WINFIELD, B.C. — Camp Winfield got a complete makeover Saturday thanks a group of selfless volunteers and commercial donors. The construction makeover cost approximately half a million dollars factoring in worker’s time and materials, andThe revamp may have been one of the Okanagan’s best kept secrets.
The Lake Country Easter Seals camp offers kids with physical and mental disabilities a chance to camp and enjoy outdoor recreational activities.
Easter Seals president Stephen Miller was taken aback by the makeover. “You would think in my position I would know everything having to do with my charity,” says Stephen Miller. “I’m surprised.”
“Three hundred people kept a secret for a year,” says organizer Rob Ellis. “That’s pretty good.”
Ellis spearheaded the project from a simple idea to fulfill the non-profit’s yearly wishlist of 14 upgrades.
“It started off with 14 original jobs and today it’s 212 jobs,” says Ellis. He and a team of a dozen dedicated friends organized the whole makeover and made it all happen thanks to $250,000 in donated supplies and the manpower of 300 volunteers.
The revamp included everything from a fresh coat of paint to a new amphitheater, toilets, plumbing and electrical work.
“It’s amazing what comes out of one thought and the good intentions of people and I was definitely jumping on board,” says volunteer Sareena Nicoli.
Seeing how much the camp changes kids lives pushed Ellis to help. “When these kids spend a week at this camp it’s phenomenal. You just melt when you see these kids.”
Now because of his idea the campers have a brand new home away from home.
“I’m just…I have no words to say how incredible this is,” says Miller.
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