Mid-Winter Update

Greetings from our little spot in the wilderness!

Here it is, already February, time for another update from the folks at Camp Myrtlewood. We hope you haven't been kept in too much suspense wondering what we've been up to. One of our most frequently asked questions here at Camp is, “What do you all do during the winter months?” We would like to answer that question for all of you out there wondering: A LOT! We love hosting all you campers any time of year, but when we have no groups on our calendar we use that time to get all the work done that has been put on the back burner all sumer and fall. John included a list in our newsletter last May of many of the odds and ends we accomplish in the winter, and that list definitely applies this winter too. Here is a sampling of what we have been working on, and what's been happening, since the fall.

Woodshed

Dana finished the new woodshed next to the Dining Hall, using wood that was milled from the tree that fell last February near the campfire circle. The old woodshed, which served Camp well in it's 75 years, was being gradually pushed into the dining hall by an adjacent tree and many of its supports had been compromised by powder beetles. It was dismantled in October. The new wood shed is a beautiful and sturdy structure that can hold eight cords of well-stacked firewood, enough for camp for the whole year!

Cove Creek Bridge Repair

Every winter, structures and buildings that need it get fixed up. One example from this winter is the repair work done by Sol on the bridge over Cove Creek, which had two or three small trees come down on top of it over the winter. The railing was broken in a couple of spots, and three of the slats were broken, making it a bit hazardous to cross. As the photos below show, it is all fixed up! Thank you Sol!

OMA Retreat

In November, Margaret, Sol and Trina went to Camp Inspiration Hills in Ohio to attend the Outdoor Ministries Association retreat. We spent four days communing with our fellow Camp Managers from Church of the Brethren camps all over the country. Sol and Trina loved making new friends, and Margaret enjoyed visiting with old ones. We all had fun and learned a lot at the workshops we attended in backpacking foods, gardening, peacemaking, fund-raising, marketing, and cooking with dutch ovens. Sol and Trina got a feel for the issues that unite Brethren camps and swapped stories and ideas. After the retreat we visited friends in Ohio, and had a great time exploring Amish country along the way. John graciously held down the (peace) fort for us. Thank you John!

Wheelchair Ramp & Church Steeple

John and Sol, with the help of Bill and Don, built a wheelchair ramp for Heike and Wally (two dear friends of Camp). Wally passed away recently but was able to use the ramp to get to and from the hospital several times before he left us. Dana and John worked on the church steeple at the Presbyterian Church in Myrtle Point. They built a support system for the bell, which was at risk of tumbling down. A thousand-pound bell falling a hundred feet would make a terrible mess of things! It's more secure now.

Fund-raising Efforts

In December John and Margaret wrote a letter informing our Camp community about our latest fund-raising effort, “Friends of Camp Myrtlewood.” We have received many donations since we sent out that letter, and we thank all of you who have donated! We wouldn't be able to continue the work of keeping Camp Myrtlewood running without the generosity of all of you. Margaret has made many beautiful thank you cards by hand, and we would love to send one to you! If you have been meaning to make a donation but hadn't gotten around to it, we encourage you to check out our donation page, or send a one-time donation in the form of a check to our address, 49658 Myrtle Creek Rd, Myrtle Point, OR 97458 (which you can always find on the right-hand side of every page of this website). Thank you! We all feel very passionate about the inclusive Christian hospitality we provide here at Camp Myrtlewood.

Human Dignity Award

In January, John and Margaret were presented with the Lila Bidwell Human Dignity Award. They received the award during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration put on by the Human Rights Advocates of Coos County. Congratulations John and Margaret, we're so proud!

Taking Steps Toward a Conservation Easement

We now have a certificate that reads, “Camp Myrtlewood...has achieved Forest Stewardship Council(TM) (FSC®) certification through Northwest Certified Forestry, a program of the Northwest Natural Resource Group (NNRG). The enrolled property is covered by NNRG's group certificate and is recognized as a well-managed source of wood products whose forest management practices adhere to strict environmental and socio-economic standards in accordance with the principles and criteria of the FSC®.” This certification represents phase two of our attempt to attach a conservation easement to our land deed. A conservation easement would protect our land even if ownership were to transfer into someone else's hands someday. Phase one was the drawing up of an environmental plan with Jerry Becker (which was a three or more year project). Phase three will be the raising of the money to pay for a conservation easement, approximately $35,000. An extensive carbon inventory has been done and that, along with this green certification, would allow us to sell carbon offsets in the open market in the future. This is a big deal, we've been working on this a long time, and we're tickled at the progress this represents.

Seasonal Staff Update

Sura Faraj, a friend of Trina and Sol's, is staying at Camp for about three months, exploring the possibility of making a long-term commitment here. She arrived in January and has already proven to be a huge help. She has many years of experience working for and with non-profits; permaculture design, gardening, composting, and making and using rain barrels; marketing and fund-raising. She brought her dog Douzie with her, so Marley has a new pal to run around with. We are all grateful for the work she is doing here, welcome and thank you Sura!

As I type this...

...it is a gorgeous, sunny (though chilly) day, and we're taking advantage of it to get some outside work done, like pruning apple trees and weeding garden beds. Indoor projects can wait until we have more rainy days, which we undoubtedly will in the near future. Time for me to post this newsletter and start on the next project. Thanks for reading! Feel free to comment, and let us know if there's anything you'd like to hear more about.

Many blessings from John, Margaret, Trina, Solomon, Sura, Marley, Douzie, and the cats