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Camp Wanake
Campership and Construction Alumni
Projects
Alumni and Friends are invited to reinvest in camp
and retreat ministry at Wanake this spring.
Wanake is embarking on two special projects this spring, which can only
happen through the support of alumni and friends. One is a “bricks
and mortar” project, installation of a composting toilet, to make
Wanake’s woods program more sustainable and provide an example of
living gently with the Earth. A second is a campership project in partnership
with a local mission and a local congregation in inner-city Canton, designed
to get children and teens to camp who would not be attending without a
full campership, transportation, camp equipment/clothing, and a health
check.
I am writing you, our alumni and friends, to invite you to invest these
two projects. You have already experienced the changed hearts, skills
learned, experiences had, and lives changed. Now I am asking you to make
an investment in Wanake’s vital work with future campers and staff.
The bricks and mortar project is a composting toilet building
…
near the woods shelter. The Ohio Health Department ended the days of the
“White Houses” a number of years ago. Woods and outpost campers
have since used port-a-johns for their toilet needs. These rental units
are costly and the trucks that service them are loud and destructive to
our roads. In wet weather the service trucks are unable to navigate the
slippery paths to service the units, what I stinky mess! Campers often
list port-a-johns as why thy don’t return to camp.
With all of this in mind, the camp and retreat ministries board, staff
and volunteers began to explore other options. A few were explored:
- Build a full service bathhouse:
- A full service bathhouse with running water constructed
anywhere past the maintenance shop or over Pines Hill would require
sewage pumping stations and a sewer pipe back to the main sewage
plant near the Orchard Shelter.
- The cost of this work was estimated at more than $400,000
in 2001.
- Continue operations as they are with the port-a-johns:
- Literally send money down the toilet each year.
- Add to pollution through the chemicals and methods that are used.
- Lose returning campers and even some staff.
- Install composting toilets: (See: drawing
of project | drawing
of composter | construction
pics)
- Composting toilet units near the Woods and Outpost living/Home-in-the-Woods
sites would replace the port-a-johns with a clean, nice-smelling,
environmentally friendly and sustainable solution to the toilet
facility problem.
- As an added bonus Wanake will have a working example of Earth
stewardship. Campers will be able to learn about composting and
solar power technology as they take care of daily, personal needs.
- In combination with this project Wanake will be installing a
hand washing station in woods. This simple station builds on the
community building feel of the traditional Wanake “birdbath
sinks.” While not circular, campers will gather around a “sink”
shaped like a large salad bar for hand washing and teeth brushing.
- Washing hands well before meals at the woods shelter and washing
after exposure to poison ivy is our first and most important defense
again outbreaks of sickness and poison ivy rash!
The composting toilet station we need your help to construct is a two
stall station. Campers would put a ½ cup of pine wood shavings
down the hole after every use. A small fan powered by a solar panel will
take care of odor and assist the composting process by circulating air.
The compost produced can be used for flower gardens on site. The station
must be two stories (walk out basement to house the compost unit and a
ground floor level for the toilets). There will be translucent, fiberglass
panels in the gable ends and a solar powered LED light (very low wattage,
will not ruin night vision) to aid campers in seeing inside the building.
The composting unit and toilets are no-flush style, so no water source
is needed for the toilets, just for the hand washing unit.
The building is to be located north of Woods Shelter and set into the
hill. See
the location on the map. From this location it will be able to easily
serve the Woods Shelter, the Adirondack Lean-to Unit (old M), the pioneer
farm/petting zoo, Vesper Hollow, and the unit near Vesper Hollow (old
N).
The composting toilet project has a price tag of $8400 dollars, which
includes a contingency fund for unforeseen problems as we try this new
technology. All of the excavation required for the project has already
been donated (equipment and labor) and a $200 cash gift is also already
in hand.
In order to have the building built and ready for the busy summer ahead,
we need to have money or pledges amounting to at least $4700 by May 1,
2005, so Phil White (Site Manager), volunteers, and staff have time to
complete the project and the composting unit can be delivered in time
for summer campers. As always, the earlier we can start the better.
Gifts and pledges may be sent directly to Camp Wanake (9463 Manchester
Road SW, Beach City, Ohio 44608) or to Gary Jones (8800 Cleveland Ave
NW, PO Box 2800, North Canton, OH 44720. Those making pledges may use
the form located below.
The campership project – A partnership with inner-city
missions
Wanake’s campership project needs little explanation to those who
know the powerful effect of a Christian camp experience. Providing a camp
experience to children and teens living in inner-city settings is as exciting
as it is full of surprises. Many of the Gibbs School children served by
the after-school programs at Canton Calvary Mission have heard about Wanake
through the tales of their friends who attended camp last summer. The
benefits of a week near to God’s creation and far from regular everyday
life, are numerous: faith development through an intentional and extended
focus on God; faith decisions; experiences in community and the out-of-doors;
opportunities to learn experientially; time spent near creation; increased
confidence and self-esteem; development of friendships and social skills;
exposure to positive Christian role models; growth in leadership skills,
especially spiritual leadership; and opportunities to try new things.
Wanake already has a pledge from an alumnus for two full 2005 camperships.
We would like to raise enough to provide 10 camperships, approximately
$2500, realizing that some program fees are greater than others.
Gifts and pledges may be sent to Camp Wanake (9463 Manchester Road SW,
Beach City, Ohio 44608) or to Gary Jones (8800 Cleveland Ave NW, PO Box
2800, North Canton, OH 44720). Those making pledges may use the form located
below.
Pledge and/or Gift Form for Gifts to the Wanake
Alumni Projects
Every gift, no matter what size it is, is vital
to camp and retreat ministry.
There are many ways to meet our combined goal for the two projects together
of $10,900. 1000 people could make a one time $10 gift or 100 people could
make a $100 gift or pledge. Plan now to continue to support Wanake’s
ministry through a gift or pledge this spring.
Name: ______________________________________________________________
Street Address: _______________________________________________________
City: _____________________________________ State: ______ Zip: ___________
Home Phone: __________________ E-mail Address: __________________________
I would like to pledge $________ to Wanake’s
 Composting Toilet
Project;
Inner-City Campership
Project;
Where it is Most
Needed in the Ministry;
Other
Enclosed is a check for $_________.
If pledging:
I am pledging a total
of $100, $10/month for 10 months OR $50 now and $50 in September
I am pledging a total
of $200, $20/month for 10 months OR $50/month for 4 months
I am pledging a total
of $500, $50/month for 10 months OR $100/month for 5 months
I am pledging a total
of $1000, $100/month for 10 months OR $50/month for 20 months.
I am pledging a total
of $___________, $_______ month for _______ months
Signature: ____________________________________ Date: __________________
(Printing
version of this form)
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