Alta Mons is an 850 acre, summer camp and retreat center (2842 Crockett Springs Road) in Shawsville, VA. The non-profit ministry seeks to serve other people through summer and winter camps, facilities rentals and hiking trails, but following extensive flooding in 2018, Alta Mons is seeking community support through its annual volunteer Paul Bunyan Day. Individuals and groups of all ages are welcomed and wanted to meet at the dining hall at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2019.
No advance sign-up is required. There will be multiple stations and tasks to be completed. Alta Mons promises there will be lots of fun for the whole family. No expertise is needed. However, anyone with tree removal skills would be appreciated.
Volunteers should come prepared to work outside in whatever the weather. This is a rain or shine event and will not be rescheduled. Dressing in layers and having work gloves will be helpful. Closed toe shoes like boots, hiking shoes, tennis shoes are suggested. No tools are needed because Alta Mons will provide all of the needed tools.
To show appreciation to volunteers, Alta Mons will be providing a free lunch in the dining hall.
The torrents of rain dumped on Montgomery County in Hurricanes Florence in September 2018 and Micheal in October 2018 overflowed Purgatory Creek that runs through Alta Mons. The flooding damage was significant. With Florence, water flowed over the tops of electrical boxes of the riverside recreational vehicle sites, it washed away fire circles and gravel and left behind lots of debris. With Michael, the main portion of the camp was flooded; floating away some of the low ropes-course elements, mulch from the playground areas, eroded roads, and overwhelmed gutters. The hiking path to picturesque Stiles Falls had to be closed because of the damage. Many retreats at the facility had to be cancelled. That meant loss of income to Alta Mons.
“Paul Bunyan Day is important because many people utilize this gorgeous place called Alta Mons,” Alta Mons Program Coordinator, Meredith Simmons, said, “but it takes a lot to maintain it with limited resources and only five staff persons, two of whom are part time.”
Simmons said they are hoping to clean the cabins and the hogans as well as clean the mattresses that go in those buildings.
“There is lots of log splitting and stacking to be done. We are hoping to clean up the riverside RV and tent sites by clearing debris and rebuilding fire pits. Depending on the number of volunteers we get, we might clean leaves out of the pool and/or mulch low ropes,” she said.
Alta Mons is owned by the Roanoke District of the United Methodist Church and hosts more than 10,000 visitors annually for RV/tent Camping, hiking, retreats, along with its summer and winter camps. The summer camp requires 24 summer seasonal staff, over 10 volunteers, 4-6 kitchen staff, and serves more than 300 kids each year. The winter camp serves more than 80 kids.
“It is important for us that people come together to spend a day outside helping Alta Mons not only for our benefit, but for the aspect of community. We believe that when people help others, they learn something about themselves, other people, and God. We are looking forward to a great turn out at this event that is open to people of all ages,” Simmons said.
For more information, call Alta Mons at 268-2409.
