Growing from the Ashes




Camp Mack turned a corner in its life with the completion of the 18,000 square foot Becker Lodge. First used in the summer of 1936, the lodge had been under construction for five years. It served as the center of Camp Mack operations during its life housing offices, a library, the kitchen and dining room, meeting space for 250, and sleeping areas for up to 100 campers/leaders. Becker Lodge is remembered for the decorative stone carvings which were located in the fireplace and stone stairway.

Remodeling of Becker Lodge began in the 70's when improvements occurred to the site and other facilities putting Camp Mack on the course of becoming more than a summer camp. One of the most dramatic changes was the re-visioning of Becker Lodge in the 80's. Becker Lodge changed from an unheated summer building into a quality, year-round retreat building with geo-thermal heating and air conditioning and multiple occupancy guest rooms with their own restrooms.

	Camp Mack unexpectedly turned another significant corner on the morning of July 11, 2010 when fire destroyed Becker Lodge. The Vision 20/20 Master Site Plan, adopted in 2000, enabled the Camp Board and staff to begin recovery from the fire and make plans for the future in a relatively short period of time.

Completion of the John Kline Welcome Center replaced the offices, kitchen, dining and gathering rooms lost in the fire. This 20,000 square foot state of the art facility is a "green building" that can serve up to 300 people at one setting. Insurance claims paid for most of this building.
	John Kline Welcome Center
The next phase in the recovery is the replacement of the lodging and meeting areas lost. The new Becker Retreat Center will also be a "green building" providing 23 double- and single-occupancy rooms with several meeting rooms and gathering spaces. These accommodations will enable the camp to meet the needs of today's campers and leaders. This building will utilize some of the foundation of the original Becker Lodge as well as some of the original sculptured stone in the new fireplace.
	Becker Retreat Center

	Growing from the Ashes Projected Costs Site Prep and Utilities $ 95,000 Becker Retreat Center $2,950,000 Furnishings $165,000 Campaign Costs $ 25,000 $3,235,000 Fire Control System* $280,000 Code upgrades and foundation * $251,000 $3,766,000 * Items from John Kline Welcome Center not funded by insurance claim

Growing from the Ashes Funding Sources Gifts $2,000,000 Dedications/Memorials $466,000 Campaign Goal $2,466,000 Grants $500,000 Short Term Loans $400,000 Financial Institution Mortgage $400,000 Project Total $3,766,000

Camp Mack's story is that of a ministry birthed to touch and change the lives of children and adults through events and activities carried on by leaders who model the love of God. The changes and growth of the camp over the past year and a half have been made possible by those whose lives have been touched by Camp Mack. On the morning of July 11, 2010, as I watched fire engulf Becker Lodge, I was strangely calm as I began to plan the steps before us. Our staff were not needed to extinguish the fire, instead we needed to focus ourselves on our ministry as we concentrated on serving the children and leaders set to arrive that afternoon. As the day evolved, I had wonderful conversations with neighbors, board members, past executives and supporters as people came to find out how they might help. I remember lying down that night exhausted but in awe of how the people of God had responded to our immediate needs and how the staff were served by the very people that they had served over the years.
As the smoke cleared and the ashes cooled, both immediate and long term plans were made for recovery from the fire . Watching the demolition of Becker Lodge brought into mind the: hundreds of persons who had caught the "vision" of Camp Mack and invested their time and talents to give the ministry birth and growth; vision of LW Shultz and his ability to mobilize people to bring the camp into reality; work of Raymond Hoover as he led the camp into a new era of small group camping; hundreds of leaders who came to understand the importance of the camp in the life of a child; individuals like Lores and Martha Steury, Kate Warstler, and Mike Kauffman who have accepted the call over the years to serve as staff; stages of growth the camp had gone through as it moved from being a summer camp to a year-round camp and retreat center under the leadership of Arden Ball; and skills and ability of Becky Ball Miller and the foundations that she put in place through the development of the Vision 20/20 Master Site Plan. This plan planted the seed that helped the decision making of the board after the fire as they worked on the plans for the future.
What helped me the most through the summer of 2010 was seeing the big tent set up to provide dining space and watching staff, volunteers, campers and other guests continue to experience the ministry of Camp Mack in the midst of great upheaval. Seeing the faces of the children and hearing their laughter led me back again to experience the awesome power of God. I invite you to consider how you can join these dreamers, leaders, volunteers and donors of the past and present as we move Camp Mack into the future through "Growing from the Ashes." Your participation in this campaign will help Camp Mack in this next step of recovery from the fire as it moves forward in its ministry of changing the lives of children and adults through the sharing of God's love. Rex M. Miller Executive Director

*Please consider our naming opportunities:** Great Room $75,000 Lower Gathering Area $50,000 Single Conference Room $60,000 Double Conference Room $100,000 Patio Area $35,000 Upper Meeting Room $35,000 *Naming Guidelines: The individual being recognized has been involved in the life of Camp Mack, the Church of the Brethren, or is known for their work with children.	Please Consider these Memorial or Recognition opportunities: Double Guest Room (18) $35,000 Single guest Room (5) 2 $25,000 Room Furnishings (23) 3 $5,000 Great Room Fireplace $10,000 Lower Gathering Area Fireplace $12,000
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