Young Life has owned Castaway for more than 40 years. In the early years the focus was on changing the property from a summer home estate to a camp for 150 high school young people. Later the opportunity came to buy a few acres of adjacent property, including a sandy beach for the campers to enjoy. About 15 years ago Young Life decided to upgrade the camp property and prepare it to serve 350 kids each camp week . Several projects have been completed, and now the attention turns to the remaining two major facilities.

This project will replace the existing Schooner Girls Dorm with a new, freestanding building. The existing Schooner is a remnant of the Smith family’s summer cottage and has been retrofitted, remodeled and used as a camper dorm. The need to completely replace the structure has been identified as the best long-term solution and fiscally responsible decision.  It will provide 96 quality camper beds and, in addition, will include lounge space for meeting and gathering.  Including our other girls dorm, we will be able to house 176 female campers and leaders in a facility that meets the standards for Young Life dormitories. 

The Cutter dorm has been one of two boys dormitory buildings at Castaway.  Construction of a new boys dorm has presented the opportunity to use this building for summer staff.  Due to the age and condition of the building, the dorm will be replaced with a new facility to meet the needs of summer staff housing.

 

 

Young Life camps have a long-standing policy to first raise the funds and then to develop new projects, facilities and programmatic activities.

 

This is so the camp fee that summer and school season guests pay is minimized to reflect true operating costs.  This practice also allows us to develop new projects to a standard of excellence.

 

If you are interested in further information or to make a contribution to the development of Castaway Club please contact Greg Johnson, Castaway Club Property Manager, at 218.532.2662 or visit our online giving page.