Seasons Of Improvement
Camp Sunshine took advantage of downtime during COVID to tackle facility projects
Nestled on the shores of Sebago Lake in Casco, Maine, Camp Sunshine has been providing free retreats for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families since 1984. Although the campus has been much quieter since the last in-person sessions were hosted in February 2020, “turning lemons into lemonade” has remained the mantra.
Since those last in-person sessions, the Anna Gould & Dr. Larry Gould Campus has undergone extensive renovations.
“When the decision was made to pause programming as a result of COVID-19, we set two large goals as an organization: Establish new ways to connect with our camp families, and use this time to focus on completing larger renovation projects that would normally have needed to be completed over the course of several seasons,” says Michael Katz, Executive Director.
The To-Do List
The renovation projects include new epoxy flooring throughout the 20,000-square-foot first floor of the Viterbi Family Activity Center. All of the product, as well as a portion of the labor, was provided by Sika Corporation and Saulnier Epoxy Floors. In addition to a far less institutional feel than the previous square floor tiles, the camp will see a huge savings over time in annual maintenance and upkeep costs. New long-lasting vinyl flooring was also used to replace the tile flooring in 30 of the family and volunteer suites.
Another major project completed while in-person sessions were on pause was replacing 68 windows throughout the activity center. This was a high priority because the windows were more than 20 years old. A project of this size would have been impossible for the camp’s small facilities crew to handle alone. The donation of skilled labor was provided by Landry/French Construction and volunteers from the Magnolia Network hit show Maine Cabin Masters, who worked hard to get the job done. The windows and trim make the building more energy-efficient. With many hard-working volunteers sharing their time and talents to complete the project, the majority of this massive undertaking wrapped up in one day.
When planning for reopening, the health and well-being of attending families and volunteers were top of mind. It was imperative that the camp invest in a number of items to ensure the safest possible experience. CDC guidelines recommend using multiple strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and lower the risk of exposure, Camp Sunshine made several campus-wide upgrades to the HVAC and heating systems to improve air quality. REM Halo UV air purifiers were added to the air-conditioning duct systems in all nine of the camp’s buildings. The purifiers use hydro-peroxide plasma and ultra-violet light to create ions, which are continuously distributed into spaces. The ions neutralize viruses (including COVID-19) and microbes in the air and on surfaces, reducing the risk of person-to-person infection. As a result of the upgrades to the duct systems, four original furnaces in the camp’s main building needed to be replaced due to their age and inability to handle the resistance of the more efficient air filters. The new furnaces also were equipped with Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 13 filters.
The HVAC overhaul was funded by the Vertex Foundation, Care Camps, Katzenberger Foundation, Colburn-Keenan Foundation, and Hands on Tzedakah.
Other features that were added to the facility include the installation of touchless water-bottle filling stations and hand-sanitizing stations throughout the main building and in each family and volunteer suite to further limit the exposure to germs and the spread of viruses.
Finally, a malfunctioning room divider nearly 40 feet long and 12 feet high in the dining hall was replaced with the support of S/A Maraia Charities. This divider allows for additional program opportunities by sectioning off one large space into two smaller activity areas.
38 Years of Magic And Counting
Camp Sunshine provides retreats combining respite, recreation, and support, while enabling hope and promoting joy for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families through the various stages of a child’s illness.
The program is free to families and includes on-site medical support. A bereavement session is also offered for families who have experienced the death of a child from a supported illness.
For 17 years after the camp’s inception, founders Anna Gould and the late Dr. Larry Gould donated their facilities at Point Sebago Resort to host sessions for these children.
Throughout the years, programming became highly regarded and received an increasing number of referrals from multiple medical centers. Demand for services far exceeded capacity, and it became apparent that the camp needed a permanent home to expand. In 2001, Camp Sunshine opened its doors to a year-round facility on 25 acres, donated by the Goulds.
For more information, visit www.campsunshine.org.
The staff members of Camp Sunshine contributed this article to Camp Business.