BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:icalendar-ruby CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260819T114727Z UID:159-1057362@kootenayanglican.ca DTSTART:20261003T183000Z DTEND:20261004T000000Z CLASS:PUBLIC CREATED:20260818T104905 DESCRIPTION:Rebuild the Magic: Camp OAC Invites You to Our Campaign Kick-Of f\nFor over 75 years\, Camp OAC has been the place where a generation of A nglican young people found their first taste of independence — a first n ight away from home\, a first turn leading a canoe\, a first time feeling completely known and accepted\, surrounded by nature\, mentors\, and frien ds. In August 2023\, that legacy was shaken. The McDougall Creek Wildfire swept across the hills above Okanagan Lake and\, within hours\, destroyed 26 buildings — roughly 95 percent of the camp's structures. Every camper \, staff member\, and volunteer made it home safely. But the place that ha d shaped so many lives was\, for a time\, gone.\nNearly three years later\ , we are ready to bring it back — and we are inviting the whole diocese to be part of that renewal.\nRebuild the Magic of Camp is Camp OAC's campa ign to restore day and overnight camping\, rebuild what was lost\, and pre pare the site to meet the future with confidence. Phase One carries a tota l cost of roughly $4.2 million\, and we are asking our community to help u s raise $1.6 million toward it. Day camp is already set to return to Kelow na this summer at St. Andrew's Anglican Church\, with a full return to ove rnight camp at the lake planned for summer 2027.\nThe vision extends beyon d replacing what burned. It's a chance to rebuild wiser. Fire resilience h as been built into every layer of the plan: new buildings will include a s prinkler system\, along with fire-rated siding\, fire-resistant roofing me mbranes\, and non-combustible mesh screening at the eaves — a detail tha t matters when embers are in the air. A new camp-wide water system will in clude non-potable lines designed to support fire safety alongside irrigati on and daily camp activities\, backed by a generator so water stays availa ble during power outages.\nThe renewed Camp OAC is being designed with uni versal design principles in mind\, so that washrooms\, pathways\, and gath ering spaces welcome campers and people of all ages. A new dining hall wil l anchor a site built to serve not just summer campers\, but school groups \, retreats\, and community partners throughout the year.\nWe would love f or you to celebrate with us. Please join us for our campaign kick-off on S aturday\, October 3. The day runs in two parts: from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm a t St. Michael's Cathedral in Kelowna\, with a barbecue\, activities for ki ds\, and a chance to learn more about the campaign\; then from 3:00 to 5:0 0 pm out at the Camp OAC site itself\, with a chapel service led by Bishop Lynne McNaughton\, a blessing of the grounds\, tree planting\, camp tours \, and a campfire with s'mores to close out the afternoon. Come to one\, o r come to both — everyone is welcome.\n"Together\, we can build the next 75 years of Camp OAC\," says Campaign Chair Donna Zukowski. "Every gift\, every visit\, every story shared on October 3 becomes part of that next c hapter."\nCamp OAC has always belonged to the whole diocese — to the par ishes who send their children\, the alumni who still carry its memories\, and the volunteers who have shown up\, year after year\, to keep its spiri t alive. Rebuilding it will take that same community\, building together.\ nTo learn more or to support the campaign\, visit www.campoac.com/rebuildt hemagic\, or reach out to the campaign team at rebuildthemagic@campoac.com . We hope to see you at the kick-off LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T104905 LOCATION: SUMMARY:Camp OAC Invites You! URL;VALUE=URI:https://www.kootenayanglican.ca/events/camp-oac-invites-you/2 026-10-03 ATTACH;FILENAME=OAC-RENDER.png;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://dq5pwpg1q8ru0.clou dfront.net/2026/08/18/17/38/05/5171e46d-701b-4e08-b150-d3c01dead612/OAC-RE NDER.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR