • Adding more changing stalls to accommodate the growing number and gender diversity of scout visitors.
  • Enhancing shade to address the loss of trees due to fire and drought.

With your support, we can restore and enhance this essential part of the Camp Whitsett experience for generations to come.

Why your donation will make a difference:

Jumping into a cool lake on a hot summer day is undeniably fun—but Lake Ida offers so much more.

A Hub for Adventure and Skill-Building

At Camp Whitsett, Lake Ida is a place where Scouts and campers experience activities they might not have access to at home. The lake is the centerpiece for:

  • Merit badge programs and free-time fun with canoes, kayaks, rowboats, paddleboards, fishing poles, and water polo equipment.
  • Camp-wide traditions like the Aquacade and Polar Bear swims that create lasting memories.
  • Opportunities for personal growth, such as earning the Swimming and Lifesaving merit badges (essential for Eagle Scout rank) and achieving the Mile Swim Award.

For many, Lake Ida offers their first chance to swim outside a backyard pool, fostering newfound confidence and lifelong skills.

A Springboard for Leadership

Lake Ida provides summer employment for nearly a dozen staff members, most of whom are teenagers. For many, this is their first job, offering valuable independence and skills they can carry into lifeguard roles or other responsibilities back home.

A Lifeline for Camp Whitsett

The waterfront impacts thousands of visitors annually, creating memories that last a lifetime and drawing in Scouts whose participation supports the camp’s operation. Without safe and well-maintained facilities, these opportunities would vanish, leaving a significant gap in the Camp Whitsett experience.

Lake Ida isn’t just a lake—it’s a place of growth, adventure, and connection. With your help, we can ensure it continues to inspire for generations to come.

Whitsett needs you:

Western Los Angeles County Council has been able to invest significant amounts in the camp to revive it from the recent disasters and it continues to explore every option possible, including funding from FEMA. But Whitsett still needs your help and generosity to ensure every aspect of the camp returns to normal. Please consider helping Camp Whitsett recover and thrive by donating today.

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