2003 Mid- Year Convention

AEA Youth Camp Report
by Jack Warter

One and one half years ago at the 2002 May Convention the Lodges comprising the Arizona Elks Association voted to adopt a second Major Project namely a defunct YMCA camp located in the Sierra Ancha Mountain Range on Workman Creek 22 miles South of Young Arizona. In March of this year we became the proud owners of the 7.83 acre camp.

Located at the camp at the time of the sale was a main building that included a kitchen with outdated equipment, 8 usable cabins, an Onan 4 cylinder LP gas generator, 2 propane tanks, a fairly modern restroom/shower room building, a system that used creek water to supply the camp, a 30’ deep surface well, an old cistern, several old outhouses, an old shower room, an old barn, several other old buildings and a lot of trash and unusable material.

The property was overgrown with brush, saplings and blackberry vines. There was also a lot of down and dead wood all of which creates a fire hazard.

The camp was purchased with the intent it would be used for State wide Church Groups, Boy/girl scouts, 4-H, CASA, youth corps and other supervised youth service organizations. Free weeks and weekends could be used for family reunions or Lodge outings and picnics.

It was also purchased with the intent that Elks members and their families could get involved in rebuilding and improving the camp. So far members from 15 out of the 42 Lodges have been involved.

A committee was formed that included all interested Elks from the 4 Districts. A game plan was laid out to refurbish the camp and bring it back to working order to accommodate the Arizona youth groups. Our goal is to have this accomplished by spring of 2004.

Sense AEMP Board and the YMCA Board felt the sale of the camp was imminent; the YMCA Board gave us the approval to go ahead and start the renovation in the fall of 2002.

The following is an up to date camp progress report and no names are mentioned least I leave someone out.

Camp (general)

Removal of brush, saplings, down and dead wood, blackberry vines and thinning of overgrowth is about 10% complete. A lot of help is needed on this project.

The cistern, old outhouses, old barn, old shower room, other non-salvageable  buildings, trash and unusable materials have been removed. 100% complete.

Property Boundaries

There were about 3 acres of the property that wasn’t fenced. Actual boundary lines were surveyed and staked every 50’ for fencing purposes. 100% complete.

Right of Way Easements

Right of way easements at the upper and lower gates have been surveyed and easement applications are in process. 80% complete.

Camp Layout

All buildings, wells, tanks, septic system, lines, etc. have been located on a master camp plan print and measurements from every critical location have been note on the print. The print also includes elevations and terrain markings for a floodplain application.

Fence

The North or back side of the property fence line has been cleared and T posts driven along the line and barbed wire installed. Because the fence along the front side or creek side of the property has been grandfathered in, the fence and posts will just be replaced in that area.

Potable Water Well

A potable water well has been drilled on the up end of the property. A new line from the well has been piped to the 1300 and 1400 gallon water storage tanks and from the storage tanks to the main building. A new water line also runs up to the restroom/shower room but has not been piped into the building yet. 100% complete.  A 5000 gallon storage tank is being evaluated for purchase and used for a water reserve for the camp and in case of a fire. A concrete pad has been poured to house the potable water tanks.

Surface Well

The surface well is operable and can be used for irrigation or for a standby for the toilets in case the creek water dries up during a dry year. 100% complete.

Creek Water

The creek water now feeds into a 75 gallon head tank and then into the boiler cylinder tank. The line was lowered so the boiler tank would gravity feed to the restroom toilets using the whole height of the boiler tank. 100% complete.

Electrical Lines

New conduit was laid from the new well to the main building and from the main building to the restrooms and electrical wire installed. This includes an outlet at the old well and another outlet for a future camp hosts.

Main Building

All outdated equipment was removed from the kitchen and craft room. All the thin wall board was removed from the kitchen and craft room. All electrical wiring and plumbing was removed from both rooms. The wiring in the main dining hall was left intact. 100% complete.

A new 200 amp service box has been installed on the outside of the main building. The kitchen and craft room has been completely rewired. New sheet rock has been installed on the kitchen and craft room walls. FRP board and coving has been installed on the kitchen walls except behind the stove. 100% complete.

Updated equipment has been installed and plumbed in the kitchen including stainless steel wash sinks, produce sink and hand sink. 100% complete.

A reconditioned commercial stove and new gas line has been installed and the orifices changed to accommodate LP gas. The duct over the stove has been sealed to prevent rain water damage. 100% complete. We still need to install the stainless steel sheet behind the stove and the hood and exhaust fan over the stove.

A new LP gas water heater for the kitchen has been installed, plumbed and vented through the roof. We still need to install a lower breather duct and plumb in the pressure relief valve. 90% complete.

The area above the FRP board and the kitchen ceiling have been painted.

The cement floor in the kitchen has been painted with a urethane coating. The painting of the main and cabin floors will come about later this year. The back or craft room has been sheet rocked but needs taped and painted.

The alcove on the West end of the building has been enclosed to accommodate a dry storage area and a laundry room. This area has been wired, plumbed and the floor brought up to kitchen floor level. The walls need to be sheet rocked and painted. Material for this project is on the premises. Shelving for the dry storage is also on the premises.

Generator Room

The pad for the generator room has been laid out, formed, rebar installed and concrete poured. We have on hand a steel door and frame for the building and an 8’ garage door is forthcoming from one our members. The Styrofoam concrete blocks the building are in place and need to be grouted. The building will house the Onan generator that is fueled by LP gas. A transformer for the generator is on the premises. When this project is complete it will supply the power to the 200 amp service at the main building and to other parts of the camp requiring electricity.

Restrooms – Shower room

Creek water is currently used in this building. A potable water line has been run to the building and it will supply the showers and sinks when plumbed in. Some of the sinks and toilets need to be replaced and the shower piping needs to be replaced along with the hot/cold water controls. The copper pipe for this project is on the premises. A plan to upgrade the restrooms/shower room is on the drawing board.

Cabins

The old makeshift bunks and lockers have been removed from all the cabins. All cabins have been painted bright white on the inside and pine green on the outside. We received 40 metal cots from one of the prison systems and have asked for 24 more cots. We have purchased 40 mattresses for the cots we have on hand.  A member had a lead on some steel lockers and they should be forthcoming. Screens for the shutters glass panes have been installed. New doors for the cabins are on the premises and need to be installed. Some of the steps to the cabins need to be replaced or repaired and the same hold true for some of the roofs. The concrete floors in 7 of the cabins need to be painted.

Electrical Wiring

Enough wiring has been donated to furnish power to the main building, new well, restrooms and all the cabins. Conduit has been laid in the trenches for everything except the cabins. At a later date a 100 amp service will be installed on the restroom building and trenches run to all the cabins to supply them with electricity. The plan is to have one light and outlet in each cabin and a porch light on each cabin.

Schedule

October 25 & 26 – work parties, fencing project

November 1 & 2 – work parties, electrical wiring at restroom.

As you can see from this report there has been a lot accomplished towards the refurbishing of the camp but there is still a lot of projects to be done. Any and all help from the Association Lodges and members would be appreciated.

Thanks to Rock Anderson from Prescott Lodge all the camp update reports, camp history, pictures, etc. are on the Prescott Lodge web site. You can access all this at www.prescottelks.org and click on camp on the home Page.