Wilderness Camp Project Fund
The Wilderness Camp Project Fund supports wilderness camping programs sponsored by conservative Anabaptist churches and communities. The fund provides an avenue for individuals, businesses, and churches to pool charitable resources to support new and existing, nonprofit therapeutic camping programs providing year-round, residential treatment for youth with emotional and behavioral problems. The Bald Eagle Wilderness Boys Camp, the Fair Play Wilderness Boys Camp, and the Ohio Wilderness Boys Camp are all examples of the types of programs this fund supports.
Why should wilderness camping program be supported?
1. Wilderness camps have proven to be an effective mission outreach. Few mission programs can match the public response achieved by existing wilderness camping programs. It is significant that so many families are willing to entrust their troubled youth to these programs.
2. While the needs of many youth and their families have been met by the existing camp programs, many other needs go unmet since the existing camp programs are operating at capacity. Due to the age restrictions in these programs, many of the youth currently on their waiting lists will never receive the assistance their families are requesting.
3. Wilderness camps provide valuable voluntary service opportunities for young people and families from conservative Anabaptist churches. The leadership and relational skills learned by those in voluntary service work enrich our churches, communities, and families.
Who will lead the efforts to create and run wilderness camp programs?
The Foundation does not administer any wilderness camp program. Instead, local churches and concerned individuals lead any efforts to create or administer camps. Creating or operating a nonprofit program of this sort is a significant project requiring strong local support. Local churches and communities are best equipped to administer camps.
Why is a special fund needed to support wilderness camp programs?
Establishing a new camp is a significant financial undertaking. Up-front investment in legal work, land, and buildings requires serious commitments. Generally, these costs are far beyond the abilities of a single local church or individuals. Existing camps need ongoing support to lessen dependence on government funding. This field of interest fund at Anabaptist Foundation provides a confidential and organized avenue for giving.
How does the Wilderness Camp Project Fund work?
1. Individuals who wish to support this field of interest fund may make tax-deductible contributions of cash, or other assets. Gifts of appreciated assets (mutual fund shares, stock, and real estate) may enable the donor to avoid capital gains taxes as well. Unless the donor specifies otherwise, the Foundation does not release the identity of the donor.
2. As funds are available, the Foundation determines which projects receive support based on current needs among qualifying camps. To qualify for support from this field of interest fund an organization must: exist to provide spiritual and therapeutic assistance to trouble youth, be granted 501c3 status under the I.R.S. code, and be administered by a board or churches which support the 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith.
How can you get involved?
Contact Richie Lauer, Foundation Director, by phone (276-733-9947) or email (richielauer@afweb.org) for more information. If you wish to contribute, make checks payable to "Anabaptist Foundation" with "WCPF" written on the memo line and send to our office at 1245 Old Route 15, New Columbia, PA 17856.
Ohio Wilderness Boys Camp
February 17, 2009
Quarry pond at the Ohio Wilderness Camp
Ohio Wilderness Boys Camp has successfully purchased the core property for their new camp (242 acreage), with adjoining acreage leased (most of it would be available to purchase if funds were available). To date, the Wilderness Camp Project Fund has been able to provide $112,000.00 to Ohio Wilderness Boys Camp. These funds were used to help with the land purchase.
The "chuckwagon" is now completed, providing a central multi-purpose building. Three staff families, 2 "chiefs", and the first 4 boys are on the grounds. The camp has about $10,000.00 of outstanding start-up costs that are yet unpaid and a monthly operating cost of about $15,000.00 to meet. If funds become available in Wilderness Camp Project Fund, we would like to share with them to help with these needs.
New camp in Maryland
February 17, 2009
300 acre camp facility in Maryland being
purchased by Bald Eagle Boys Camp.
About $180,000.00 is needed to pay-off
this facility.
Bald Eagle Boys Camp (PA) has purchased a 300 acre camp facility near Cumberland, Maryland. This property, which appraised for $940,000.00, was purchased for $458,000.00. It comes complete with infrastructure (water, sewer, roads), sound buildings, and many furnishings. The LORD's hand was clearly at work in making this property available at a much-reduced price.
By the end of December, the Wilderness Camp Project Fund will have directly provided $218,500.00 towards the purchase of the property, and Anabaptist Foundation also provided the loan to finance the balance. Counting in a few outstanding pledges, about $129,000.00 will probably remain unpaid at the end of December.
The Bald Eagle board desires to finish paying off the loan before beginning ministry on the property, so the new camp can be organized on a debt-free basis. Would you be interested in making a contribution to the Wilderness Camp Project Fund to help erase the debt on this property?
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