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TYRONE -- Through its 97 years of operation by volunteers, Camp Anderson has seen its ups and downs, according to Cummins McNitt, vice president of the Camp Anderson Corp.
Last year alone, the site served over 4,300 campers, McNitt said during a Tyrone Area Chamber breakfast event Thursday at the Bull Pen restaurant.
He also said the camp's infrastructure cannot keep up with the growing demands for the camp.
According to John Roseberry, of the Camp Anderson Corp., the camp needs a new sewer system, and they have to build a bigger facility to store donated equipment needed to maintain the park.
He said they realized three years ago their septic system needed to be replaced, so they partnered with Keller Engineers, who created a proposal to detail the work needed to be done in order to sustain the camp and promote growth.
According to Roseberry, state Sen. Judy Ward, R-Blair, got the camp a $120,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, but when they put out bids for the project, the lowest offer was $232,000.
"We worked with all the parties involved trying to find ways that we could manage the difference," he said, adding they received approval from DCED to split the project into two pieces.
He said they looked for additional ways to break down costs and save funding.
Blair Excavating, the contractors involved, proposed using a newer septic system that would replace the sand with absorbent mats.
Roseberry said they could save around $10,000 by opting for the new system. Although they don't know the exact amount they'll save, they'll have to get started on the work soon, he said, because the grant money expires in June.
"We have to have it all done and paid for in that timeframe," Roseberry said.
He said, weather permitting, the work to replace the septic system should "hopefully" begin in March.
In an effort to help fund the project, the corporation launched a capital campaign in November to raise money. They set a goal of $250,000, and so far, they've raised $45,000, according to Roseberry.
"It's a good start, but we have a long way to go. We're looking to you -- the public, the businesses -- to help us with this and get involved," he said, adding in addition to monetary support, like many organizations, they're "hurting" for laborer volunteers, particularly young ones.
McNitt said the camp provides a lot of services to Scouts, church and youth groups and community members who rent its facilities for many events throughout the year.
"If we don't get the word out, we're never going to succeed," he said. "We provide a lot of services, but we can't do it without your help."
Operated by volunteers
Camp Anderson started in 1926 when John Anderson purchased a local farm outside of Tyrone to utilize as a camp for local children to enjoy.
"Right from the beginning, he understood the need to have a group of people that would run it and maintain it," McNitt said.
However, in the 1980s, McNitt said there was a legal dispute because a small council of camping facilities wanted to sell the land.
"The Camp Anderson Corporation said 'That's not yours to sell, it's ours.' So, it went to court, and the court decided we had to sell the camp to the council for $1," he said.
McNitt said the public pushback was so strong that the court added an injunction to prohibit the council from selling the property. But, he said the council was absorbed many times until it eventually became the Boy Scouts of America's Laurel Highlands Council.
In 2016, the corporation "got wind of" the council's intent to sell the camps they absorbed for money.
"We decided as a group that we need to get that camp. Come hell or high water, it's got to happen," he said, adding they were able to purchase the property after months of negotiations in early 2017.
Enjoyed by many
The camp is used by many local groups throughout the year, and the public's interest in the park continues to grow every year, officials said.
Ashley Davidson, who attended the chamber's breakfast gathering, said the Tyrone-Snyder Public Library has held racing events at the camp for the last three years.
"Every year someone goes out of the way to help us," Davidson said of the camp's volunteers. "Someone helps us park cars every single year."
Roseberry said he has a friend who recently turned 100 years old and has fond memories of spending time at Camp Anderson in the 1930s.
"He doesn't remember everything, he may not even remember who I am sometimes, but he remembers about his days at Camp Anderson," Roseberry said. "That's what we're trying to make available for the next generations."
Currently, the camp is financially sustainable through monthly and annual memberships, donations and rental costs. But for major capital repairs, they rely heavily on community support, Roseberry said.
If they aren't able to raise the funds needed for the repairs, he said they'll use a line of credit from Reliance Bank to pay for costs and keep the camp operational for future generations.
"We can't go too far into our current holdings because we need to keep the camp sustainable and solid financially," Roseberry said.
Those who wish to donate to the Camp Anderson Corp., a nonprofit organization, have been asked to visit the camp's website or email info@campanderson
corp.org.
Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.