Overview:
HISTORY
Camp Hurlburt is a 2.5 acre, forested, beach waterfront camp, located
on Lake Okanagan, just 20 minutes from downtown Vernon, BC. For 80
years, Camp Hurlburt has been a place for children and youth to gather,
form friendships, provide leadership, and grow in spirit. Camp Hurlburt
has touched the lives of over 20,000 young people of all faith, social
and economic backgrounds. Over 30% of the young people attending camp
are sponsored on camperships, many recommended by local schools and
other community organizations. Young people ages 5 through 17 learn
about the sacredness of their own lives and of creation at week long
camps through experiences such as hiking, kayaking, canoeing, swimming,
music, drama, nightly camp fires and arts and crafts.
Camp Hurlburt Alumnae and the Vernon community have said that: Camp
Hurlburt is a valuable community resource which invests in the lives of
children and youth, children in need, and young families, and provides
fun opportunities for personal and spiritual growth in a place while
being physically, emotionally and spiritually safe. Hurlburt is a place
where young people have opportunities to face issues pertinent to their
everyday lives.
Ailsa Edge, former counselor in the Vernon School District wrote:
“Many times over those years, I listened to young people talk of their
experiences at Camp Hurlburt and what those experiences meant for them
…When a student told me he/she was going to spend some time at Hurlburt
that summer, I knew that student would come back to school inoculated
against many of the forces which can destroy a young life.”
But the buildings are old and the facilities are in desperate need of
upgrading. The Camp Hurlburt Association, a non-profit society is, in
conjunction with the Rebuilding Hurlburt Committee, working on
rebuilding this valuable community resource to allow more children,
youth and the North Okanagan community to experience a connection with
nature and each other that leads to positive change in their lives.
VISION
We envision an updated facility for the future, located in a natural
setting, which will offer young people; the opportunity to experience a
place and programming that teach and exhibit land and water stewardship
and to build relationships with each other which will nurture the
values, of compassion, inclusiveness, acceptance, integrity and respect.
THE REBUILD WILL:
1) Increase the number of young people the camp can accommodate each summer and expand the programs into three seasons, providing opportunities for schools, community organizations and others to participate in educational programming throughout the remainder of the year.
2) Provide a facility which will be self sustaining for future generations of young people and the young at heart to re-discover the nature of community.
REBUILDING CAMP HURLBURT IS A $3.5 MILLION PROJECT. IT INCLUDES:
Increasing safety by providing a new entry, removing most of the vehicle
traffic from the site and restoring the site to its natural state. An
accessible main hall with separate dining/ multipurpose spaces for 80
people on each level, a full commercial kitchen, showers and washroom
facilities and 6 dorm rooms to accommodate 24 people. There will be 8
new cabins which will accommodate 78 people, a Staff cabin and a
Director’s cabin. Improved program areas: enlarged green space, enlarged
dock & swim platform, archery area, climbing wall, zip line, and a
riparian habitat. A significant goal for the camp is to practice
environmental stewardship and to have children and youth form a
connection with the earth. The site will be constructed to a minimum of
LEED© Silver with a strong educational focus for campers.
USE OF FUNDS
We are looking to fund up to $149,000 for Phase One of our redevelopment
construction which will include: demolition of the existing craft hall
and cabins, some site work and the construction of 4-6 new cabins. With
Aviva’s help, this will take place during 2012. Please visit
www.rebuildhurlburt.com for more details.
SUSTAINABILITY
A Business Plan has been developed to address sustainability for the
future needs and operations of Camp Hurlburt. It includes changing from a
summer only facility to a facility that operates in three seasons. To
date we have already received funds and pledges from several community
organizations, and individuals towards this project. A Capital
Campaign is planned to raise funds for future phases of the
redevelopment. An Endowment Fund has also been established to help with
future ongoing operational needs. The Association will also to appeal
for endowment funds and for sponsored camperships in the future.
Join us in the Rebuild Hurlburt Project so that more young people will have life transforming experiences at Hurlburt.
Please watch our video, your vote counts, please vote every day for a
difference in the lives of the children and youth of the North
Okanagan.
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