Little Gallagher's Project Report

Each week during the summer, our guests disembark from a boat and lumber down the pier with baggage and children in tow. When they reach the beach, most turn left, pass the boat house, and head up the fairway towards our elegant dining hall, modern bathroom, and adequate housing accommodations. But those who turn right when they hit the beach are in for a different experience. Over the rocky outcrop lies the secluded cove that we call Little Gallagher’s. From June through August, it is home to forty college-age young adults who serve as the CBS Summer Staff. Little G’s had acquired a reputation as the ramshackle, rustic part of camp. Pit toilets, water-spigot showers, and overheated small wooden cabins remind our older guests of the Campus by the Sea of days gone by. Our younger college age guests, however, are reminded of living in crowded dorms. Thankfully, most enjoy being together so much that they don’t complain.

We wanted to honor those young people who serve our families so sacrificially each summer by improving the Little Gallagher’s facilities. The six cabins were repaired, rebuilt, and painted. Ventilation was increased. New self closing solid doors replaced misaligned doors that required a beefy shove to open. Rusty bunk frames were replaced with heavy wood beds with storage underneath. The two sleeping decks were repaired and repainted. A new “Buoy’s” bath house was added and the “Gull’s” bathhouse was refurbished. Both have two stall pit toilets, two stall shower houses, sinks, mirrors, storage cubby areas, and solar lighting. The grounds and fire circle area were cleaned up to meet fire clearance regulations.

Besides making structural improvements to the site, we also wanted to invest in the lives of the students who serve each summer. Dennis and Susan Mansfield, who have attended Family Camp for twenty-six years lived with the students and served as “Dean and Deana” of Little Gallagher’s this summer. Dennis described their responsibilities as follows:

We mentored them—focusing on their identity in Christ first and then reviewing what educational and career options might follow. Much of what we did was to listen to them, allowing their youth and dreams to be poured out and examined. We counseled them on relationships; we are just about to celebrate our 34^th wedding anniversary and that may have been a help to many of them. We challenged them about their faith—asking whether they “owned” it or simply “rented” it from their family of origin. We were both very strong towards them and we tried to balance that strength with humor and laughter. I think it worked. I gave every staff member a nickname, eventually placing those nicknames on buttons, similar to the ones campers wear. On Saturdays and Sundays it was not unusual to see staff with their nick-name buttons on. We had fun…

       2011 CBS Summer Staff

Dennis and Susan reported that the improvements set the tone for the summer.  They said:

Honored people honor people. No longer were these students expected to live in a ramshackle environment, while serving campers. Instead the staff returned to Little G’s with a true sense of being thanked by those who planned, executed and built/rebuilt these structures; and their behaviors reflected that honor.

Thanks to all of you who prayed and contributed to the project. Visit our photo gallery to see additional pictures.