WARM BEACH — Leaders at Warm Beach Christian Camp and Conference Center say donors have pledged half the money needed to reach their goal of $8.6 million.
“And that was in the quiet phase,” said Ed McDowell, the camp’s executive director. “We went public with banquets this month and had about 800-plus people, so we’ll be working with them over the next three to four years to raise the rest of the money.”
The camp, which first opened in 1956, welcomes 80,000 visitors every year. Half of those visitors come during the holidays to see the annual Lights of Christmas show. The other half come throughout the year to summer camps, marriage retreats, church seminars and a host of other events. Those visitors have endured cabins built in the 1960s and 1970s long enough, McDowell said.
“You just can’t tell people in the winter to go out to an A-frame cabin with a path to the bathroom anymore,” he said. “They just won’t go for that.”
Improvements to the camp will be made in three phases, McDowell said. One phase, worth about $2 million, will focus on bringing more scholarships for children who wouldn’t otherwise make it to summer camp. Another $2 million will go toward improving the camp’s facilities, including adding private bathrooms in the cabins and expanding meeting rooms.
The rest of the money will be used for environmental projects, McDowell said. The camp recently constructed a wastewater treatment plant, which cost about $1.5 million. Other similar projects are planned, McDowell said.
To help Warm Beach Christian Camp meet its goal, go to www.warmbeach.com and click on “Support WBC” or call 360-652-7575.
Reporter Krista J. Kapralos: 425-339-3422 or kkapralos@heraldnet.com.
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