Tuesday February 21, 2012

 This past weekend, Camp Daniel hosted the 2nd annual Able Church Winter Retreat.  There were 50 attendees at the retreat, which made for a full Hartley House at mealtimes!  We had great weather and took full advantage.  The schedule included chapel services (Aubrey Crawford as the guest speaker), small group time, indoor games, movie and popcorn night and outdoor games.  My photos were all taken during the outdoor rec time.

 I've titled the photo below "Got Snow?"  Elijah had a blast eating snow with George!!

 Many attendees played "monkey ball"  which is a like soccer on ice with your hands instead of feet.

 We got decorations up in each of the 4 cabins of Lumberjack Lodge.  Each room has one large shelf that displays an old chainsaw, hard hat and other misc. lumberjack tools.  Above each shelf is a branch that goes with the theme of the room.  The photo below is Jack Pine.

 The pic below is the Sugar Maple Cabin.  I purposefully got the surrounding beds because it's just exciting to see the rooms get used!  On the wall to the left of the doorway, is a two man saw and metal signs for chainsaws and maple leaf something or the other.  Each room has one a similar arrangement on the wall.  Each room also has 3 16x20 framed black and white photos of old lumberjack scenes.  The frames were painted in an aged finish that matches the color of each room.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

 Last Thursday a group of 27 college students and 2 adults from Silver Birch Ranch came for a work day at Camp Daniel.  They worked a half day on Thursday, and they also fit in a half day of work on Friday, before leaving right after lunch.  They had groups to host at their camp, one of which was Living Hope Church's youth winter retreat.  One of the tricky things about winter work days, is having enough indoor jobs for everyone.  We split up the large group into 6 smaller groups.  Half of the groups worked in the Trapline Lodge at Camp Daniel, and half worked on the remodel at DJ's house.  The photo above shows two of the 4 kids that had the job of scraping all of the texture off of the ceilings.  It was a very large and extremely messy job.  What a blessing to have help for such a task!  While the scrapers were in full action, the group in the photo below were working in the garage at DJ's.  To the concrete floor they laid, plastic, then 2" foam, then plywood.  This layer of vapor barrier and insulation will keep the 3 bedrooms that will be in the garage toasty warm in the winters.

 After laying the flooring, this group worked on the old and new entrance to the garage.  We moved the door from the laundry area to the new entry area.  As you can see in the photo below, moving electrical wiring complicated this job.  We are also moving the front door, which of course, had wiring thru that area as well.  Thankfully the crawl space is concrete, so Karol was able to scoot around under the house and pull and push wires to accommodate the new floor plan.

 This photo is kind of out of order, but it shows one of the finishing touches still going up in the Lumberjack Lodge.  The half glass doors let in a wonderful amount of light, but they also don't allow for much privacy.  Each door now has a leaf logo representing that particular cabin (that's what we call each of the 4 rooms in a lodge) and privacy frosting.  That combined with the curtains, gives privacy for changing, without dark dungeon feel that you often get in camp dorm rooms.  There were many other details added before the Silver Birch group arrived.  Tim applied a narrow strip to each shower area so that the water from the showers cannot run into the rest of the bathroom.  He and Jerod built and installed a large shelf in each cabin, which will be for lumberjack decorations.  They also finished putting up the last of the curtain rods.  Karol touched up paint and polyeurethane.  We scrambled to get as many mattresses as we could for the bunk beds.  We have about 30, and really need many more.

 Back to the work day.  One of the groups that worked at Camp Daniel insulated and installed plywood in the attic above the bathroom.  It was a very big job, and they came super close to finishing.  When the last of the plywood goes on, we'll be able to use this area for storage.

 This group plastered the seams in the two bathrooms.

 There were 4 people working in this cabin.  Since Dave Detloff finished the tongue and groove in here, it's been ready for the poly.  Over the two days, this group applied one full coat, sanded and applied the second coat.  Done!  They also put all of the trim around the windows in this room and the room next to it as well.  Tim also had kids put outlet covers on all of the outlets in both rooms, of which there are many.  (No counselor at our camps should need to bring an extension cord.  And what will we do with all of the 3 prong adapters that use every year at Lake Helen?)

Tim also had a small group take the building materials that had been stored in two bathrooms, organize them, and stack them neatly into one bathroom.  With that task accomplished, we can now tile two bathrooms at once without moving a bunch of stuff around.
I'm sure that I have forgotten some of the many jobs that the Silver Birch Ranch group finished.  It's hard to express what a blessing it is to get such a boost on projects during the winter!  It would have taken us, at least 3 weeks to do all that they did in those two half days.  Plus, I would like to acknowledge what a great group of people they are.  Each year the kids change, but they are always a joy to have and we just appreciate the relationship we have with Silver Birch.  In past years, they even invited all of our Camp Daniel staff out to their camp for a day of food and fun.  Their staff took us horseback riding, on hay rides, rock climbing, and just allowed us to enjoy their facilities.  All of this with no renumeration to them.  They are just really nice people who serve the Lord faithfully.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

 As you can see in the photo above, Dave D. has been very busy at Camp Daniel, installing tongue and groove in the Trapline Lodge.  This pic is actually a few days old.  He has since finished installing in this room.

We, at Camp Daniel, are generally a very healthy bunch, but  in this past week or two, many of us have fallen to colds and such.  This has slowed progress at DJ's house.  We've also been missing Marceaux and Jen, as they have been in Minneapolis for the past week and a half, visiting with Marceaux' dad, whom flew in to have procedures done at Mayo Clinic.  Thankfully, all is going well there, and the Bury's will be back in WI this weekend.  So Tony and the guys have done what they can at DJ's.  In the photo above you can see that they removed the wall between the kitchen/dining area and the living room.  They pulled up carpet in the living room and old master bedroom.  They've moved the door that leads to DJ's room.  We've added shelving in the two closets.  This remodel is so large  that it took Tony and Karol 5 hrs at Menards to buy materials yesterday.  Of course, this is on top of many other smaller trips to the do-it-yourself stores.

Chrissy has been preparing meals for two large groups that will be on the grounds in the near future.  Today, a group of 30 will be coming from Silver Birch Ranch to work on the grounds.  They will work this afternoon and tomorrow morning.  That's 50+ people that need to be fed 4 meals.  Next weekend is the Able Church Winter Retreat.   We are expecting about the same amount for those meals.  What would we do without the  spaciousness of the Hartley House?

We are all doing preparations for camp as well.  Applications are being reworked right now.  They should be out by March 1.  Tony has been working on the theme, logo, etc.  Molly is starting a handbook that will be a wealth of information to our counselors at camp.  Karol is figuring out crafts for the summer and 2 new theme meals.  They will be a Christmas theme, (of which we haven't come up with a name for yet) and we are also bringing back a different version of a theme meal we did a few years ago.  It's a farmhouse theme.  The character will be the farmer that stars in one of our orientation videos.

DJ's House January 26, 2012

 DJ is now a proud homeowner!!  The photo above shows DJ holding the keys to his new home.  It was taken just after the closing this Tuesday.  This has been an amazing process that started many months ago, when DJ received an unexpected inheritance.  We started talking about what DJ wanted to do with this money, and purchasing a home seemed to be the best idea.  We've been hoping for a new group home on Camp Daniel for DJ and the Bury's (whom have a baby on the way).  An ideal situation would have DJ in a home with another person with a disability that is more DJ's speed, and is around the house more that his current roommates.  Jen and Marceaux' baby is due in May and we really wanted to get them into something bigger than their current 400 square foot efficiency quarters.  After a lot of research, inquiries and rejection, DJ was able to secure a loan with our local bank in Crivitz.

 We found this manufactured home with attached garage on 3 acres.  It's a 5 minute drive from Camp Daniel.  The home is from 2003, so is in pretty good shape, but, of course it needs some renovations to accommodate the living situations of a group home.  The plan is to have 1 or 2 additional guys with disabilities move into the home.  With the Bury's as house parents, it will be set up similarly to the Hartley House at Camp Daniel.
When renovations are complete, the house will have 5 bedrooms, 2 baths and 2 living spaces.  As you can see in the photo below, it has a wood burning fireplace.
These pics were taken before the purchase.  It's now empty and the guys have already started deconstruction.  I'll be sure to keep you posted, as we should end up with some great before and after's!

Other news around Camp Daniel:
The Able Attack Special Olympics basketball teams had a tournament last weekend.  They played some really tough teams, and they're excited to get some wins at the next one.
Tim as been spraying polyeurethane on about anything that sits still too long.  Here's the items I can think of:  12 frames that I painted, about 18 shelf/curtain rod brackets, two curtain rods, shelving and entertainment center pieces that Tim built for his basement, a mantel, and a bench.  Even though spraying is much quicker than brushing on the finish, it still takes multiple coats, and with that much stuff, he doesn't even have room enough to spread it all out at once.
Dave Detloff was here this week.  He started on the tongue and groove in the Trapline Lodge.  Last week, Marceaux and Jerod painted the ceilings in the newly plastered rooms.
I feel like all I've been doing is paperwork.  It's amazing how much stuff has accumulated for DJ's house!  Between the loan, the insurance, the title papers and the offer, I may need to get a new file cabinet!  This week, was due the state required water withdrawal report for all 6 wells on the property.  Also due, payee report for Richard, which accounts for all the money he receives in a calendar year.  Lastly, I had to fill out a lengthy report for Brian.  Social Security office wants to be sure that he still has a disability.
Tony and the guys worked in Green Bay a number of days taking apart office cubicles.  Tony was looking on Craigslist for office furniture and came across a guy willing to give away an entire office of cubicles and other furniture.  He just wanted it gone and not to have to deal with it.  So Tony said he'd take it all.  It was over 24 cubes, plus conference room.  We've already absorbed much of it:  Tony and James Kocian are converting a large closet into two office cubicles at Living Hope Church, DJ got a new desk in his new room, we put new chairs in the Camp Daniel office, Tony took a large desk setup for his new office on the Camp Daniel property (to be built this spring), we took 3 nice tables for the craft cabin (since the Bury's will be moving out, it'll be an actual craft cabin soon), Tim Mandich took some pieces, and a walled section is being used in the vestibule at Living Hope Church.  Now Tony is trying to sell what's left, which is less than half of the original amount!  So it's been a huge blessing, but obviously a lot of work taking all that stuff apart, then organizing, then moving each piece here and there.  Who would have known how valuable his cubicle building experience from his American Medical Security days would be!

Tuesday, January 17

 Of course, lots has happened since I last blogged!  Just yesterday, Jeff Sielaf brought 3 men that he knows, out for a work day.  As you can see in the photos, they stained the 6 bunk beds that were built and sanded in recent weeks.  They also stained the corbel brackets that will hold shelves and curtain rods in the dorms.  Those were just built in the past week.

 Also, on Monday, we bought a load of tongue and groove, which will be used on the walls in the Trapline Lodge.  In the pic below, you see Richard and Brian stacking them up in the bathroom, which since I last blogged, has been sheet rocked and plastered.  Also getting plastered this winter were the ceilings in one dorm room and two additional baths.  Jerod Kostreva, who has been a great help all winter, learned how to plaster from Tim and did much of the work with the guys while the Kelly's were visiting family in Montana over Christmas.  He even taught the guys how to mix the plaster.

The goal is to have two dorm rooms and two bathrooms done by spring.  The remaining rooms will basically have to wait to be finished until the new garage is built, as they are being used as work rooms.

Today, Rick Bub spent the day here painting the newly plastered ceilings.

Another new development in recent months, is the formation of the Camp Daniel Booster Club.  Tim Mandich is leading this group of wonderful people whom are interested in raising funds and awareness for Camp Daniel.  Tony has been working with the group on their first major event, which will be a banquet on March 23, in Green Bay.  They just finished the mailer that gives the information, and those will be going in the mail very soon.  We're very excited for the upcoming event and we're very appreciative of the hard work and dedication that has been poured into the Booster Club and this particular event.

Some camp stuff is underway as well.  It's always good to get as much camp items done as early as possible.

Thursday November 10

Much work has been completed on the grounds since our last blog entry.  In addition to "every day's a work day", we had an official work day last Saturday.  A group of Architecture students came from NWTC, and Jeff Sielaf brought up a friend that's a retired teacher.  We were also excited to have missionary Jared Kostreva work that day.  Plus he's worked every day this week!  In the above picture, the 6 bunkbeds that have been worked on the past couple work days received two coats of poly. 

 The photos above and below show Tony and the guys working on a concrete pour.  They did this before the work day.  The area is by the lake, and will be for the grill area, which will be completed next year.

 Back to the work day.  Above you see work being done on the gable end of  Molly's.  It will be sheeted and cedar shaked.  Below you can see repair work being done from where the tree fell on Marceaux' electric shack.

 A small group finished putting the ballisters on the railing.

 Since the roof needed to be repaired, we took the opportunity to put steel roofing on.

 Below you see another end of Molly's getting prepped for cedar shakes.

 Jared came to Camp Daniel without much masonry experience, but by now, as his raw tired hands will attest, he's a pro at tuck pointing around the cultured stone.  Since Saturday, he did all of Molly's porch (shown below), and all of the Lumberjack Lodge.  You have no idea how happy this makes us...especially Tony, as he's the only other person that knows how to do this job.  And a big job it is.  It feels like there's miles and miles of this stuff on the grounds, so what he's accomplished this week makes a huge dent.

The work group also put tar paper down on the floor in one bathroom of the Trapline Lodge.  The paper will protect the floor from the plaster, which will be the next step in that room. 

Orchestrated Chaos

Last Sunday was a classic example of the unique way in which the Camp Daniel missionaries depend on one another.  If you've been around any of us outside of camp, you may have witnessed first hand the orchestrated chaos that is the comings/goings of our group. Sundays, because we all travel to Green Bay, tend to be complicated each week.  Well last week was no exception, and I thought it might be a fun thing to share.  To set the stage, you must first know that Tim Kelly, Tommy, McKenna and Annissa are all at Silver Birch Ranch for the youth fall retreat weekend, and Molly doesn't have a car (hers was totaled when she was rearended about 3 wks ago).  Molly was visited the Weidners for the weekend in Oostburg and returned to Green Bay Sunday afternoon to return the rental car by 5.  She had the Kocians pick her up at the rental place and bring her back to their house.  The Bury's had a wedding on Saturday in Whitewater.  They came back to Green Bay late Saturday night because they had to be at the bowling alley early Sunday morning for Special Olympics bowling tournament.  They spent the night at Jen's parents home in Green Bay.  So Karol, Tony, the 4 guys, and Anthony took the van to Church.  Karol and the guys left church a bit early to get DJ to the bowling alley for his afternoon bowling time.  (Jen and Marceaux had to be there early for Crystal). They got lunch on the way to the lanes.  When Karol dropped off the guys at the lanes, she picked up Annissa's bookbag, which she had left in the Bury's van, but now needed to do homework Sunday night.  Karol brought the bookbag back to church, where Chrissy Kelly would take it to her home in Crivitz.  Karol, Tony and Anthony went to Kimberly, where they did Trunk or Treat at Lora's church.  The kids all dressed up in pirate clothes that we have from camp, and the trunk was decked out piratey.  In the meanwhile, Jen leaves Marceaux and the other coaches to handle the remainder of the bowling tournament, while she goes with her parents to her aunt's birthday party in Appleton.  Also, Tim, McKenna, Annissa and Tommy are on the way home from Silver Birch.  By the time they get to Crivitz, Chrissy is already there, so Tim stops at his house to get Annissa's bag, and proceeds to drop her off at the Hucek's home.  The Hucek's, who needed to go to Camp Daniel to get the remainder of their clothes (they stayed in the Hartley House for 4 wks, while their home was being redone) then brought Annissa (and her homework) to Camp Daniel.  Annissa promptly took a recover-from-retreat-nap, before starting on her homework.  At about 4, Marceaux and the guys took Crystal home, then came back to Camp Daniel.  Meanwhile, back in Kimberly, Anthony is talking his mom into staying overnight so that he can trick or treat on Halloween with his cousins.  Grandma will bring him back after that on Monday evening.  So Karol and Tony leave Kimberly at 7 and go to the Kocian's home where Molly is waiting for a ride back home.  After that stop, they head over to Festival Foods on Lineville road, where Jen's parents are dropping her off so that she can get back to Camp Daniel too.  So at 10 pm everyone is at home.  And they didn't even leave anyone behind!