Camp Ketcha in Scarborough has announced it will no longer be affiliated with Camp Fire, the national youth organization that originally founded the nonprofit 51 years ago.

Tom Doherty, executive director at Camp Ketcha, said this week that his organization and Camp Fire, which is headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., “mutually decided to part ways” and going forward, “Camp Ketcha is going to be a standalone charitable nonprofit.”

“All of our resources will be devoted to Maine children and families,” he said. “That will be the sole focus of the organization’s board, volunteers and staff. The transition will (also) have no impact whatsoever on our staffing or programming.”

Doherty would not add any further details about the split between Camp Fire and Camp Ketcha, and neither did Jeff Randolph, the chief marketing officer for the national Camp Fire organization.

“As the director (at Camp Ketcha) said, the decision to part ways was mutual. The parties have reached a mutually satisfactory settlement of all claims among them,” said Randolph.

Katherine Joyce, president of the board of directors at Camp Ketcha, also declined to comment on the split.

“I think our written statement says as much as we can on the issue,” Doherty said, referring to an announcement posted on the Camp Ketcha website.

In 2014, Camp Ketcha, which is located on 107 acres off Black Point Road, celebrated its 50th anniversary.

It was founded in 1964 by the group then known as Camp Fire Girls. Its programs focus on creativity, self-discovery, experiential education and physical activity, according to Doherty.

While Camp Ketcha also offers adult programming, it’s mostly geared toward kids, focusing on outdoor activities and the environment. Each year, Camp Ketcha serves about 3,000 campers, Doherty said.

Its facilities include a horse barn and riding ring, a pool and pond, a garden, an archery range, a zip line and more. The main building, which houses the camp offices, is often rented out for weddings and corporate events. It also boasts a conference room and a Montessori school.

In addition to its many day-camp offerings in the summer, Camp Ketcha also provides after-school care and school vacation camps during the school year.

Doherty said that the annual operating expenses for Camp Ketcha for the 2013 tax year were a little more than $1 million. In that same year, he said, Camp Ketcha paid Camp Fire an affiliation fee of $34,435. And, although Camp Fire provides some affiliates with financial support from granting institutions – known as pass-through funding – Camp Ketcha has not received such grants from Camp Fire.

“We are blessed to be able to operate (an) independent youth development organization (that provides) outstanding year-round outdoor programming that connects kids and families with the natural world,” Doherty said. “Camp Ketcha is going to continue to utilize our land and programming expertise to enrich the lives of Maine kids.”

He added that 2014 was a strong year for Camp Ketcha with the organization experiencing its “largest camp season to date.”

For the future, Doherty said, Camp Ketcha would focus on initiatives such as its Portland Gear Hub bicycle program, as well as its horse and farm related programs.

Doherty also said, “Our nature-based Montessori school continues to be full. We think it’s a great use of this facility during the school day (and) we hope to expand based on the need that has been expressed to us. “(We are also) looking for new, innovative program offerings all year round.”

Randolph, from Camp Fire, said what his organization provides to affiliated organizations is programming help in three key areas – camp and environmental education, teen service and leadership, and out-of-school-time activities.

In addition, he said, the national Camp Fire organization also provides “expertise in council operations and best practices, leadership development, marketing support, pass-through funding from national charitable foundations and license to use the Camp Fire brand.”

Randolph called the Camp Ketcha disaffiliation rare.

“Camp Fire National believes it would be best to have a Camp Fire council in every community in the United States,” he said.

Randolph also said that Camp Fire “continually seeks opportunities to help more youth thrive” and to that end it’s opening new camps in Waco and Killeen, Texas, and has acquired a youth-focused organization called the Sajai Foundation in Minneapolis “to ensure continued delivery of their quality youth programming.”

The Camp Fire website says the organization was founded in 1910 by Dr. Luther Gulick, and his wife, Charlotte. The couple created Camp Fire “to guide young people on their journey to self-discovery,” the website states. Gulick also founded two camps on Sebago Lake in Raymond, Camp Timanous for boys and Camp Wohelo for girls. He died in nearby Casco in 1918.

Initially an organization aimed only at girls, Camp Fire became co-educational in 1975. Today, its overall mission is “cultivating community building, supporting academic readiness and embracing diversity,” the website says.

Camp Ketcha was the only Camp Fire affiliate in Maine. According to the Camp Fire website, the national organization supports youth camps in 24 of the 50 states.

In a prior interview, Doherty told the Current that Camp Ketcha is a “place that’s accepting, that teaches friendship skills and that lets kids build things. Here, the kids can use their hands and have a direct experience, which is so hard to find these days.”

He added, “This place is a real refuge. Kids can lose themselves in the experience, have fun and relax. The kids have ownership of this place and they feel at home here.”

Along with a nine-week summer camp and other activities and programs, Camp Ketcha in Scarborough is also home to a nature-based Montessori school, which operates out of the main building.