It’s camp development time.  For years, Camp Wa-Ri-Ki has focused mostly on rental activities plus a set of Nature Day, day camps.  Now the Board of Directors has engaged a team of experienced grant writers, fundraisers and development professionals to take the camp to the next level.

Camp Planning Retreat

Board member Doug McPhee, center, facilitated a planning and visualization retreat in May at Camp. Scott Shuey, left, represented renters, and Jaimie Wick (right) representing Kiwanis Clubs also took part.

Currently in the “vision” phase, the Board recently held a retreat at Camp to solicit input from interested parties including regular renters and Skamania County commissioners.

In keeping with the Kiwanis and Camp Wa-Ri-Ki (stands for Washougal River Kiwanis) missions, we are now looking at ways to add amenities and programs that will benefit our commitment to providing an outdoor experience that offers optimal child development and community growth through recreational, educational and leadership opportunities.

New Camp Development Team:

Currently, our annual budget is approximately $120,000 and the Board has determined we need help to raise that figure to $600,000+ to meet our goals. Val Schaffroth, current Camp Board President, explained to the new development team, that she has successfully gotten Grants for facilities in the past, but not yet for programs.  We have new needs for both facility and programs grands, and that’s why “we are bringing in the professionals, to grow the Camp.”

Here’s the team that can do it:

  • Barbara McCullough-Jones brings Executive Leadership to the Camp as Development Director.  With more than 30 years experience including staff experience at northwest girl scout and program development and funding opportunities.  She has Grant Writing experience too.  Barbara earned an MS in College Instruction and Physical Education from Eastern Washington University.
  • Left to write, Barbara McCullough-Jones, Briana Parks, Brian Wick (Board Treasurer), Meagen Kincaid and Board President, Val Schaffroth.

    Briana Parks, Event Coordinator, is on the development team for fundraising and in-kind donations for our Nature Day events.  She came on board last fall.  Briana lives with her husband and three children in Vancouver, WA and fell in love with the Camp when she brought her family up to a past Nature Day event.

  • Meagen Kincaid will focus on fundraising activities for the Camp and was a past counselor at Camp Wa-Ri-Ki.  She is on the development board for the Portland Opera, has experience in sales and catering, and earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Psychology.
  • Rob Buchanan has generously donated pro bono work for the Camp in the areas of Grant Writing and business planning.  He is a former college instructor in business courses for

    New BunkHouse living area.

    Concordia University, and now operates Prime Grant Services for fundraising solutions.

What a great team!

At the earlier Board retreat we reviewed some of the recent upgrades to the Camp, including:

  • Adding a new Retreat Center and Bunkhouse (right) which may be rented out separately
  • Adding a new Meeting Room and Crafts Center (shown above right) which also may be rented separately
  • Upgrades to the tent camping area on the 20+ acres of grounds and trails

Have some development ideas for the Camp?  Watch for a survey soon, and do contact us with your thoughts at any time.

Scott Shuey a Camp Renter and volunteer, and Skamania County Commissioner Bob Hamlin, look on as Board President Val Schaffroth explains a vision for Camp growth at a recent Board Retreat.

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