Posted by John Ester on Jun 04, 2019
Nick Killian is GOREC's Program & Guest Services Manager. Prior to his present position he was a professional in the Boy Scouts for 14 years (and an Eagle Scout).
 
The Greilick Outdoor Recreation & Education Center has a storied background. In 1923 the President of the Rotary Club of Traverse City--Clarence Greilick--proposed establishing a community camp for area youth. The original purchase price was $1,100 for 450 acres.  An additional $7,500 was raised to purchase an additional 27 acres of Rennie Lake frontage.
 
In 1955 the property was leased to the Boy Scouts to establish Camp Greilick. In the mid-70's oil was struck on the property, leading to the formation of Rotary Charities, which has distributed more than $56 million in the form of grants to organizations and non-profits in the five-county area that includes Benzie County.
 
In the meantime a conservation easement was placed on the property with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. In early 2017  Rotary Camps & Services made a commitment to try to re-boot Camp Greilick as a new multi-user facility for the region.
 
Nick Killian talked about his own love for the outdoors and all that is available at Camp Greilick, which Nick said is like a state park but a private facility. The features of the 500-acre camp include:
  • Camping sites
  • Three-season cottages
  • Year-round Adirondack shelters
  • All-season bunkhouses
  • A main lodge
  • A climbing tower ansd zip line
  • A low ropes course
  • Water access
More information about Camp Grelick is available on its website.