Did You Know this about CYO Camp Rancho Framasa?

We’ve Come a Long Way Baby... This saying has been around for a while. I remember it from a childhood ad or a title of a song!? Anyway as I thought about my next entry and what piece of camp I wanted to share it came to me. CYO Camp has come such a long way! Some pretty cool humans started this camp in 1946 and now almost 71 years later we are a vibrant, successful faith filled option for children of all abilities. I hope our founders are proud of the work we do; I hope we are keeping their dream alive. In this spirit I’d like to share a list of things you may or may not know about CYO Camp Rancho Framasa. You will see in this list how much we have happening and how far we have come from our beginnings. Enjoy!  


Environment

• Has an active worm composting bin in the summer.
• Teaches low impact and environmentally friendly camping.
• Gives a discount to groups that perform service project hours during their stay at camp.
• Since 1998 has been a member of the local “Adopt a Road” program, adopting the one mile of county road, Clay Lick Road, that runs the entire length of the camp.
• 250 of the 296 acres of camp have been in the Indiana Classified Forest program since 1996. In 2013 the classification was changed to the 30 Year Forest Bank Program operated by The Nature Conservancy. Management of the timber and invasive removal is conducted by the Nature Conservancy.
• In 2013 received a $35,000 federal EQIP grant to be spent over 3 years to defray the cost of invasive plant/tree/shrub removal.
• Conserves water by using low flow showerheads and toilets.
• Is a designated “Green Business” as deemed by the county solid waste management office for its green practices.
• Uses compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of traditional incandescent bulbs, cutting down on electrical costs as well as maintenance manpower.
• Uses a wood burning furnace to heat the maintenance facility and uses wood fuel from fallen trees on the camp property.
• Recycles cardboard, glass, office paper, magazines, newspapers, all plastic #1-#7, appliances and tires at the Brown county solid waste facility.
• Recycles steel, copper and aluminum at local metal recycling facility and receives approximately $750 back annually.
• Uses Frieje water softening units at all buildings thus reducing expensive equipment repair due to lime and calcium line build-up. The Frieje units are electronic and do not use any harmful salts or chemicals.
• Purchases as often as possible from local merchants and vendors, keeping money in the tri-county area and reducing the carbon footprint that comes with transportation of goods and services.
• Uses solar, timers and motion controlled lights in several of its buildings and activity areas.
• Uses on demand hot water systems in all three of its newest buildings.
• The administrative office, constructed in 2010, is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified.
• Uses green cleaning products for all of its housekeeping and janitorial cleaning.
• Has a cistern at its new administrative office that collects roof rain water for reuse in watering the adjacent landscaped beds.
• Is known to be home to Kirtland snakes, one of the two endangered snakes in Indiana.
• Uses a bio-diesel fuel for its tractor.
• Maintains 14 bluebird nesting boxes and twice a year 30-40 bluebird fledglings are born at camp!

Food & Health

• Teaches about food waste by composting food scraps and using the finished product in the camp landscaping.
• Over 50% of the purchased produce used in the camp’s food service area is organically grown.
• Serves only whole grain bread and buns on its main entrée line.
• Any dessert such as a cookie, brownie, or cake item is made from scratch and uses whole wheat pastry flour.
• Evening snacks at camp in the summer are low in sugar, processing and additives and are considered a healthier choice item.
• Offers a salad or salad bar at every lunch and dinner.
• Offers fresh non-canned fruit at every meal.
• Uses very little canned vegetables but instead uses either fresh vegetables, or quick frozen vegetables which are steamed for serving.
• Offers a vegetarian option at every meal.
• Has a Food Service Manager that is knowledgeable about food allergies and able to meet most guests’ food requests.
• Does not use partially hydrogenated oils in any of its food preparation but instead uses canola oil, even in the popcorn that is served as a snack.
• Does not purchase pre-sliced ham, turkey or roast beef that is packed in salt, preservatives and water but instead purchases whole cooked meats that are packed in water only and then sliced by the camp’s food service staff.
• Does not serve “bug juice” or any other juice containing large amounts of high fructose corn syrup and harmful dyes. Serves coffee, tea, water, several types of milks and orange juice only.
• Is continually reading food labels in an effort to eliminate the serving of processed foods, especially those containing high fructose corn-syrup and dyes.
• Has not purchased a head of iceberg lettuce in over ten years. Only uses Romaine, dark greens and spring mix lettuce types.

Inclusive

• Owns an all-terrain wheelchair that provides access to all areas of camp.
• Provides staff supports and program & facility adaptations to over 240 campers each summer who have disabilities or other support needs.
• Has a supported employment program for adults with disabilities.
• Has an Adult Recreation Program for adults with disabilities.

Business/Programming

• Facilitated leadership and outdoor education programs for 48 groups last year.
• Facilitated Confirmation Retreats and additional faith-focused retreats last year.
• Served as a rental facility to 26 guest groups last year.
• Is a collaborative partner with two local agencies (offering resources of time, materials and education), Brown County YMCA and its summer day camp and with the Brown County Native Woodlands Project, Inc. and its annual Naturedaze event.
• Practices and teaches the St. John Bosco philosophy of preventative discipline with campers and staff.
• Offers a money back guarantee to summer camper families if they are unhappy after their child has attended CYO Camp.
• Offers tuition assistance of over $100,000 every year for individual summer campers as well as school/church/civic groups over the course of the school calendar.
• CYO Camp has been selected to be on the Advisory Panel of the not-for-profit software giant, TechSoup for 2014-15.

 
Peace,
Angi K Sullivan
CYO Camp Co-Director