Published: June 29, 2008 10:08 pm      

Q&A: New workcamp, same service

After a year hiatus, workcamp has returned to Lockport with a different organization bringing in teams of teens who will be working today through Friday at homes in the area.

Reach Workcamps of Colorado has replaced Group Workcamp and included Lockport in its 2008 schedule. Neil Fisher, 23, the director of work sites, began preliminary work in Lockport in March. Teams arrived at Lockport High School on Sunday.

The 300 campers who pay their own way ($389) will work at 27 sites. Reach Workcamp volunteers completed projects in Greenup, Ky. and the Mississippi Gulf. Next stops are Cayahoga Falls, Ohio, Oceana, W.Va. and Monroe, N.C.

Jed Bulgrien of Pennsylvania and Joel Minter of New Jersey are workcamp veterans who now work for Reach Workcamp in the summer. Reach has two seven-member summer staff crews.

Bulgrien, 19, from Fairland Brethren in Christ, was a camper for six years before joining the staff last year.

This is Joel’s second year on the staff. He was a camper for seven years. He represents Laurel Hill Bible Church.

Jim Haid of St. John the Baptist Church Outreach Center directs the local program.



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QUESTION: Is Reach Workcamp like Group Workcamp?

ANSWER: We’re a similar organization. We have a connection with Lockport Alliance Church. They’ve been coming to Reach for awhile. Jim Haid was connected with Group and looking for something different.

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Q. How is Reach different?

A. We’re slightly different. We do a lot of roof repairs, wheelchair ramps, drywall, painting. We may have a different program in the evening.

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Q. What is the program.

A. We leave at 8 a.m. for the work site, have lunch on site and return about 3:30 p.m. We have dinner at 5 p.m. and the evening program starts at 7 p.m.

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Q. What’s involved in the evening program.

A. Worship, song of worship, group activity with crews. There’s a progressive drama with a consistent theme throughout the week. It’s “Caught in the Middle” with the same characters every night. The summer staff doubles as actors as well as worksheet guys.

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Q. What’s the theme?

A: It takes place at a train station in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. There’s a derailment and a lot of people are stuck in the train station for a week. You see interaction between players. The big issue is the difference between baggage an luggage.

There are also daily themes.

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Q: How many workers will be here.

A: There are 300 campers, from rising seventh graders to rising 12th graders. Some are in college and some are in their 60s

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Q. Where will they sleep?

A. In the Lockport High School classrooms on air mattresses.

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Q: Do they have workcamp experience.

A: Half the churches have come to workcamp before and half are new churches. We have a pretty good mix of new and experienced.

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Q: When were the houses selected?

A: We selected them a while back, now (Wednesday) we’re just making sure all the material is delivered and ready to start.

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Q: Why do volunteers come to workcamp?

A: A variety of reasons, the biggest thing the campers have in common is the heart for service. They are showing God’s love through service, no strings attached, just unconditional love. They are working for the community and for their neighbor.

They also get to spend time with their youth group and get to know and build a lot of great relationships with strangers from all over country.

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Q: Why did you pick Lockport?

A: It was a combination. We had a camp last year in Niagara Falls and they (Lockport) sought us out. We were looking for a space up here.

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Q: People that serve are happy.

A: It’s hard to discredit that. We notice the reason people come out is because that they enjoy this. They are paying to come and obviously they have a heart for it. Usually everyone out at sites is excited to be out there, happy to have the opportunity serve.

Contact reporter Bill Wolcott  439-9222, ext. 6246.