Primitive Campsites Now Available at National Park

Jun. 18, 2009

Eagle Scout Project Yields Accommodations for Backcountry Hikers and Bicyclists  Brecksville, Ohio - This summer Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) is offering five primitive campsites behind Stanford House, located at 6093 Stanford Road in Peninsula. The backcountry campsites are for distance hikers and bicyclists using the nearby Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath and Buckeye trails only. Drive up use is NOT permitted.

The campsites are the product of an Eagle Scout project, led by candidate Ethan Scheck, 16, of Akron. In May 2009, Ethan assembled a work group comprised of 15 Boy Scouts and volunteer adults, who removed stumps and roots, assembled picnic tables, and installed non-permanent camping hooks. He reflected, “This project taught me quite a lot about the real world and what types of approvals and process to go through to get something done.”

Superintendent John P. Debo, Jr. states, “Ethan’s dedication to this project has enabled the park to address the needs of bicyclists and hikers on the Towpath and Buckeye trails. We now can offer them accommodations as they make their way along the Ohio & Erie Canalway.”

Ethan is the son of David and Eileen Scheck, attends Ellet High School, and is a member of Boy Scout Troop 77 and Venture Crew 2077.

Campsite reservations are available by contacting Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association (CVNPA) at (330) 657-2909 extension 119, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Reservations need to be made three days in advance. On Saturday and Sunday, walk-up campers can reserve available sites by visiting the Trail Mix store from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trail Mix is located at 1565 Boston Mills Road in Peninsula, across from the Boston Store Visitor Center.

Fee: $15 per night per campsite. There is a 6-person limit for each campsite and campers are limited to 10 nights per season. Check-in after 1 p.m. and check-out by 10 a.m. Juveniles must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years of age. For more details on the campsites, visit www.cvnpa.org.

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For photos of the project, visit www.nps.gov/cuva/parknews/newsreleases.htm.
CVNPA is a nonprofit organization created to engage public support for the park and provide services to enhance public use and enjoyment of the park. For more information about CVNPA and its membership program, visit www.cvnpa.org or call (330) 657-2909.

CVNP encompasses 33,000 acres along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron. Managed by the National Park Service, CVNP combines cultural, historical, recreational, and natural activities in one setting. For more information about the park, visit www.nps.gov/cuva/ or www.dayinthevalley.com/ or call (216) 524-1497 or (800) 445-9667.