Kiwanis opens new camp building

Published 1:26 pm Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Peninsula Kiwanis groups came together on Saturday, Aug. 29, for an open house to celebrate a new laundry, shower and bathroom facility at the Kiwanis Camp at Beausite Lake near Chimacum.

"(The open house) celebrated our 20th anniversary of providing services to the Olympic Peninsula’s residents with disabilities," said Sharron Sherfick, camp director. The camp hosts developmentally disabled adults and children.

The new building completes Phase I of the Kiwanis’ building plans.

Phases II-IV include four bunkhouses, a pavilion, therapeutic riding center and a commercial kitchen.

Fundraising is under way and donations are requested so they can begin Phase II in January 2010.

The 2009 summer camp season recently concluded.

As the only camp in Washington to include developmentally disabled adults, applications always are backlogged, said Shell McGuire, immediate past president of Sequim Kiwanis. The camp is open for four, one-week sessions with 25 campers ages 6-65.

Kiwanis Clubs from Clallam, Jefferson and Pierce counties provide 90 percent of the volunteers who operate the camp and approximately 25-28 percent of operating funds. Annual expenses are about $130,000, but grants and facility rentals offset some costs.

For more information, call McGuire at 681-0805.