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At St. Thomas More Center, campers and retreatants unplug from technology and become immersed in the sacraments, scripture and prayer in fun, unique ways. They are encouraged to get excited about their faith and pursue an individual relationship with God while they make lifelong memories and form Christ-centered friendships. The faith formation of Catholic youth is our highest priority, one that is shared by the Diocese of Des Moines. It’s why the Diocese committed a generous gift of $1.1 million which served as the launching pad for our campaign projects, which are intended to preserve and protect our future.
So much has already been accomplished thanks to the generosity of our supporters and partners. The new cabins have been completed and have been utilized by hundreds of Catholic Youth Camp campers and St. Thomas More Center retreatants. Renovations have taken place on both the exterior and interior of Dingman Hall. There is still important work to be done including completion of the Dingman Hall renovations, improvement of the pool, and support of the center's endowment.
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Construct New Cabins - COMPLETED!
PRIORITY #1: CONSTRUCT NEW CABINS
Cost: $2 million
Built more than 35 years ago, our eight cabins were small and showing their age. The bathrooms needed a better layout to improve privacy. The air conditioning units were old and inefficient, making the cabins especially uncomfortable on excessively hot days.
Each New Cabin Features:
• Bigger and more attractive interiors.
• Vaulted ceilings, making the cabins quieter and providing an open and airy atmosphere.
• New lighting, creating a bright and cheerful space.
• High-quality heating and cooling systems, providing year-round comfort.
• Bigger and more functional bathrooms with a separate toilet, and showering and sink areas.
• Handicap-accessible restrooms.
• Attractive front porches, providing a welcoming appearance.
• More room for campers to store clothing and their gear.
• Entrances that face the camp, not the road, providing more privacy and enhanced safety. • Windows high off the ground, providing more privacy and enhanced safety.
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Renovate Dingman Lodge - Making Progress!
PRIORITY #2: RENOVATE DINGMAN LODGE
Estimated Cost: $1.5 million
Constructed in 1968, this important building includes our kitchen and cafeteria. Replacement or renovation of the building’s flooring, walls, ceiling, windows and siding are overdue. The kitchen needs renovation and new appliances. The restroom and second-floor apartments for summer staff and retreatants need refurbishing.
Renovations Include:
• New kitchen.
• Refurbished restrooms.
• New lighting, flooring and ceiling.
• Refurbished walls.
• New dining room tables and chairs.
• Refurbished second-floor apartments.
• New roofing - COMPLETED!
• New exterior siding - COMPLETED!
• New deck, patios, and sidewalks.
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Improve the Pool
PRIORITY #3: IMPROVE THE POOL
Estimated Cost: $1.5 million
The pool is used daily all summer long. It is too small for our needs and lacks shade. Most campers are younger children who can’t use the deep end.
Pool Improvements Include:
• Constructing a pool with a zero-depth entry, providing a fun, safe and age-appropriate pool for younger campers.
• Expanding the existing pool’s deck, creating shaded areas and adding water features such as a climbing wall.
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Build the Endowment
BUILD THE ENDOWMENT
Estimated Goal: $500,000
We currently support most projects and scholarship opportunities for campers with our operating budget, which restricts our ability to increase staffing and provide other services. It also means we are forced to delay, or defer entirely, some maintenance projects. To prevent these challenges in the future, we hope to build our endowment and use the revenue generated by it to maintain our new and renovated facilities.
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