A BOLD STEP TO THE FUTURE
As Camp Appanoose approaches its third decade in youth ministry at the present location, the staff and the board of directors has begun to take a series of bold steps toward the development of facilities and programs which will allow this agency to remain on the cutting edge in the twenty-first century youth ministry.
Construction is currently in progress on a new multipurpose building. In the fall of 2003 ground was broken and a capital campaign was launched with an initial commitment of $85,000.00 by the board and staff. A goal of $546,000.00 was set to be raised by May of 2005 at which time an anonymous donor had offered a matching gift of $346,000.00. Two banquets in late 2003 raised $109,000.00 in cash and pledges. By May 2005 cash, pledges and gifts in kind exceeded the amount needed to receive the matching grant.
In June, 2005 a contract was signed with Morton Builders for the structure and insulation. Also that month, a thirteen unit RV park featuring full hookups (water, electric, sewer), was begun. Volunteers, family and church groups will be accommodated in this area. Engineering for the new multipurpose building was completed in the fall of 2005 and work began in November. Steve Fogle Construction of Centerville will construct the interior of the building and will bring the lower level to near completion. Both Steve Fogle and Morton Builders are supporters of the project and have contributed generously of their time and resources.
A new dining hall will comfortably accommodate around one hundred guests, providing an enjoyable location for camp programs, banquets, and community and church events. Food service will operate out of a well-equipped commercial grade kitchen allowing for continuous serving, doubling or even tripling the dining hall capacity. The adjacent activity center may be utilized for additional dining space during large events.
Located on the second floor, this spacious room will accommodate training and retreat programs as well as camp chapels and conferences.
Recreational activities such as basketball and volleyball will be afforded adequate space in the activity center. Over three thousand square feet of floor space will allow for a wide variety of uses including team building and confidence programs. A large gymnasium structure is projected at a future date.
A new above ground “Wrangler” bunkhouse will provide all season space for twenty persons. Built to accommodate persons of limited mobility, this structure will be near the barn and horse facilities, and its uses will include lodging space for participants in therapeutic riding programs.
The new Frontier Village will replace the present tipi village with more camper-friendly covered wagon sleepers. Camper bunk capacity will be forty-eight in the wagons.
A riding arena and two round training pens for youth development programs with horses will be constructed.
With the growth in camp programs and additional facilities comes the need for additional equipment. Recreational equipment is needed, including canoes, paddle boats, mountain bikes, outdoor game tables, horses and tack, fencing, paint ball equipment, backpacks, tents, and an equipment storage building. Operational equipment such as a pickup truck, a skid-steer loader, an additional road worthy van, a brush cutter, a dump truck, and snow removal equipment are needs in the near future.