News Release
WINNIPEG – September 23, 2010 – The YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg today announced its
Camps for Kids Capital Campaign to raise $3 million to fund two initiatives that will expand
and enhance the Y camping experience for Manitoba children, youth and families. Lead
gifts have already raised $1.96 million.
One initiative is the $1.74 million purchase and refurbishment of the former Salvation Army
camp near Woodlands, 45 minutes north of Winnipeg. The other initiative requires $1.26
million to
replace 18 cabins to house 180 campers at the Y’s long-established Camp
Stephens on Lake of the Woods near Kenora.
“The Camps for Kids Campaign will significantly expand and enhance the camping
experience for Manitoba children,”
Campaign Chair Bob Brennan said. “The new camp at Woodlands
will not only add camper capacity to the Y’s programs, but its proximity to the
Winnipeg Y will also provide a more flexible camping experience than we’ve been able to
provide with our Camp Stephens facility in Ontario.
“Replacing the aging Camp Stephens cabins will help us retain the Y’s high camping
standards at the island camp. The existing cabins are over 50 years old and well used.”
Besides
purchasing the new Woodlands facility called Camp Y, funds will be used for
renovations and changes to bring the facility up to Y standards including: improving
accessibility, upgrading and winterizing some buildings; modernizing the swimming pool and
adding two new 80-foot-long waterslides; upgrading climbing facilities; and upgrading and
certifying the drinking water system.
“Overall, the Woodlands facility is a very good fit for us because its close proximity to
Winnipeg will allow us to use the facility for day camps, short-stay overnight camping and
winter camping programs that are not possible at Camp Stephens because of the distance
from Winnipeg and its island location,” YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg CEO, Dave Young said.
Cabin replacement at Camp Stephens will involve constructing 18, 16-foot by 24-foot threeseason
buildings with eight-foot covered decks using solid-wood, log-style walls and steeppitch
roofs.
“The cabin design has been selected to fit the natural environment and integrate well with
existing facilities on the island, and the construction will be robust enough to endure
continuous use by energetic young campers,” Young says.
“Y members and others who have heard about this project are very enthusiastic. Many with
first-hand camping experience know the value it brought to their lives, and they want to
ensure the experience continues to be available to future generations,” Brennan said.
“We’re confident donors will be generous.”
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Here are a couple of recent photos of a new cabin built this summer at Camp Stephens. They were taken by Ana Rancourt. "They are built here and there in between the old cabin and they face the lake," Ana says.
During this year's work weekend a group of us insulated the walls of the four new cabins and began putting up the plywood interior. Additional work includes exterior railings and steps. Once the cabins are OK'd for kids the worst of the older cabins will be torn down.
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