MOUNTAIN, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Damage from a powerful storm put an end to programs at YMCA Camp U-Nah-Li-Yah, one year ago on Sunday.
“It was macrobursts, so it was a huge jet of air that shot down straight to the earth and put about a 95 mile per hour wind gust for about 20 straight minutes heading straight south here,” executive director Max Clark says. “It blew over 2,000 trees on our property.”
One year later, the storm damage is still visible, and it’ll take some time to remove.
But this year, a biological storm has the camp feeling a bit of deja vu…
Because of the coronavirus, Clark tells FOX 11 summer camp has been canceled for a second straight year.
“Every kid deserves opportunities to have special memories as a family.”
Instead, families can rent out one of ten cabins on the property for weekend family camps.
“Despite some stuff that may been broken down because of the storm, and despite some stuff we can’t have access to because of the coronavirus, the atmosphere doesn’t change,” camper Connor Higgins said. “It is still the camp we all grew up at and we all love.”
Still, the loss of revenue from back-to-back years is tough.
“About $1 million worth of property damage and loss of business,” Clark says. “29 of 40 roof structures here at camp… had a tree fall on top of them.”
They’re starting a fundraising campaign called Portage On to help them get through to the next season.
To learn more about how you can support the camp, please click here.
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