I want to tell you two quick stories from this year’s camp season and then ask you to help me with a matter that we must address...
First, you would have enjoyed a very sweet moment that happened at 1st and 2nd grade Day Camp. Nana Jo and Grandad Larry were teaching a Bible lesson, and while that is pretty sweet in and of itself, what made it even sweeter was that their granddaughter Maggie was one of the students listening.
Larry and Jo have been bringing their kids, and now grandkids to Family Camp since 1983 when their two children, Mandi and Alec were just 5 and 3 years old. They haven’t missed one since!
The only Family Camp that Mandi missed during the last 41 years was for the birth of her daughter Scarlett -- so of course they celebrate Scarlett’s birthday with their Oil Belt family each year. Mandi's daughter, Ava, celebrates her spiritual birthday during Family Camp. She was the first camper to be baptized in the pool.
Three generations – generational impact – a hallmark of Camp!
For nearly 80 years, Oil Belt has seen generational impact because it holds true to the goal to “make disciples of Jesus Christ through the teaching of God’s word.” The Ring/Donaldson family is just one example. I bet you know many others!
Second, Sandy, our camp cook, had some serious medical issues this spring that prevented her from being here with us. Sandy’s boys have grown up attending every camp they could and have served as event staff for retreats like Men’s Night and Family Camp.
During her absence, nine great people stepped up to serve – and while we all missed Sandy – camp didn’t miss a beat. Oil Belt family.
Your love, prayers, and giving to Oil Belt makes this kind of generational and family impact possible. THANK YOU!
This year, we served 1,902 campers and 600 of them were new to camp. Of those 600, 126 campers had no connection to a church family or a youth group, which means 126 young people were possibly hearing the gospel for the first time! Gospel impact!
I feel sure you want to see this impact continue – that’s why I’m asking if you can help us address a matter at year-end.
In the last six years, the camps general fund expenses have increased from $800,000 to an estimated $1.2 million for 2025.
A large part of this increase is due to the continued rise in the Illinois minimum wage – the wage paid to our great summer staff men and women. From 2018 it has steadily risen from $8.25 per hour to $15 per hour next year. Almost doubling our staff wages. We don’t disagree it is great for the wonderful staff who serve here, but it does create some budgeting issues.
Then there is the inflation we’ve all dealt with in our personal budgets – food, fuel, utilities, insurance and on and on – I’m sure you’ve experienced it too! When serving the scale of hundreds of campers for several weeks, it creates an exponential increase!
We have been carefully analyzing and preparing our budget for 2025 -- and we’re diligently striving to hold the line everywhere we can. But even if we don’t add one new program or activity for the students – we try to do that each year – but even if we don’t, we still anticipate at least a $66,000 increase needed to maintain our quality services.
Then there are the matters of maintenance – for example, Caralyn our custodian, does a fantastic job all over campus. She is especially good at keeping the cafeteria and arc floors clean and shining. Imagine with nearly 2,000 campers what a job that is!
Caralyn’s floor “scrubber” – a powerful and practical machine – is dead. And it’s no wonder, it does about 3 miles of scrubbing each time she fires it up to do the floors. To replace that necessary tool will cost about $10,000.
So, if this is a time when you might be able to provide a special gift – I promise it will go to help Oil Belt keep doing what it has done so well for 78 years – make generational, family, and Gospel impact for thousands of children, students, young, middle-aged, and even older adults!
One last thing – sometimes I think I’m the only one thinking about budgets, repairs, replacements and so on – but then I realize you, and 100’s more like you are there with me.
Thank you for doing what you can – I’m deeply grateful!
Sincerely,
Tyler Mulvany
Executive Director
P.S. Nana Jo and Grandad Larry -- Sandy and her sons – nine volunteers – I don’t think camp would be the same without them – or you!
I want to continue the camps' generational impact and help get Caralyn that scrubber!