"I was touched when one ten-year-old told me with beaming eyes, “Sister Susie! This place here is da best place I’ve ever been to!”My heart broke while I listened to another girl tell me almost in tears about the last time she saw her dad, and how she kissed his cheek, and put her hand on his cheek and cried. I hugged her and said that I wished I could take it all away. She said, “It’s okay – I’ve got Jesus now.” from Susie Eldredge, counselor

Ways to Help

Service Teams

Is your college group looking for a service project? Or maybe your department at work wants to do volunteer work at a non-profit organization to benefit kids. Perhaps your church has talked about a “Faith in Action” Sunday...we would love to partner with you and give you the opportunity to be part of giving hope!

Thank you for your interest in bringing a service team to Camp David of the Ozarks! We hope this information answers some of your questions and helps you get excited about helping to make a difference in the lives of troubled kids. To schedule your group This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 573-364-2786.

Work Projects
There are a variety of jobs from constructing buildings, painting, putting up fencing, building benches, spreading mulch, and more. Your team may want to do some fundraisers for your work project; for instance, if you wanted to build a climbing wall, you would need to raise the funds to do that. You can also come and just volunteer your time to work on whatever projects we are in the middle of.

Projects that need to be done in 2012:

Clear brush for horse pasture
Build benches in Petting Zoo and around campfire circle
Spread mulch and set railroad ties around archery/ ropes course
Rake & burn leaves in wagon circle
Build a climbing wall (funds needed)
Make a Volleyball sand court (funds needed)
Cut and move firewood and burn brush piles from excavation projects
Build a cabin (funds needed)
Painting projects (lots!)
Organize tools in Maintenance barn
Change oil in all the lawn mowers and machines
Contact us for further ideas!

Tools
Often teams ask if they should bring any tools. Typically the camp will have all the tools necessary for the projects, but if you have a large team, or are doing construction (such as a cabin) please talk with This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , about project details and tools.

Cost
To help off-set our costs, there will be a $5 per person per night fee, and it will be $4.50 per person per meal. If you are just coming for the day, you can bring your own coolers with lunch already prepared, but the camp kitchen is not open for work teams use.

Food & Housing
We have several housing options that we can offer if you want to come for a week or weekend. We can house up to 40 people, with separate housing units for guys and girls.

What to Bring:

Most importantly you need a heart that is committed to serve.
Hat, sun screen and insect repellent (May-Sept)
Work clothes and work gloves
Jacket (for cool evenings)
Tennis shoes and hiking shoes (and caving shoes if your team plans to go there)
Sleeping bag and pillow
Towels and toiletries
Flashlight

Directions
The camp is located about 120 miles east of St. Louis. Get directions here.

Places to visit nearby
There is a neat cave you can visit just 15 min. away. About 45 min away there is a park, Meremac Springs Park with a large natural spring and lots of fish. A lot of work teams stop in St. Louis and visit the St. Louis Arch or go to the City Museum.