Embracing Change
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t just rained so much in such a short amount of time,” explained Pat Griffith, manager of Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Camp Shawnee. “The ground became very saturated, and a continuous downpour of rain made the ground very unstable,” Griffith continued. “The least bit of pressure could cause the earth to move. There were mudslides throughout the county, even causing one major thoroughfare to close for months. In February, we discovered that we would not be able to hold our programming at Camp Shawnee this summer due to mudslides on the road to the site.” The planning for Camp Shawnee had already begun in January, as it does every year. The staff needs that time in order to provide a great camp experience. Camp programming requires extensive preparation, from securing vendors to contacting families and recruiting volunteers. When staff learned that the mountainside road to camp was impassable, they knew it was a major setback for their plans. Without a way to circumvent
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christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive | SPRING / SUMMER 2019
(above) Long-term Americorps volunteers Alexander Pinarreta and Savannah Frank work with Camp Shawnee’s coordinator, Caitlin Speigle to create a portable version of Gaga Ball to bring to daycamp locations this summer. This game is a camp favorite for campers and staff members. (below) Campers at Johnson Central Elementary are excited to be able to play Gaga Ball at daycamp this summer.
