|
2016: Another Great Year at Camp Sancta Maria!
|
Dear Camp Family and Friends:
Thank you for a great summer 2016!
In an effort to keep you up to date with Camp Sancta Maria (CSM) happenings, I thought I would share with you just some of the highlights of our spring, summer and fall.
At the heart of CSM are all the people who drive through our gates. This year, we experienced a 100+ camper increase in enrollment, with a number of our offerings becoming sold-out. This summer, so many of our staff members and volunteers were simply superb.
If I had to try to summarize the summer experience, perhaps I would put it this way: our kids had more fun than ever and at the same time there was a marked deepening of the sense of community and profound spiritual growth.
This spring, we set out to put some of our resources at the service of the children of Flint, who have suffered more than usual this past year with the water crisis that we heard about. I'm pleased to say that they enjoyed their time at CSM so much, that like many of our other campers, they didn't want to leave.
|
|
Farewell Jas!
At the end of the summer, we bid farewell to Jas. After spending his 20
th
summer at CSM, Jas left Camp for another employment opportunity.
We will miss him, e
specially around the bonfire! ;) Jas has been coming to CSM since being a junior camper at age 8!
|
|
Welcome Jan!
This fall, Jan Klemm joined our team as the Director of Operations and Development. I look forward to your meeting her. As a wife and mom with plenty of camp experience, she brings a unique blend of gifts to Camp Sancta Maria. She may be the most organized, hard working and caring person that I know! I have known her for many years and could not be happier that she is with us.
|
|
Front of the Hill
The "FOH" as we call it, saw some nice improvements this summer. Thanks to some benefactors, our kids and families quickly found the carved stone out front as a photo op!
Thanks to students from nearby St. Mary's, hundreds of seedlings were planted this Spring.
Other benefactors struck again and, as a result of their generosity, we were able to add a pair of World Cup regulation size soccer goals.
|
|
Target Sports
Our archery range was demolished and reconstructed and, thanks to the State leadership of the Knights of Columbus, we augmented our target sports with the gift of some air rifles. We built a second range in the proximity of our archery range and our senior campers thoroughly enjoyed this new program! Canopies have also been donated by another generous benefactor and will bring shade to these areas next summer.
|
|
St. Luke's
St. Luke's received a makeover this summer with the addition of new porches, new doors, new paint and new flooring.
|
|
Camper Cabins
Thanks to the generosity of the people from St. Thomas More Parish in Troy, Michigan, we added 100 new camper mattresses and new shelving units in many of our camper cabins. The interior of St. Charles cabin was completely renovated and brought back into use.
|
|
Waterfront
2016 was a hot summer and that made the waterfront area popular
. Not realizing the heat that was headed our way, our seminarian volunteers installed a drinking water line and fountain at the beach this spring. Thanks to generous benefactors, our kayak and canoe fleet has grown. Combined with the donations of a new water volleyball net and new bouncer and mini launch
pad, the beach area was a favorite.
|
|
Ropes Course
Perhaps the lion's share of work happened on our ropes course. We added all new climbing equipment this year and refreshed a lot of our climbing elements. The ropes course will be fresh for years to come!
|
|
Of the 50 plus projects completed this year, everything we have done at CSM is in service to our children and families.
All the attention to the grounds, all the renovations and upgrades to our facilities, serve to keep our children and families safe, happy, healthy, and holy.
I want to thank you for your support of CSM. I am convinced that the mission of Camp Sancta Maria is more important than ever since her founding in 1933.
"Wholesome recreation" refreshes the virtual world our children live in and the "atmosphere of faith" feeds their souls which are hungry for the truth and love that God gives us.
Thank you again, and God bless you.
Sincerely,
Fr. Bob Spezia
Executive Director and
Chaplain
|
Camp Sancta Maria is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity. Our tax id number is 38-6086752.
Donors may deduct contributions as provided
in Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.
We are also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests,
devises, transfers and gifts
under Section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code.
|
|
|
