Crowsnest Lake Bible CampCurrent Projects9 December 2020CONFIDENTIAL
Water StorageDecember 2020 marks the 10 year anniversary of the construction of what we affectionately call ‘The New Well’. No one has ever sipped a drink from the 18 m deep New Well. This is because, in addition to being just east of the office, The New Well is also in a regulatory morass. It’s all very complicated, but suffice to say: it is frustrating. While we work toward a resolution, we are required to haul potable drinking water to camp (which is then primarily used to flush toilets and wash hands). Doubling our on-site storage capacity will decrease the number of trips, and the total operational cost as we await a final decision from Alberta Environment (AEP). Two 2100 gallon tanks, soon to be joined by two more. If the decision from AEP remains ‘forthcoming’ until summer, we may need to extend on-site storage capacity to 12,600 gallonsEstimated Cost: $4,000
Sea Can for StorageWhile our shop is being used to store water, we need an interim Maintenance Storage option - either a 40 ft, or two x 20 ft sea cans. These are very economical storage options, and can certainly be sold when their service is complete. We anticipate that the total cost of the Sea Can, including delivery, will be $3,000.Estimated Cost (incl. delivery): $3,000
Summer Staff AccommodationsCrow has fully-functional, modern, purpose-built, camp-ready buildings for nearly everything: extensive, attractive space for programming; indoor climbing wall and meeting space (at the Lake Site); two professional kitchens; a very well-equipped outtrip room; and beds for 127 campers at our two sites (31 at Mountain Site, and 96 at Lake Site). Our capacity for mechanical/maintenance projects at the Metal Building (Shop) at Lake Site is… perhaps best characterized as “not great, but much improved.”There are still some gaps, the most pressing of which is Summer Staff Accommodation. Outtrip directors; speakers; musicians; cooks, nurses; speakers; program directors…! They all have to sleep somewhere! We need space for the folks who really make camp possible for campers.Three planned projects; total cost: $109,000
Manager Family Cabin at Mtn SiteThe Legg family (Andrew & Franziska; Felix, Violet, and Oscar) have served as Mountainous Site Directors since 2017. Their previous accommodation was donated to Crow 20 years ago… It was ‘worn out’ then, and it has not gotten better. Mennonite Disaster Relief Services (MDS) have offered to provide all of the labour required to replace the manager’s trailer: Crow needs only to provide materials, and permits. In the summer of 2020, Tig Contracting renovated the existing manager’s trailer with a backhoe, and relocated it to the Municipal Dump.The partnership with MDS allows Crow to complete a required, long-term, capital improvement, at a modest cost. Our estimate for materials and permits is $50,000. Because the old trailer has been removed, a new manager’s residence must be completed prior to campers arriving in 2021.Estimated Cost (Materials/Permits): $50,000
Boy’s DormsIn 2006, the Spring Valley Hutterite Colony donated 4 of their family residence buildings. Crow poured new foundations, joined the buildings together, and converted them into the 8 cabins of the Boy’s Sleeping Dormitory. In 2019, 4 of the boy’s cabins were subdivided, creating 4 new smaller rooms (1-4 at right). This new space has proven very useful, and not detrimental to the proper function of the Boys cabins. We intend to subdivide the remaining 4 cabins (5-8 above), and add 4 new three piece bathrooms (sink; shower; toilet, at A-D above), to further increase the utility of these new spaces. Our estimate for this renovation is $36,000:● $4,000 per bathroom (x 4 bathrooms; $16,000 in total)● $3,000 to subdivide remaining cabins (x 4 cabins; $12,000)● $1,000 for finishes on all subdivisions (x 8 cabins; $8,000)Estimated Cost: $36,000 12576834ACBD
How Firm a Foundation? Crow has been purchased motel units from our neighbour to the east, Cozy Nest Cabins. The intention is to convert them to short term summer staff accomodations (leasing excess supply to generate revenue). Some of the buildings are quite run-down, and may need the Don Forsythe Backhoe Renovation, but some are quite salvageable. Crow has completed renovations on two buildings, and will repair the foundation of the old Motel Cabin #10 in Spring 2021. ○ $10,000 for concrete and foundation material; ○ $2,000 for digging and backfilling; ○ $5,000 for the building move;○ $6,000 for new siding Total Estimated Materials Cost: $23,000
Mountain Site Bridge RepairCrow maintains three bridges between Knowles Flats and our Mountainous Site Lease on McGillivray Creek. Periodically, these bridges require maintenance or resurfacing. Bridge One (closest to the camp) was fully re-built in 2018. Bridge Three (closest to Knowles Flats; pictured left; ably supporting Mike Gordon) was re-surfaced last summer. Bridge Two (you guessed it, in between) needs to be fully re-built before summer 2021. Total Estimated Materials Cost: $5,500
LakefrontThe Lake is important. In fact, they named Crowsnest Lake Bible Camp after the Lake, so… it’s a big deal. The Lake is the place where kids can reflect*, have a meaningful conversation; skip stones, or make boats out of leaves and then sink them. The Lakefront was shored-up* with 8x8 pilings around 2000. Since then, erosion, frost-heave & annual flooding in June have undermined the waterfront. We plan to replace the wooden pilings with approximately 40 tonnes of quarried, stackable limestone. This will be more weatherproof, and attractive. *get it?Total Estimated Project Cost: $8,000**Quarried Stackable Limestone cost: $4,000; Labour & Installation Costs: $4,000
AppendixThoughts About Money
For Our Part… (What we want…)• We want Crow to be a giving place - a place that uses a generous measure when we share with others. • We strongly believe that “the laborer is worthy of his hire”.• We want to devote what we resources we have to people and to ministering to people. • We want those people, and their ministries to thrive.Thriving often requires money. Not always a lot… but enough.“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:31-32
A Word on MoneyJesus talked about money a lot:• Jesus emphasizes the importance of investing in other people - giving them what they need to drink, or eat. • Jesus warns about thinking money is permanent; • Jesus cautions against caring too much about it. “Watch out!” he says. “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” • Jesus encourages generosity:• Think about the story of the Prodigal Son, • Think about the story of the Good Samaritan • Jesus accepts generosity himself:• From Joanna and Susanna; • From Mary and her fancy nard perfume.• Jesus says money is a key indication of what we value & tells us something about the heart. It tells us what we love.• Do we love the campers who are the focus of our programs? Let’s put our treasure there.• Do we love the volunteers who make those programs possible? Let’s put our treasure there.And… in the end… it’s all a gift: “As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.” 1 Peter 4:10At Crowsnest Lake Bible Camp, our heart is for people