On the eve of the arrival of the season’s first junior campers, Camp Tukuskoya near Big Lake, Alaska, hosted a ribbon-cutting and dedication for a new cabin. The Cowen and Koliadko families played flute, guitar and string music as guests toured improvements around the camp.
At each upgraded location, members of the Camp Tukuskoya operating board served appetizers, soup or salad as they explained improvements made and plans for future accomplishments. After the ribbon-cutting, members of churches across south-central Alaska closed the Sabbath together, enjoying s'mores and vespers around the campfire.
Mark Carr, former Alaska Camps director, thanked the volunteers. “Some new people will come and be introduced to Christ here," he said. "Praise God for that. But so much more happens at a summer camp, so much more learning and developing of little children. Thanks for all the hard work. Keep after it!”
Projects began during spring break, when mission groups from Tappahannock Junior Academy in Virginia and Columbia Adventist Academy in Battle Ground, Wash., built the foundation and framed in a new double-capacity cabin. In the following weeks, members of the Camp Tukuskoya operating board and other local volunteers finished the roofing and siding, built the bunks, and installed new high-quality hygienic mattresses — all in time to celebrate the season dedication with this year’s Alaska Camps staff.
We were blessed to have almost met capacity at both Camp Tukuskoya camps in June: Junior Camp for ages 8–12 and the new Teen eXtreme for ages 13–16. We are celebrating how God has blessed the summer camp program here in Alaska.
A commemorative plaque honors the sponsors of the new double-capacity cabin.
Members from Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Valley gather to celebrate the ribbon-cutting for the new double-capacity cabin at Camp Tukuskoya and the dedication of the 2017 camp season.
Tobin Dodge, Alaska Camps director, cuts the ribbon on the new double-capacity cabin at Camp Tukuskoya.
The new double-capacity cabin at Camp Tukuskoya is dubbed Eagle/Polar Bear.
Cowin & Koliadko families graced the evening with music as guests enjoyed a “progressive supper” tour of the Camp.
