Gene Hollenberg, executive director of Camp Alexander Mack south of Milford, relaxes on the front porch of the recently completed Esther and John Hamer Health Center, which will address the injuries and illnesses of the camp’s attendees. Photo by Todd Eastis.

By Ray Balogh
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — Camp Alexander Mack, a year-round camp and conference center at 1113 E. Camp Mack Road, Milford, will celebrate its emergence from the pandemic with an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 16.

The public is invited to see more than $800,000 in improvements completed in the last year, including a new health center, solar power installation, peace garden overlooking the lake, high ropes challenge course, repairs to the wetlands boardwalk and several building upgrades. Refreshments will be served.

“Our mission at Camp Mack is to provide a sanctuary where people connect with God, experience creation and build Christian community,” said Todd Eastis, the camp’s director of development and business.

“The pandemic made it very difficult to gather and enjoy Camp Mack, so we cancelled all our traditional summer programming in 2020. We pivoted some of our traditional events to make them safer and pursued new opportunities.”

Camp personnel took vigorous advantage of the COVID shutdown.

“Projects like the Esther and John Hamer Health Center, the high ropes challenge course and the solar project were all being planned before the pandemic,” said Eastis. “Not having a normal year gave us more flexibility with the logistics and staff time needed to make these projects possible.”

The health center serves the camp program by centralizing and modernizing health services for campers. It was built through funding from the current $1.1 million capital campaign. The building also provides public restrooms for adjacent spaces.

The center’s namesakes, Esther and John Hamer, served as Camp Mack staff members, medical missionaries to Nigeria and medical professionals in the Fort Wayne area. In the late 1960s, the couple identified the Lassa fever virus, paving the way for treatment and prevention.

A dedication ceremony for the health center will take place at 2:30 p.m.

Another camp improvement funded by the capital campaign is the peace garden overlooking Lake Waubee with views of the lake’s spectacular sunsets. The garden was designed and supplied by New Vistas Landscaping of Middlebury. The designer, Judy DePew, supervised the installation as a volunteer.

In early 2020 the camp received a grant from the K-21 Health Foundation to build a high ropes challenge course. The course will open for a community day Saturday, June 5. The camp is currently booking opportunities for groups beginning in mid-August.

In mid-April, Wellspring Components and RES completed a solar power installation, financed by Lake City Bank, that will meet current and future electrical power needs. Camp Mack averaged 243 megawatt hours in power usage, and the installation will significantly decrease the camp’s carbon footprint and save it money, as the cost of financing is below projected costs for electricity.

Building upgrades, financed through donations from individuals, groups and churches, include several new roofs, new windows and interior insulation and freshening.

Eastis is optimistic about the coming camp season and beyond. “As more people get vaccinated and case numbers remain low, all of us at Camp Mack are excited to have a more normal summer. After a lonely year inside, it is a joy to be able to provide a space for people to safely gather.

“We are also excited to show how we have invested into this place as we near our 100th anniversary in 2025. Coming to our open house will help anyone see how Camp Mack can provide them a sanctuary.”

The 240-acre camp is a ministry supported by the Church of the Brethren in Indiana. It is open year-round, providing summer camp programs and rentals; activities and retreats for families, adults and children; facility and banquet rentals for churches, organizations and families; and a growing outdoor education program.

Food and guest services are provided throughout the year.

For more information, call (574) 658-4831, email Eastis at [email protected] or visit www.campmack.org.