Waterfront Improvement Project

Re-creation Area

If the Pacific Ocean is our front yard, the Waterfront area is our front porch. The primary function of the space is recreation. On most afternoons you can hear college students dribbling the basketball or spiking a volleyball. Children squeal with delight in the play yard. Young mothers sun themselves on the rocky beach while others make a work of art in the craft area. Swimmers check out snorkeling equipment at the boat house to explore sea life near the Rock Jetty. And at night the campfire area comes alive with music and storytelling.

But all of that is just the surface. Look deeper and you will discover the true meaning of re-creation area. Human hearts are transformed and lives are renewed. The campfire circle is holy ground because more commitments to follow Jesus are made there than any other place on Santa Catalina Island.  On the courts, competitive college students are doing more than working up a sweat. They build bonds of friendship with one another that in some cases may last a lifetime. On the beach, a golden tan is not the only goal. Over extended couples living fast paced lives on the mainland get a chance to rest and finally talk about what is really important to them. Their marriages are renewed. And their happy and well cared for children in the play yard make it possible for parents to meet and learn from others in a similar life stage. Finally, for some their work of art from the craft area is actually a form of therapy that profoundly deepens their faith.

Waterfront Improvements

Over the next eighteen months we would like to make some needed improvements to the Waterfront area that we believe will enhance our ability to accomplish our vision of making Campus by the Sea a place where our guests can come to rest and be renewed.

Phase 1

Relocate the two volleyball courts, fill with soft beach sand, and construct a full size basketball court to replace the crumbling half court. To see a progress report on phase one read here.

Phase 2

Build a new and enlarged campfire circle at the location of the existing basketball court. Create a permanent and protected sandy beach under the palm trees and above the high tide line.

Phase 3

Remodel the old Boathouse into a classroom, arts and crafts area, and improved snorkel and wetsuit check-out area.

Total cost for materials and labor for the project = $150,000. ($75,000 has been raised to date.) Visit our donation page if you would like to contribute.