Fox Valley Mission, a group of nearly 50 skilled construction workers from the Fox Valley region of Wisconsin, have become accustomed to taking on CAP projects that needed to get done…fast. Last year, the group built a house from the ground up for a family in McCreary County during their short week’s stay. When CAP made the decision that Camp Andrew Jackson needed major renovations over the next year, they knew the right group for Phase One.
During their October 2009 stay, Fox Valley Mission gave the camp’s main building a new roof, stairs and brand new siding. Without Fox Valley, the project would have fallen on CAP long-term volunteers and unskilled groups, taking their time away from home repair projects for low-income Eastern Kentucky families. With Fox Valley, projects that could have taken weeks were knocked out quickly by a group with a seemingly endless supply of energy. Unlike last year’s rapid home build, Fox Valley Mission did not get to see the immediate impact of their service, but they are well aware of how important Camp A.J. is to CAP’s mission.
Camp A.J. serves close to 500 children during the summer, most from low-income families. The cost each child’s family pays for a week of camp is $10, while the true cost is subsidized by CAP’s generous donors and the volunteer labor from the 30 volunteer counselors, lifeguards and medical personnel who serve each summer. Campers participate in lots of recreational activities like swimming and hiking during camp, but they also learn values like respect for each other and themselves.
Built in the 1960s, Camp AJ is now showing the signs of 40 years of use, making extensive renovations necessary. Because more groups are available in the summer months, Camp A.J. will be suspended in 2010 as renovations continue with the help of volunteer labor. Though other groups may not have the opportunity to complete projects at the same pace as Fox Valley, each one will play a vital role in enriching children’s lives for years to come.
