Camp Property Management Committee
The Camp Property Management Committee consists of six members nominated by the Nominating Committee and appointed by the Yearly Meeting. In addition, either the clerk or another member of the Trustees, Camping Program Committee, and Stewardship and Finance Committee, and the Camp Property Manager are ex officio members. The Committee may appoint subcommittees as needed, which may include members from outside the Committee. The Committee will normally meet at least twice a year.
The Committee is a governing committee that oversees the management of the present and any future properties of the Yearly Meeting uses for Camping Programs, Retreats, and other similar activities. The Committee’s purpose is threefold: to plan ahead for the long term needs of the camp properties; to oversee the content and direction of the Camp Property Manager’s work; and to support the Camp Property Manager with specific projects as needed. While the committee has full authority to carry out its tasks, the fiduciary responsibility for the Yearly Meeting Properties rests with the Trustees.
The Committee will manage the camp properties as one financial entity and will prepare operating and capital budgets which will be listed separately within the Yearly Meeting budget. For this purpose, appropriate accounts will be established, including a capital reserve account. The Committee will be responsible for setting the fees for the use of the properties. All income generated by the camp properties, including timber sales, will be available for the operation and development of the camp properties. Gifts and bequests may be received into the Committee’s accounts. Financial statements will be prepared annually at the same time as the Yearly Meeting accounts, of which they will form a part.
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Manual of Procedure, August 2005, p17
Advance Report - 2008
At Catoctin, the final phase of pond improvement was completed which involved mucking the bottom of the pond, regrading the banks for stabilization and placement of washed limestone dust along the banks. In addition, plumbing from the new wet well was installed, with a 6 inch line to the new fire hydrant and electrical conduit and a 2 inch PVC line to serve a UV system if needed. The new hydrant is easily accessible to the fire department and is expected to reduce insurance costs for the camp. One new cabin was built in the fall and work is underway to put stoops on all cabins in order to comply with fire code regulations.
Before another cabin can be built at Catoctin, our site development plan must be updated and undergo review and approval by Frederick County. The committee hopes to have the site plan submitted shortly so that we can proceed with plans to construct a new cabin in the fall.
At Shiloh, a new waterline was installed to the caretaker’s house to address problems with sediment entering the water line. Unfortunately we continue to have sediment in the water system and work on the well may be necessary. This problem is currently being addressed. We continue to make improvements and repairs to the existing camper cabins to prolong their useful life and make them even safer. Our efforts at controlling the kudzu at Shiloh are bearing fruit and we will continue to vigilant in controlling and eliminating this persistent and destructive invasive species.
At Opequon, we continue to make improvements and repairs to the existing structures. In the Spring of 2007 a donated trailer was placed next to the infirmary in order to provide more space for children who are not feeling well to recover and a place for the Health Care Person to stay and attend to those who are in need. The committee has also reviewed a proposed cabin design to replace the older cabins that are close to the end of their useful lives.
Based on the committee’s review of past current and future budgets, the expenses associated with owing and maintaining the camp properties consistently exceed income from all sources. While short-term fundraising has helped narrow the deficits, the committee feels that having a person devoted to ongoing fundraising would be very helpful for attaining a balanced budget and raising money for large upcoming capital projects. Although stewardship and finance has developed a position description for general BYM fundraising that includes camp properties, the property committee has concerns that the scope of the job description is so broad that it will be difficult for the individual to pursue the type of focused fund raising effort that we envision. To address this issue, the committee continues to discuss developing a specific proposal for a half-time fundraising position dedicated to camp property capital projects.
The committee continues to seek ways of increasing revenue generated by the properties. As we worked on our budget this year we were particularly focused on developing a more comprehensive capital projects budget.
Finally, the committee has worked towards creating a calendar and “scope and schedule” for annual future committee work.
On behalf of the committee and yours in the light,
Allen Fetter, clerk
Advance Report - 2007
The Committee met four times this past year to work on the following main tasks; 1) planning and scheduling near-term and long-term projects and required maintenance, 2) developing a budget that more clearly reflects the expenses of owning and maintaining the camp properties, 3) hiring a new caretaker for Catoctin, and 4) planning and participating in work weekends at Catoctin, Opequon and Shiloh.
At Catoctin, drainage around the lodge was addressed, one new cabin was built and the next phase of the pond improvement was undertaken – installation of a 4’ wet well serving a new fire hydrant and plumbing/conduit for a UV system. Painting and reroofing was done to improve the boys and girls bathhouses. Later this year another cabin is planned and the final phase of pond improvement will be done (beginning late-August/early-September) to help stabilize the banks and reduce turbidity. A new caretaker at Catoctin, Stephen Dotson, was hired in February.
At Shiloh, the committee cleared out many fallen trees in the kudzu field and worked with the caretaker on a continued kudzu eradication program. The committee began looking over a potential site for a new pond east and uphill from the dining hall to enhance aquatic activities at the camp. The Shiloh forestry management plan was also reviewed and some work was done to carry it out. Four of the campers’ cabins were also given structural improvements.
At Opequon improvements were made to the director’s cabin and the bathhouses. A trailer was also installed and a toilet and shower were added creating a better facility for providing Health care at Opequon.
Based on the committee’s review of past current and future budgets, the expenses associated with owing and maintaining the camp properties consistently exceed income from all sources. While short-term fundraising has helped narrow the deficits, the committee feels that having someone devoted to ongoing fundraising would be very helpful for attaining a balanced budget. To move forward on this issue, the committee has developed a specific proposal for a fundraising position. The committee has also worked to improve the budget by focusing especially on Capital projects. Finally, the committee has worked towards creating a calendar and "scope and schedule" for annual future committee work.
Interchange - Spring 2007
Spring Work Weekends At The BYM Camp Properties
Spring is coming to the camps.
You can too…
Spring is upon us and it is time to start thinking about
getting our camp properties ready for another season of
use. Your camps are hopping with new life in the spring
time and they beg us to join them for a weekend. Work
weekends offer us an opportunity to enjoy some fun
with Friends, some time for renewal, and some gratifying
and meaningful work! We all have the opportunity
to come to camp for a weekend or a day and offer our
time and enthusiasm to the places that we love. You,
your family, friends, and anyone else are invited to participate
in one or more of the work weekends listed
below. Work weekends provide a great chance to see
our camp properties in a new season or for the first
time. Come and give the gift of your time and enjoy the
gifts our camps have to give.
You DO NOT need to have any building or carpentry
skills in order to pitch in! We need all kinds of people
to make contributions. You do need to have some energy
and a willingness to get dirty, try new things, be
flexible and enjoy the company of others who want to
pitch in too. We need sweepers, painters, cooks, ditchers,
concrete mixers, trail clearers as well as carpenters and
handy people. All of us have contributions to make, so
come on out and enjoy some physical activity and the
company of Friends! Simply send an e-mail to
davidhunter@bym-rsf.org if you plan to attend.
Work weekends are held on both Saturday and Sunday;
you may come just for the day or you may spend the night on Saturday
night. Bring bedding (we do not always have enough suitable mattresses), flashlights, and anything else you may want. Cabins are
generally available or you may bring a tent. Please visit the
Website before
you come to make sure everything is on schedule. There may be times when
we are sharing camp with other renters and cabin space will be limited.
Please remember to send an e-mail message to
davidhunter@bym-rsf.org if you plan to attend.
Friends of all ages are welcome. Young people (0-
18) years of age should always bring their parents or a
Friendly Adult Presence (FAP). Parents or FAPs will
be responsible for supervising the young people
under their care.
| LOCATION | DATE |
| Catoctin Quaker Camp | April 14 – 15, 2007 |
| Opequon Quaker Camp | April 28 – 29, 2007 |
| Catoctin Quaker Camp | May, 5 – 6, 2007 |
| Shiloh Quaker Camp | May 19 - 20, 2007 |
| Opequon Quaker Camp | June 2 - 3, 2007 |
Interchange - Fall 2006
Fall Work Weekends at the BYM Camp Properties
Another great summer has passed at the camps and we are getting into fall and winter mode. We are planning a few more exciting work weekends at the BYM camp properties and would love to have you join us. The dates for this fall are: Opequon Quaker Camp, October 13 - 15; Catoctin Quaker Camp, . For more information, see Work Weekends or write davidhunter@bym-rsf.org
Pond Water Quality Improvement Project at Catoctin
Work on improving the water quality in the pond at Catoctin began this spring and the results were well beyond our expectations. The water in the “Lagoon” has never been as clean as it was this summer! However, there is still work to be done and we are still in need of funds. Please call (301-774-7663) or e-mail (davidhunter@bym-rsf.org) for more information, and donate to The Lagoon Fund, Baltimore Yearly Meeting Office, 17100 Quaker Lane, Sandy Spring MD 20860.
Advance Report - 2006
The Committee met in four times this year to work on the following main tasks; 1) planning and scheduling near-term and long-term projects and required maintenance, 2) developing a budget that more clearly reflects the expenses of owning and maintaining the camp properties, and 3) planning and participating in work weekends at Catoctin, Opequon and Shiloh.
At Catoctin, one new cabin was built and the first phase of the pond improvement was completed. In the coming years more cabins are planned and the second phase of pond improvement will be completed. Last summer a new septic field was installed at Catoctin, insuring safe handling of waste well into the future.
A 20-year lease will be signed in the fall for Opequon, which allows work to proceed on needed infrastructure at the camp. The high-priority projects at Opequon include a new infirmary and repairs/upgrades to the kitchen.
A new roof was put on one cabin at Shiloh and the committee is exploring ways to enhance aquatic activities at the camp.
Based on the committee’s review of past current, future budgets and the need for capital improvements, the expenses associated with owing and maintaining the camp properties often exceed income the properties generate. While short-term fundraising has helped narrow the deficits, the committee feels that it is critical that the Yearly Meeting devotes more time and resources to ongoing fundraising.
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