Wabash Park Camp & Retreat Center

Friday Focus #101

An insider's update on news & happenings at the WPC&RC

Another Milestone Reached!

by David Colgan, Director of Camping

Construction of Camp Manager's Home - 2009

Two years ago a campaign was launched to eliminate the debt that had been incurred at
the Wabash Park Camp & Retreat Center over the past several years. In 2008 it
became necessary for the Wabash Camp Board to take immediate action on two fronts -

the replacement of the entire sewer and water system, and the replacement of the house
for the camp manager. The first project was made necessary because our old disposal
plant struggled to meet state requirements, and state inspectors threatened to force us to
close the camp unless a new system was put into place. The old "caretaker's" house then
developed a terrible problem with mold which made it uninhabitable, so it had to be torn
down that same year.

Utility Upgrade
In 2009 the costs for the utility upgrade (sewage and water) system and the new
"Camp Manager's" home were rolled into a loan which also included the balance left
over from the cost of the Wabash Pavilion built in 2001. Since 2009 we have been
making regular monthly payments on this loan. At this point the Camp Board made the
decision to not incur any more debt in the future, so the money had to be totally raised
before the project could move forward.
In the intervening years God has blessed and enabled the Camp through the stewardship
of our people to build the Heritage Lodge (2010) with the total amount covered by
donations($350,000), to cover the cost to rebuild Bethany House ($60,000 in 2011), to
build the Children's Center debt-free($225,000 in 2013), to purchase the Wesley
House ($53,000 in 2012) and install the Children's Playground ($30,000 in 2014). We
also renovated the Youth Center ($40,000 in 2011)! We have totally adhered to our
policy of no more debt!