§6232 Fees for Occupancy and Use of National Forest System Lands and Facilities by Organizational Camps

Summary

The law requires the Secretary to charge camps that use National Forest land a yearly land fee equal to 5% of (the number of acres authorized for the camp times the county per-acre land/buildings value from the most recent Census of Agriculture). That fee is updated each year based on how values changed between the two latest Censuses. The fee is reduced based on how many attendees are people with disabilities or children at risk, and then may be cut by up to 60% more for the share of attendees in organized youth programs. Sponsorships or scholarships cannot be counted to lower the fee. The fee cannot go below a minimum amount that equals the region’s average annual cost to manage a camp authorization. If a camp uses a government-owned facility on Forest land, the camp must pay an extra facility fee equal to 5% of the facility’s value. That facility fee cannot be reduced or waived. If the camp earns other revenue from using the land or facilities for purposes other than introducing youth or disabled people to outdoor experiences and natural resource education, the camp must also pay an extra fee equal to 5% of that revenue. A work-in-lieu program can apply to these fees except it cannot cut the minimum land fee or the facility fee.