Camp Kelcema / Mathews History

Camp Kelcema of the Everett Area Council was located near Silverton on Lake Kelcema. The 23-acre lake sits in a subalpine setting, surrounded by trees and vegetation within the Boulder River Wilderness. At Deer Creek Pass, the views of Three Fingers, Mt. Bullon, Jumbo Mtn., and others are spectacular.

"In 1922, through the efforts of S.E. Bargreen, the Everett Area Council acquired a lease on 4 acres of Forest Service land on Lake Kelcema. Over the years a lodge, several Adirondacks were built and a swim beach developed. In the early 1940's  longtime Scout Executive Capt. R.G. Mathews retired. In his honor the camp was renamed Camp Mathews (1943 and 1944 Camp Mathews patches exist). Later the Camp was renamed back to Kelcema." (Courtesy of Venne Buechamp)

July 1938

New York Times 9/3/1922: "The efforts of Rotarians of Everett, Wash, have played a prominent part in the establishment of a permanent Scout lodge on Lake Kelcema. At the cornerstone ceremonies a steel box donated by the Citizen's Bank was placed in the cornerstone. It contained the names of the Scouts at the Camp this year, the Scout Council, the Rotary Committee, the American Flag; and editions of two local papers."

July 1938

"The summer camp at Lake Kelcema opened on July 27 with a ten day period of 70 scouts, a seven day period, August 6 to 13, with 44 cubs and a Den Chief Staff of 9. ...Camp Kelcema with its beautiful surroundings, safe bathing facilities, comfortable lodge and adequate sleeping accommodations made a desirable summer camp location for both Scouts and Cubs... With the completion of the Loop highway as far as Silverton, the problem of taking in supplies had been solved, however, for the last four miles, supplies were still brought in on pack mules..."

Flickr 1/2009

July 1938

Flickr 1/2009