Tentative Pact Will Let Scouts Stay on Catalina : Talks: The agreement will allow continued use of Emerald Bay and expansion of the camp to include boys from six Southern California councils.

The historic Boy Scout camp on Santa Catalina Island that was due to be closed to make way for new development will remain open for at least five years under a tentative agreement reached between Scout and island leaders, officials said Friday.

The plan, reached in negotiations between Southern California Boy Scout executives and the Santa Catalina Island Co., will allow Scouting to continue at Emerald Bay and expand use of the 66-year-old camp to include boys from six Southern California Scout councils.

The former lease, which expired in December, was with the Western Los Angeles Area Council. The new lease is being offered to a coalition of the Southland Scouting councils, a company spokesman said.

“It’s not a done deal yet, but everyone wants to see it happen,” said Larry Fisher, a spokesman for the company.

Officials of the coalition may convert the summer camp into a year-round operation.

The camp will be redesigned to have less impact on the land and marine environment, said Gene Richey, executive director of the western council. He said it is possible that the new camp may not be located on Emerald Bay.

The company touched off a storm of protest last August when it said it would not renew the lease because of plans to use the site for a proposed Cousteau Society aquatic center and small, upscale resort. Plans for the aquatic center and resort have been dropped.

At the time, company officials said the change was part of a plan to increase the number of recreational developments on the island, nearly 30 miles off San Pedro. The company owns most of the coves and harbors on the rugged, 76-square-mile island.

The rustic camp has been operated by the western council since 1925. One of the few ocean-based summer Scout camps in the country, its nationally recognized programs have introduced thousands of Los Angeles boys to water sports and the ocean environment.

When the last Scouts left the camp on Aug. 24, many were in tears, fearing it was the end of Scouting there.

“We are hoping for a big miracle . . . (that will) keep Scouting here,” camp director Toby Sharp said at the time.

The loss of the lease touched off protests. Uniformed Scouts picketed the Cousteau offices in Los Angeles, and Cousteau officials later dropped the Catalina proposal without explanation.

Under the new proposal, the six Scout councils from Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties will form a governing coalition and take over the Emerald Bay operations on a temporary basis, guaranteeing that the camp will operate again next summer.

The camp historically runs from June through August, accommodating 450 boys a week. Last summer’s attendance was 3,100.