The Jamestown Optimist Club has sold a camp in Falconer to raise money to continue filling its philanthropic mission.

Optimist Clubs participate in community service programs that are dedicated to bringing out the best in youth. For years the Jamestown club operated a camp at 2182 Hanson Road, Falconer, but as attendance dwindled over the years the costs of keeping the camp became too much for the club to continue.

The camp was sold to San Mar Woodlands LLC for $199,000. State Supreme Court Judge Grace Hanlon approved the sale earlier this month.

“Participation in the use of the camp has diminished greatly over the years,” Cynthia Conner, a member of the Optimist Club of Jamestown board, said in an affidavit filed with the court in November. “There are fewer individuals willing to volunteer for upkeep to the campgrounds. The cost of properly maintaining the camp produces great financial stress on the club. The club has very limited financial assets for the campgrounds.”

Proceeds from the sale will be used to provide oratorical contests, sponsor Youth of the Month at the Winifred Crawford Dibert Boys and Girls club, offer college scholarships and scholarships to conferences.

“The club will continue its operations after the sale and dissolution is not contemplated,” Conner said in the affidavit. “At this time the real property contracted to be sold is a negative drain on the corporation’s financial budget as the property requires high insurance and maintenance costs along with monthly utility costs.”

The first official Optimist Club was formed in Buffalo, New York, in 1911 with a national movement starting in 1916. The association of clubs that is known today as Optimist International was formed on June 19, 1919, when representatives of 11 clubs held a convention in Louisville, Ky., and adopted the name International Optimist Club. During the convention, William Henry Harrison, a descendent of the ninth president of the United States bearing the same name, was elected the first International President of Optimist international. Over the next three years, the organization grew to 49 clubs and 4,000 members.

In 1924, the first organization-wide youth service program was established with the chartering of Junior Optimist Clubs. Its purpose was to instill the value of volunteering in young boys. The idea of creating youth clubs was developed in 1920 by Milwaukee Optimist Henry Scarborough, who was well-known in his community in vocational guidance and personnel relations. After gathering a group of young boys together, they agreed that since the Optimists served as the group’s sponsor, they should call themselves “Junior Optimists.”

In 1928, an organization-wide Oratorical Contest was started for the Junior Optimist Clubs. Through the years, its purpose has been to provide a valuable self-improvement activity and scholarship program for youth.

The contests remain a staple of Optimist Clubs, including the Jamestown club.