Spring 2022
Dear Friends,
Campers have returned to the Iron County Youth Camp. The songs, friendships, outdoor adventures, campfires, lifelong lessons, and magical times will soon return to Indian Lake. Friends of Camp Batawagama, a non-profit organization continues to work to enhance the infrastructure at camp. You may remember our “Caring for Camp Fundraiser” that began in November 2020 to support the new bathroom building project for the boy campers. As you can imagine, the costs of materials for this bathroom project have increased significantly in the last two years. With construction underway, we are asking you to make a gift to bring this project across the finish line. When completed this project will have a huge impact on present and future generations of campers Camp has raised 80% of the funds needed to complete this project and with your help, we are hoping to raise the remaining 20%. Please click here to use the online donation option at our website: friendofcampbatawagama.com. The previous Boy Camper Bathroom will be reused as a Staff Bathroom Facility. The new C-Unit Bathroom is being constructed on the site where the old Staff Bathroom stood.
Dear Friends,
Campers have returned to the Iron County Youth Camp. The songs, friendships, outdoor adventures, campfires, lifelong lessons, and magical times will soon return to Indian Lake. Friends of Camp Batawagama, a non-profit organization continues to work to enhance the infrastructure at camp. You may remember our “Caring for Camp Fundraiser” that began in November 2020 to support the new bathroom building project for the boy campers. As you can imagine, the costs of materials for this bathroom project have increased significantly in the last two years. With construction underway, we are asking you to make a gift to bring this project across the finish line. When completed this project will have a huge impact on present and future generations of campers Camp has raised 80% of the funds needed to complete this project and with your help, we are hoping to raise the remaining 20%. Please click here to use the online donation option at our website: friendofcampbatawagama.com. The previous Boy Camper Bathroom will be reused as a Staff Bathroom Facility. The new C-Unit Bathroom is being constructed on the site where the old Staff Bathroom stood.
Please help us continue to preserve the magic of Camp Batawagama.
Sincerely, The Friends of Camp Batawagama Board 2022
Sincerely, The Friends of Camp Batawagama Board 2022
Hello Friends,
Campers and staff have returned to Camp Batawagama! Campers are again singing in the mess hall, canoeing on Indian Lake and getting a well-deserved break from the outside world. Camp has not been quiet during the covid-canceled years. Here are some projects completed in the past few years out at camp thanks to the Friends of Camp Batawagama. We are grateful for the donations which made these possible. FOCB grant writer Denise Maloney has written three requests that have been granted. They’ve enabled FOCB to purchase six new ISLE standup paddleboards; 24 new Mountainsmith four-person tents; 12 new lifejackets; and 12 new REI overnight backpacks. Four new wood burners were purchased with a grant given by Dickinson Area Community Foundation (DACF). Now all the campers from one cabin can work at the same time during ever popular wood burning classes.
The last big fundraiser that FOCB initiated was to raise money for 1200 feet of pristine lakeshore property on Indian Lake. The property has four designated campsites for overnights and cookouts, making it an ideal destination for Batawagama campers. FOCB has two major summer fundraiser events planned in Iron County.
“Sentimental Journey II” comes to Friends Hall at Camp Batawagama on Sunday, July 31 at 3:00 p.m. central time. Andrew LaCombe, Matt Riutta, Adam Gessler and company from camp will perform old and new camp favorites, lead singalongs and present some new surprises. Click here for details.
FOCB Golf Outing will take place on Sunday, August 28, the four-person team scramble at Young’s Recreational Complex. Click here for details. Consider bringing a team to play and enjoy a bagged lunch delivered to you on the greens!
The new bathroom for boy campers will be finished in June. State of the art, touchless everything, will be in place for campers for generations to come. Thank you for all your donations, investing in the future. Please click here to make a donation to the final phase.
Mary McCreary, FOCB President
Campers and staff have returned to Camp Batawagama! Campers are again singing in the mess hall, canoeing on Indian Lake and getting a well-deserved break from the outside world. Camp has not been quiet during the covid-canceled years. Here are some projects completed in the past few years out at camp thanks to the Friends of Camp Batawagama. We are grateful for the donations which made these possible. FOCB grant writer Denise Maloney has written three requests that have been granted. They’ve enabled FOCB to purchase six new ISLE standup paddleboards; 24 new Mountainsmith four-person tents; 12 new lifejackets; and 12 new REI overnight backpacks. Four new wood burners were purchased with a grant given by Dickinson Area Community Foundation (DACF). Now all the campers from one cabin can work at the same time during ever popular wood burning classes.
The last big fundraiser that FOCB initiated was to raise money for 1200 feet of pristine lakeshore property on Indian Lake. The property has four designated campsites for overnights and cookouts, making it an ideal destination for Batawagama campers. FOCB has two major summer fundraiser events planned in Iron County.
“Sentimental Journey II” comes to Friends Hall at Camp Batawagama on Sunday, July 31 at 3:00 p.m. central time. Andrew LaCombe, Matt Riutta, Adam Gessler and company from camp will perform old and new camp favorites, lead singalongs and present some new surprises. Click here for details.
FOCB Golf Outing will take place on Sunday, August 28, the four-person team scramble at Young’s Recreational Complex. Click here for details. Consider bringing a team to play and enjoy a bagged lunch delivered to you on the greens!
The new bathroom for boy campers will be finished in June. State of the art, touchless everything, will be in place for campers for generations to come. Thank you for all your donations, investing in the future. Please click here to make a donation to the final phase.
Mary McCreary, FOCB President
DACF Grants Batawagama in 2022
The Dickinson Area Community Foundation once again gifted Camp Batawagama with a grant this year to purchase new wood burners for the Arts & Crafts Department! These new wood burners will be a wonderful addition to Camp for Campers to learn wood burning skills and to create all sorts of projects. Wood burning has long been a favorite activity in Arts & Crafts and our current wood burners are very old and some are no longer usable. The addition of these new wood burners will be such a fun new addition to Camp this summer!!
We are so very grateful for our partnership with DACF as they have been providing grant monies for many things for our Campers to enjoy over the last ten years. Their unending support and commitment to Camp and your youth has been a blessing to our community. Over the years, DACF has given grants totaling over $16,000 which was used specifically to immerse and better opportunities available to our Campers. With the DACF monies over the years, we have purchased new fleets of tents for overnights, ocean kayaks, paddle boards and life jackets.
We are so thankful to DACF for providing such support to Camp and for being such great champions for Camp Batawagama and our young campers!
We are so thankful to DACF for providing such support to Camp and for being such great champions for Camp Batawagama and our young campers!
-Denise Maloney, Friends of Camp Batawagama Grant Coordinator
President's Corner
|
Hello Friends! The popular golf outing in August 2021 was a huge success. The weather cooperated to bring us a beautiful day. A big Thank You goes out to the sponsors and the golfers for their donations. We are so grateful to all of you! We are all set to have our 2022 golf outing on August 28, 2022. Keep posted to hear updates.
Even though Camp Batawagama was not held again this past summer due to the Corona virus, activities still happened at Camp in the form of repairs and building. continue to check the camp website to view the pictures of many of the summer projects and the new pictures posted periodically. Thank you for all the helpful donations. We are looking forward to this coming summer when we WILL resume all of the Camp Batawagama activities! We will be so happy to see all of you! An envelope is included in this newsletter for the 2nd phase of the camper boys' bathrooms. This phase will include the fixtures and the structure of the building. A donation of $100 or more will be thanked with a set of 4 cards featuring the bee painting on the last newsletter. We hope you all remain safe and healthy. Continue outdoor activities as much as possible to maintain your health. Mary McCreary, FOCB President |
|
Letter from the Director
|
Thank you Citizens of Iron County for your continuing support, especially during these trying times of the pandemic. We are excited about all the improvements, renovations, and new constructions that have taken place over the last two years and those that will continue into the spring. We look forward to Welcoming Campers back to Batawagama!
Over the last 20 years we have gradually been replacing the original waterlines at the Iron County Youth Camp. On December 3rd of this year Kim Nylund arrived at the Youth Camp and proceeded to dig an L-shaped trench that was 70' long and 7' deep to expose the existing waterline and the main junction that connect all lines at Camp to the main waterline coming from the Stambaugh Township main line. Coming up in late December we will be replacing the main waterline coming from the Stambaugh Township pump to the interior of the Youth Camp by directionally boring underground for a distance of 1200 feet. This line will be replacing the existing waterline into camp, which was dug by hand and installed in 1940 by the Civilian Conservations Corps. We feel very fortunate to have been granted funding for this most essential project by Iron County's ARPA Funds Committee. |
Sentimental Journey II -
A night to celebrate Camp Nostalgia and raise funds for PHASE II of the New C-Latrine.
|
The Friends of Camp Batawagama are excited to announce we are planning another summer fundraiser concert featuring talented camp staff members and some sing-alongs. The concert is scheduled for Sunday, July 31 at 3 pm at Iron County Youth Camp. The show will feature your favorite Camp Batawagama music with Adam Gessler, Andrew LaCombe, Matt Riutta, and more performers. Admission will be $6 for old folks and $3 for young folks (17 and under). A free-will donation will be accepted. Take a sentimental journey with us this summer! Put it on your calendars now!
|
|