COEUR d'ALENE - Many were belligerent and skeptical on Wednesday night at a town hall meeting about the proposed sale of a popular Kootenai County Boy Scouts camp.

But Tim McCandless, scout executive for the Inland Northwest Council, assured that Camp Easton would only be sold if an equal or better camp were provided.

"This is what it's all about: It's all about boys," McCandless said, speaking to the crowd of roughly 200 at Community United Methodist Church. "That's the only thing this proposal, as far as we're concerned, is about. If it doesn't help us serve these guys better, we don't do it."

Under Discovery Land Company's proposal, McCandless explained, the company would purchase Camp Easton through a land agreement.

The Arizona-based developer would purchase new property for a replacement camp, build the new camp to INC's specifications, and provide $2.5 million for an endowment foundation to maintain and improve Boy Scout camps.

Only if all three conditions were filled, McCandless emphasized, would the Boy Scouts hand over Camp Easton.

"That's the purchase price of our property," McCandless said, adding that Discovery's contributions would be worth $21 million. "If they happen to go belly up halfway through building the new camp, we still have Camp Easton."

There is waterfront property on Lake Coeur d'Alene being considered for the new site, he added, though he could not disclose its location because Discovery has yet to purchase it.

"Until the group making the proposal to us is able to purchase that piece of property, we have nothing to talk about," he said.

The new property would allow for expanded programs like climbing, he added. It would also offer new cabins and buildings, a new dining hall and new infrastructure.

INC has conditioned that the new site must accommodate the camp's popular aquatic and shooting programs, he added.

"If we cannot support those programs, the board will not approve moving forward on this," he said.

He pointed out that Camp Easton, which has been at Gotham Bay since 1929, faces myriad issues.

Many infrastructure improvements are needed, he said. Also, the dining room is too small, many buildings are in disrepair and the kitchen and storage are inadequate.

For the past four years, Camp Easton has reached its capacity of roughly 1,600 scouts.

"We've had to turn scouts away," McCandless said.

Efforts to fund an estimated $600,000 tunnel beneath Highway 97, which runs precariously through the camp, have been unsuccessful.

"We're nowhere near what needs to be done for these projects," McCandless said.

He welcomed opinions from folks in attendance, most scout leaders and former scouts.

Many insisted the current location could not be replaced, especially its sandy waterfront.

"What you're talking about is a gamble. You're gambling that the new location will attract as many scouts as Camp Easton has," said Chris Shelton, with Troop 3 in Coeur d'Alene.

Mark Whitt with Troop 201 in Coeur d'Alene said he has seen the proposed site.

While he agrees there is potential for many improvements, he said, he vouched that the waterfront doesn't compare to what the camp has now.

"There's no way I can see how that's going to work," Whitt said.

Others questioned Discovery Land Company's reputation, and motives of members of the volunteer committee reviewing the proposal.

Several supported more fundraising to fix Camp Easton's problems.

"Everything I've heard tonight is, 'Let's do it,'" said Jim Stickney, a former scout. "Let's fix what we have. We can't replace it."

McCandless emphasized in his presentation that Camp Easton has never been for sale.

In the last eight years, INC has been approached 25 times to sell to developers and other entities, he said, but this is the first offer being considered.

David Whitt, a 20-year-old Eagle Scout from troop 201 and son of Mark Whitt, acknowledged his love for Camp Easton and scouting.

But folks should curb their anger about this, he said.

"It really makes me sad, seeing how much we're fighting amongst ourselves," he said to the group. "You guys are the leaders. You're representing the troops and the boys. Let's try to be respectful."