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| 4/20/2007 8:19:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Campers gather in the camp amphitheater for a program. |
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Camp Jorn Capital Campaign reaches half-way mark
Camp Jorn - a 65-acre mainland site, plus a 10-acre island - on Rest Lake in Manitowish Waters is about to become an independent Wisconsin corporation and will have a greater Wisconsin presence.
Why? Because at the end of August the camp will be purchased from the Waukegan YMCA in Lake County, Ill.
The history of the camp can be traced back to 1946 when the F.R. Dengel family purchased the property from Charles Nash and established Camp Thunderbolt, a private boys camp.
Charles Nash of Nash Motors (later American Motors) had originally purchased the peninsula site in the 1920s and maintained it as a private hunting and fishing camp for himself and his friends.
Then, in 1952, the Waukegan (Lake County Family) YMCA purchased the property from the Dengel family for $50,000 - using funds from the YMCA and the estate of Albrecht Jorn. It was dedicated as Camp Jorn in July of 1953 and saw 150 boys as campers that year.
As the years progressed, Camp Jorn expanded activities to meet the needs of an ever expanding circle. They added a family camp in 1958. That was followed by winter weekends and teen leadership programs. The camp went coed in 1978, and today runs about 55 percent girls and 45 percent boys.
The usual camp activities, archery, swimming, canoeing, horseback riding, etc. continued to expand and improve during the years. In 2005 marksmanship returned to the Jorn experience with the construction of the air rifle range.
Eventually they began providing camping services for their neighbors in the Northwoods; opening a summer day camp, both on site, and for the past four years, at the Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Elementary school. They also opened a child Care and Pre School Center in 1996.
The Board of Directors had long dreamed of purchasing the camp and last year the time seemed right. Preparations for a capital campaign "paddling new horizons" - a $5 million capital campaign - went into high gear and the campaign kicked-off in August of 2006.
According to the camp's executive director, Dennis Lipp, the response has been terrific - as of early April donations stood at $2.5 million and were growing daily.
"This is terrific," said Lipp. We have finished all the legal work, filed for our 501-C-3 status as a not-for-profit, and now forsee that we will have the $3 million purchase price to meet our Aug. 30 deadline to close on the sale of the property.
"As we continue our capital campaign and reach our $5 million goal, we will be able to complete the first three phases of our Master Plan - which is already in place:
• Purchase the property from LCF YMCA and become an independent YMCA Camp.
• Establish a facility maintenance endowment fund.
• Implement high priority capital improvement projects: Three new camper cabins to replace tent platforms, new health lodge, home on the property for camp director, new day camp facility, infrastructure, road, pathway, shoreline and landscaping improvements.
"All donations above the $3 million for the property will be split equally between the endowment fund and capital projects," said Lipp.
"We will continue to affiliate with the national YMCA and retain our relationship with the Lake County YMCA."
During the camping season, Camp Jorn has 140 campers in the residence camp each week and 50 day campers. Fifty staff live on the property to handle the influx.
"While the summer resident camp is our main thrust - with day campers 10 percent of our business and day care 20 percent," said Lipp.
"We partner with Bob Kovar and ILI, - and have a good working partnership with the Discovery Center.
"With camp registration up 25 percent over last year and our capital campaign meeting its goals, we look forward to a long and successful future as an independent YMCA - and will continue to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.
"I would be pleased to talk with anyone interested in our "paddling new horizons" campaign." Lipp said.
"I can be reached by phone at 715-543-8808 or by email at: director@campjorn.org.
Joyce Laabs can be reached at
features@lakelandtimes.com.
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