—

ANDREW BAKER MEMORIAL UPDATE —

Family & Friends Celebrate at Kanuga

August 8, 2022

In June, our family had the opportunity to go on a minipilgrimage to Kanuga, a place that we, as well as Andrew, are very familiar with. A place synonymous with our upbringing and truly our spiritual home and thin place. To us, Kanuga feels like an older sibling.

In our collective 30+ years of attending, our parents had never been! They have heard us ramble on and on about our home up in the mountains. We’re happy that has finally changed!

When Andrew passed, we wondered about so many things and one that stood out was his legacy. Who will continue to carry his torch and speak his name and share about the kind, loving, caring, smart, in-the-business-of-making-others-smileby-way-of-dance man that we all adored?

It is with our utmost gratitude to share—thanks to Kanuga, Brian Prior, KEY Conferences, Jimmy Haden, Michael Sullivan and each and every one of you who has contributed to Andrew’s Memorial Fund—this dream is now a reality. We dedicated a beautiful bench and area at the peak of Long Rocks, high on the mountaintop that we hiked so many times. I’m sure Andrew could’ve done it with his eyes closed.

Andrew’s overlook and bench will forever tell the story of a young man who changed the lives of so many in his 26 years, striving to make his communities whole and giving back by way of service—and who in heaven, continues to shine his bright light upon us. His bench will be a place of rest, enjoyment of a sunrise or sunset, to be still with nature— a thin place that Andrew touches from his home up there, with God.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, The Baker & McLaughlin Family

The joy of seeing people, new people, young families... young children who are enjoying the outdoor fire pit and s’mores .. the family playing trivia. I know that whatever we could give to Kanuga, I know would be used wisely for the ongoing enjoyment of everyone.

—Bill Paynter, Kanuga guest

— LODGE ROOF FUND ESTABLISHED with Challenge Gift from Kathy High & George Steele

After many years of patches and temporary fixes (and intermittent rain in the Dining Room and library!), the 32,000-square-foot roof over the Main Lodge, Dining Room, Library, Shop, and Fireplace Lounge was fully replaced in early 2023, thanks to a generous gift and matching challenge led by Kathy High and George Steele. The project will cost approximately $1 million. Kathy and George generously matched dozens of additional gifts, ensuring Kanuga would not take on debt to complete the project, and securing our fiscal strength by providing more flexibility to invest in mission-driven programs.

We also appreciate the hands that labored to complete the work, which coupled with the gracious generosity of Kathy and George, is making a difference for all Kanuga guests, as well as for the preservation and safety of our beloved spaces. Kathy High

CONSERVATION GRANT BENEFITS KANUGA —

Wetlands Habitat Restoration Project

Kanuga’s wetlands are home to an ecosystem containing sensitive flora and fauna, in particular the federally threatened Southern bog turtle, the federally endangered mountain sweet pitcher plant, and the state threatened sheep laurel.

We are pleased to be the beneficiary of a grant that will support the restoration of two acres of Southern Appalachian mountain bog along the margins of Kanuga Lake. “Protecting these imperiled ecosystems is paramount to their survival, and having the opportunity to help manage this work is truly special,” says Mary Kait Brown, Kanuga’s environmental specialist.

In partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, and the Tangled Bank Conservancy, Kanuga will make improvements and manage the habitat for the next ten years in a four-pronged approach that includes the following:

-Vegetation management

-Hydrological restoration

-Boardwalk construction

-Removal and treatment of noxious plants

Kanuga’s bog is one of the largest remaining wetland areas in Henderson County.

Sunday the moon was almost at full... it was this big, full moon coming into to the dark grounds. I walked down to the lake pavilion and there was the moon just sitting on the lake reflecting off. I’m incredibly thankful to be in a spot where it’s just nature, and us. The moon grounds me and reminds me that I live on a planet and I’m pulled down to earth. It’s a grounding part of my spirituality.

Blessing of the ANIMALS

Adult Conferences

Back in full swing!

Music in the Pines

MUSIC

For All Souls

Kanuga, our sacred home in the mountains, was blessed with an abundance of love and support in 2022. If you attended any event or program at Kanuga last year, you know how alive the Spirit was among us.

SPIRITUAL

This was never more present than in the tangible expression of community found in the Prayer Ribbon project in Chapel of The Transfiguration. What began as a simple display of yellow and blue ribbons in honor of Ukraine, quickly grew to

Period WELCOME HOME!

SHOP REDESIGN and Online Shop Opens

PARISH RETREATS Creating Spiritual Community

HOMECOMING & SPRING CLEAN Rejoice - Reconnect - Serve

Guests

Reconnecting with CONFERENCES

include the prayers of campers, guests, and staff. From the first group that began tying ribbons— the Federal Chaplains—to the hundreds more who visited, the prayers continued and the ribbons multiplied. By the end of the year, the thousands of multi-colored ribbons had become a rainbow of prayers displaying the hopes, dreams, despair, fear, joy, gratitude, grief, and desires of us all: the prayers of and by the people.

Youth Week & Winterlight IN-PERSON !

—Amen