Since 2005, the Rotary Club of Great Falls has rebuilt Camp Rotary investing over $2 million to rebuild the main lodge, pavilion, 9 cabins, bath house, and water & sewage systems. The Camp's mission is to provide a no cost or low cost facility for nonprofits working with at risk and disadvantaged youth, such as, Camp Skychild, a camp for abused and disadvantaged youth with incarcerated parents. Camp Francis, Benefis Hospital, to assist children that have experienced a recent death in their family to cope with the loss. Camp Runamucka, Montana National Guard, that deals with the social and emotional needs of children of deployed Montana National Guard members. Annually the Camp Rotary is used by over 1,000 children.
The next phase of the modernization of the Camp is to add recreational facilities for camp users, such as soccer and baseball fields, basketball court and volleyball court. The club will be funding $35,000 for leveling and seeding of the playing fields and addition of a basketball court. The club is also adding a volleyball court for campers that costs an additional $9,070. The objective of the grant funds would be to add a volleyball court to our planned improvements.
Rotarians will be participating in the construction of the volleyball court, moving the excavated soil to install approximately 74 cubic yards of sand on the new court area. Installing borders to separate the sand from surrounding areas, and installing volleyball posts in concrete below grade. Also, the club will be purchasing volleyball equipment, hardware, including net, cables and winch system.
Currently, Camp Rotary due to construction has no recreational facilities available to campers. This project will add recreational facilities for enrichment of campers to further aid in their social and emotional stability and development.
The Camp is used by multiple nonprofits located throughout Central Montana that serve 1,000 children per year with almost 4,000 total camper days per year.
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