Updates at Camp Include:

• The Welcome Center has been completed and turned over to the Council by the contractor on April 20th. The landscaping of the area around the Welcome Center has been completed and the effort to furnish it has now begun. The Welcome Center, in addition to being a storm shelter will house the Ranger’s office, a first aid room, the camp trading post and the camp host quarters complete with a small kitchen, shower and sleeping accommodations.
• The Ranger’s home has been completed and occupied for several months. Thanks to a contribution from a company in Omaha, landscaping is beginning and a number of new trees will be planted around the house.
• The rebuilding of the Poots’ Family Stage has been completed. A new sound and lighting booth, has been built in front of the stage. It will house all the controls to operate the lighting and sound equipment installed as part of the stage complex. The stage also houses a storage area that will be used as a ‘dressing room’ for Scout activities on the stage and as storage for program equipment that will be used in the stage area.
• Main electric service has been run to the new Ed Leach RV Family Campsite. Dirt work will begin shortly to divert a water drainage system from the center of the valley to the west side to permit the installation of the 12 camper pads planned for the site. The camper pad installation and the 30 and 50 amp electric service will be installed shortly after the dirt work is finished. Estimated completion of this phase of the project is the middle of May, 2009.
• The Bekins’ East Cabin remodeling has been completed.It is ready to be rented by Scouting and non-Scouting units.
• Five of the six major hiking trails around the camp have been cleared of all tornado damage. Thanks to a tree contractor and volunteers, these trails are now open for use by Scouts and families.
• Major logging operations are still being carried on in the North Valley as well as other tree areas of camp damaged by the tornado. The logging operation will continue until the spring of 2010 in an effort to clean up the damaged areas. Plans are being developed for future controlled burning and reforestation of many of the areas after the logging operation has been completed.
• 99.9 percent of the damaged areas of the central valley have been cleaned up. Normal operations and camping is scheduled to begin again after the grand re-opening of the camp on May 2, 2009. However, certain areas of camp including the North Valley will remain closed to camping until these areas can be declared safe for use.
• A new split rail fence is currently being constructed at the entrance to the camp. However, no estimate has been made as to completion of this phase of the rebuilding.
• Tree debris that has been accumulated over the last 10 months is being ground into wood chips for use all over the camp. As the rebuilding process is continuing, the ground has been disturbed in many places and as a temporary fix, wood chips will be used as ground cover until a more permanent cover can been established.
• Donations can be sent to The Boy Scouts of America, Mid-America Council, at 12401 West Maple Road, Omaha, NE 68164.