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4w ago

Century-Old Quebec Scout Reserve to Become Conservation and Ecotourism Site Under New Partnership

Residents are watching to see if the promised conservation of over 80% of the reserve includes continued youth access to the forested eco-corridor.

The organization says the new owner will preserve over 80 per cent of the land for conservation, while opening a part to the public.

Overview

  • Scouts Canada accepted this week an offer from entrepreneur Eric Desroches in partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the town of Mille-Isles to sell the Tamaracouta Scout Reserve.
  • The Nature Conservancy plans to invest about $3.5 million to acquire roughly 82% of the 200-hectare site for strict conservation.
  • Mille-Isles will receive approximately 90 hectares for public trails and recreation, with the remainder slated for Desroches’s yet-defined ecotourism projects.
  • Founded in 1912, the reserve was considered the world’s oldest Scout camp before closing in 2019 due to escalating upkeep costs and safety concerns.
  • Community groups express cautious optimism but demand legally binding guarantees that children’s access and youth programming will continue.