3 minute read
A church and a camp and a lot of good work
from The Contact 11-6-24
by okumc
BY TIM BOURNE
In the summer of 2023, a team of youth and adults from Church of the Good Shepherd in Yukon descended into Canyon Camp to do some sprucing up. The signature project was the building of a bridge behind the lodge connecting it to a small glade with a gazebo. The bridge would make it easier for camp staff and volunteers to get lawn mowers and equipment back to clean it up and maintain the area. The team and the camp staff were so pleased with the results they returned a few weeks ago to finish what they started and start something new (and even bigger).
October 16 to 19 this year, a team made of up of many of last year’s group, plus some new faces, headed back to the canyon for a couple more projects. A smaller section of the team revisited the bridge to give it a good power washing and application of sealant to help protect it for years to come. The space around the bridge was looking fantastic, and other teams had added a rope railing and LED lighting. At the same time, the rest of the team embarked on a new, ambitious project. David Combs, director of Canyon Camp, asked if we would consider building a 76 by 24 foot deck between the pool and volleyball courts. The existing concrete transition was crumbling in many spots and its safety and usefulness were not good.
Many different skills and power tools were employed along with a great deal of manual labor to move and position construction materials. By the end of the trip, the main supports, beams and joists were successfully installed. Folks of all ages and abilities served however they were able and even learned new skills to help finish the work. Before leaving team members wrote signatures, scripture verses and notes of encouragement throughout the project.
In addition to the deck and bridge work, the camp requested help clearing out brush and trees around the pool and volleyball courts so that they could get their heavier equipment behind those areas to keep things clear for pool care and to make it easier for campers to track down errant balls. Team members chainsawed, trimmed and pruned through a mass of small trees, branches and vegetation and hauled it all off.
The team worked incredibly hard, laughed together, and shared a couple of evenings of meaningful worship. The focus, much like last year, was on working together, showing kindness and living in community. The hope is that the work done will continue to bless campers of all ages for years to come. The team’s plan is to return in November of 2024 to install the railing and deck boards.
