Construction begins on Camp Medley building
By Ana Watts
A completely renewed Camp Medley will greet young New Brunswick Anglican campers when they arrive for the 2010 camping season. The inadequate and dilapidated staff house will be gone and a brand new administration/staff accommodations building will stand in its place. The transformed nurse’s hut/ infirmary will be bright and beautiful as well as comfortable and efficient.
Phase three donations garnered by Archbishop Claude Miller combined with government dollars enabled construction of the new administration/accommodation building to begin this week. The first step is to demolish the existing staff house. Architect Greg Murdock of Murdock and Boyd designed the building to include everything on the camp wish-list — administration office, individual suites for the director, assistant director, chaplain and cook, staff lounge, tuck shop and craft room. It also fits in with the design of the new cabins and multi-use building and uses the existing foundation and service entrances. Whew! It was a tall order.
“It was a challenge, especially to get the line,” says project manager Alan Drew of Murdock and Boyd. “But the new building is going to blend with the new dining hall next door and with the new cabins.”
Archbishop Miller appreciates the fine work of the architects and the generosity of the contractor. “Art Arnburg, a member of the Camp Medley facilities committee and a journeyman electrician, offered to donate his labour to the project, and our contractor Tim Flood — of John F. Flood (1961 Limited) —graciously accepted his offer.”
“I’m glad to be working with the church again,” says Mr. Flood, whose company built the Church of the Resurrection in Grand Bay – Westfield as well as the major addition to St. Paul’s in Rothesay. He is fully aware of the importance of careful financial stewardship in church projects.
The refurbished nurse’s hut will have accommodations for the nurse and a three-bed infirmary. Completion date for the construction is June 1.
“We will eventually stabilize and spruce up the old dining hall, but the refurbishment of the main camp buildings will be complete this year,” says Archbishop Miller. “We will have a safe, efficient and beautiful camp where generation after generation of young people will continue to come, have fun, and grow in their faith.”
Camp Medley is proud to offer a well-rounded camp experience to young people from throughout New Brunswick and from even farther afield. Children often come to visit grandparents in New Brunswick in the summer and a week at Medley is often a part of that adventure. Just over half of the campers who register each year are Anglican. The rest come from other denominations. Young people from inner city neighbourhoods, who might otherwise never enjoy a camp experience, are often sponsored by the camp and many Anglican parishes.
Diocesan Communications
19 January 2010
