Earlier this year, renovations to Camp Heritage’s Wildlife Inn were completed. These renovations included replacing toilets, vanities, fixtures and flooring.
Completed in 1993, the Wildlife Inn underwent small adjustments over the past 11 years, however, no major alterations had been made in quite some time.
“We decided that after almost 30 years, the Wildlife Inn needed a new look,” said Denison Sager, youth director.
Renovations began in January. Students from Sunnydale Adventist Academy (SAA) helped with the renovations. Students cleared the rooms and disposed of items. They also helped scrape popcorn textured ceilings and paint the walls and ceilings.
Charity, a student at SAA, said she grew up attending Camp Heritage and really liked the environment. She said she always felt the presence of God at camp and when she heard about the opportunity to help, she knew she wanted to be a part.
“I’ve always been really passionate about Camp Heritage,” Charity said. “I take any chance I can to come here and to help [the camp].”
Lee Rochholz, ministerial director also assisted with the renovations. Rochholz said the SAA students were a big help to the renovation project.
“Since there haven’t been any overseas mission trips since COVID, it’s an opportunity for the kids that want to do something to serve to be able to come down and help,” Rochholz said. “I’ve really enjoyed working with the kids.”
In addition to physical renovations, the rooms also received updates through new furniture and linens. Each room, in keeping with its name, is themed. For example, the eagle room features eagle related décor.
These renovations are just a few made in the past couple of years. During this time, staff members and volunteers helped renovate the bathhouses and medicine lodge. Some other camp improvement projects completed in the past three years include a new implementation shed, new triplex cabin in the boys’ village and new wood decking for the swim dock.
Sager said the camp has more renovation and improvement projects they hope to start soon. These renovations include replacing flooring in the Medicine Lodge and Four Seasons rooms, updating the Lodge and updating the cafeteria guest room and double wide guest houses.
“Our Conference’s Camp Committee will be working to determine the priority of these projects,” Sager said.
If you want to support capital improvements at Camp Heritage, you can donate through your local Iowa or Missouri church at adventistgiving.org or by marking Camp Heritage on your church’s tithe envelope.
