Pictured is the entry way to Bratton Canyon Park where Camp Eagles Rest would be located.
Next month, Clark County councilors will likely decide the fate of a proposal to build a retreat for military veterans called Camp Eagles Rest in Bratton Canyon Park north of La Center.
The source of the proposal is Columbia River Veterans Organization, a nonprofit group led by Washougal Mayor Sean Guard. According to the organization, Camp Eagles Rest would provide relaxation, quiet camaraderie and healing. Veterans who come to the camp could stay for free up to a week.
Bratton Canyon Park is an 80-acre property that was transferred from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to Clark County in 2011. According to Bill Bjerke, the county’s parks manager, most all of Bratton Canyon Park is not developed. If the retreat site becomes a reality, it will be situated on 30 acres of the park’s east end. Bjerke said the proposal calls for eight cabins – four veterans per cabin – a restroom/shower/laundry building, an office/kitchen/dining hall and outbuildings for storage. He said there is an open meadow area on the 30 acres where those buildings would be located; however, plenty of brush would need to be cleared.
“It would be a nice spot, and we would try to leave as small of a footprint as possible,” Bjerke said.
The Columbia River Veterans Organization plans to finance the construction and operate Camp Eagles Rest through fundraising. According to Guard, a $3 million goal has been set that he believes would to be sufficient enough to build and use the space for its first five years.
“We’ll get money from grant programs, events — lots of different ways,” said Guard.
Guard said the idea of Camp Eagles Rest came to his mind about a year and a half ago.
“We want to put something together for veterans that can help them, but isn’t so clinical or connected to the government,” Guard said.
In early stages of the camp’s development, three other sites were considered.
“This spot (Bratton Canyon Park) has the most and is the best for what we’re going to need,” Guard said.
Bjerke said when he was first approached by Guard about the idea, he was surprised.
“I had never heard of anything like that before,” Bjerke said. “Once he started explaining though, the idea made a lot of sense.”
About two weeks ago, an open house was held to gather public comments on the proposal. Most attendees supported the idea.
“Roughly 30 people came and the majority were ok with it,” Bjerke said. “The only people who weren't were concerned about the trails in that area — about if the camp would get in the way of them. The camp would go over the top of some, but new trails could be created around it.”
According to Guard, Camp Eagles Rest would not be restricted to only members of the Columbia River Veterans Organization.
“Any U.S. veteran would be allowed to stay and we will have lots of different programs to come for,” Guard said.
Some of the programs he mentioned were retreats for men or women only, couples and age groups.
“Veterans can be really stoic because of things they’ve been through, but if you get them around other veterans, especially around a dinner table or a campfire, they can be really comfortable and open.”
