About Us
We are the builders of SKY Camp (Springfield Kiwanis Youth Camp)
Kiwanis conceived Springfield Kiwanis Youth Camp for public school outdoor education during the 1960's. The values and benefits of youth nature experience motivated Kiwanis leadership to seek donations of land and services to design and pursue development of an area youth outdoor camp. In 1975 Kiwanis of Springfield received a grant for $1million to fund construction of SKY Camp by the Corps of Engineers. The lodge and sewer system were completed in 1978. Kiwanis was reportedly only then informed of their obligation to match the $883,389 cost. Over a span of 20 years dedicated Kiwanis members marched to build chalets, trails, bridges and other camp property amenities to improve camp accomodations and to match the grant. In 1998 with the completion of the sixth and last chalet the grant match was accomplished.
The U.S. Corp of Engineers owns and leases the property. Because Kiwanis is a volunteer organization, Bethel School District partnered with Kiwanis as the original necessary public agency sponsor. In 2000 Springfield School District assumed sponsorship. At this time the property was leased by the Corps to the Oregon State Parks Department. The OSPD agreed to then lease the property and SKY Camp to the Springfield School District for five years with an option of extension. The District assumed all responsibility and liability for operations, scheduling and maintenance of the camp. A SKY Camp Board with members from the Disrict and Kiwanis was created to counsel and assist District camp management. The District directs the day to day operations, schedules rentals and conducts maintenance of the camp.
With the diminishing funding of education in Oregon, outdoor education programming has all but disappeared from the public school curriculum. Despite this unfortunate limitation of structured youth outdoor education, the beauty and accomodations of SKY Camp continue to be in high demand for recreation and special social gatherings by families and community groups.
SKY Camp will always be a welcome hospice to users, offering extensive facilities and accomodations, embraced by the beauty and dynamics of the pristine environment. Indefinitely SKY Camp will hold the treasury of this natural theater for visiting groups and individuals. The delight, discovery and play nurtured by SKY Camp from its beginnings will always characterize it's future.
We will always be proud of the vision of those Springfield Kiwanis members whose dedicated long journey and determined hard work has made the remarkable SKY Camp experience possible to all visitors, young and old, past and future.
Club history
The Kiwanis Club of Springfield was chartered in 1948 after being organized by the Eugene Club. We have always been active in Division 74 and the Pacific Northwest District. We currently have several Past Lieutenant Governors as members.
Our main program for youth through the last 30 years has been the construction of SKY Camp (Springfield Kiwanis Youth Camp). We raised over $800,000 to match what the Army Corps of Engineers spent on improvements - mainly the costruction of the main lodge. As our committment is now complete, the Springfield School District has administrative control of the camp and we act in an advisory capacity. The camp is used by various youth groups in our area.
Our club help to host the District convention in 1979 and 2004.
We assisted in forming clubs in Reedsport, Florence, Creswell and Oakridge to continue the tradition that the Eugene club started by helping to form the Springfield club.
We have contributed over $8,000 to the IDD campaign.
Our primary Young Children Priority One project is Safety Town, safety training for preschool children. We also purchase bicycle helmets for distribution through the community's school system.
Our fundraising projects include selling hamburgers at the Children's Celebration and at Safety Fest.
We look forward to celebrating 60 years of Kiwanis Service in 2008.