Up from ashes: Nazarene campground featured after fire

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Ruidoso, New Mexico

Reprinted with permission from the Albuquerque Journal


The scorched mountainsides and charred homes around the Bonita Park Nazarene Camp and Conference Center are fresh reminders of the ferocity of the Little Bear Fire that destroyed 254 structures in the forest north of town.

Of the 154 structures on the 200-acre camp property owned by the Church of the Nazarene, 138 are gone – more than half of the total losses caused by the lightning-sparked blaze that started June 4 and spun out of control on June 8. They include the homes and belongings of much of the camp staff.

But last week, with staffers still coming to grips with their personal losses, the laughter of children returned to the 73-year-old camp in the community of Angus as management and camp supporters struggled to move on from the disaster.

“We’re having camp,” said J. Fred Huff, New Mexico district superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene. “We’re protecting the kids, but we’re not going to let this stop us. We’re back, we’re rolling.”

On Monday evening, 180 young campers, from the second to the sixth grade, arrived at the camp in the Lincoln National Forest from all over New Mexico and from El Paso. By Tuesday, the children were zooming along a zipline, decorating T-shirts, and renewing friendships made in summers past. Blackened trees did not dampen spirits.

“I heard this place is awesome,” said Angel Cruz, a 9-year-old from Las Cruces who told his parents he wanted to attend camp, even after seeing news reports that stretches of nearby forest were burned.

“And it is,” said Cruz’s friend Andy Baxter, 11, also of Las Cruces.

Though the boys lamented the destruction of the camp’s gym and snack bar, they talked excitedly about sleeping in a dormitory with bunk beds, pretending it was Hogwarts from the “Harry Potter” book series.

Altogether, Bonita Park sustained an estimated $2.5 million in property damage, including the loss of a chapel, a dormitory and gym, and housing for 14 permanent staff members and 18 summer staff members. But the efforts of firefighters and shifting winds spared the camp’s offices, another chapel, kitchen facilities, dormitories and enough recreational equipment to allow camp activities to continue.

Those damages do not include the value of the 102 privately owned homes built on lots church members leased from Bonita Park that were destroyed.

About two dozen homes on the Bonita Park property were occupied year-round, Huff said. How many homeowners will rebuild is unclear, said Claude Marsh, the chairman of the lease holders association.

“It’s way too early to answer that question,” said Marsh, whose two-story, 1,800-square-foot home was destroyed while he and his wife were traveling in an RV in Colorado.

“People are saying one thing one day and then changing their mind. In a tragedy like this, I think the best thing is to wait.” Because he was away when Bonita Park was evacuated, Marsh did not get a chance to gather personal mementos. “People ask me how I’m doing. I say, ‘Compared to what?’ ” he said.

Brenda Garber, Bonita Park’s human resources manager and development director, has deep roots in the camp. She met her husband here at a singles retreat when both worked as volunteers, her children have worked at the camp and Garber said the camp was “where I made life decisions to deepen my faith in God, to let God be in charge of my life.”

Garber, her mother, sister and a brother-in-law all lost homes to the blaze, but Garber said she has been “humbled” by the outpouring of support from the community, which has included donations of food, clothing and household appliances. While Bonita Park management makes plans to rebuild, staffers have been provided housing by local residents.

“Hope is in the air,” Garber said about the return of campers.

After the fire, the parents of about 40 campers canceled reservations for the camp’s first weeklong session. But others filled the slots, Huff said.

Camp activities director Connor Bryan, whose wife and four children lost nearly all their belongings when their staff housing was destroyed, was philosophical about the changes the camp and homeowners are weathering.

“It will never be the same,” Bryan said, “but it can be better.”

Huff said fencing was installed in recent days to prevent curious children from trying to explore the charred remains of housing on church-owned property above the campgrounds. While charred trees are easily visible from the main campground, several campers said the fire damage is not seriously affecting their summer adventure.

“It might put a damper on it a little bit, but that’s not why people come here. They come to experience God, and no matter what the conditions are, down here they’ll get the experience of God,” said Robin Kneeland, a 14-year-old camp counselor from Carlsbad who said she has spent summers at Bonita Park since she was a toddler. “God will always be here.”

Ten-year-old Makayla Hatfield of Lovington, spending her fourth summer at Bonita Park, had a more pedestrian but still compelling reason to love camp, even with a singed forest nearby.

“It’s so much fun here,” she said, “and I get to get away from my brothers.”
--Reprinted with permission from the Albuquerque Journal

How to help
Donations are being accepted to help with recovery efforts at Bonita Park. To give online, visit Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. 

To send donations by mail, make checks payable to "General Treasurer" and send them to: 
Global Treasury Services
Church of the Nazarene
P.O. Box 843116
Kansas City, MO 64184-3116 

Be sure to put ACM1282 – New Mexico Campground Fire in the memo area. 

In Canada: 
Make checks payable "Church of the Nazarene Canada" and send them to: 
Church of the Nazarene Canada
20 Regan Road, Unit 9
Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3 

Be sure to put ACM1282 - New Mexico Campground Fire in the memo area.

 

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