Rotary Camps & Services
Who We Are
Land. Water. Stewardship. Access. Recreation. Preservation. Affordable Housing.
Our Shared Vision
Rotary Charities and Rotary Camps & Services will be the collaborative leaders of strategic efforts to achieve positive change in the five-county Grand Traverse region.
Our Mission
The mission of Rotary Camps & Services is to identify community needs and create new, proactive collaborations primarily through:
- The stewardship of natural resources
- Access to recreational opportunities
Rotary Camps & Services Board of Trustees
Steve Chambers, Chair
John Hall, Vice Chair
Paul Schmuckal, Secretary/Treasurer
Maurie Allen
TJ Kroupa
Rob Lovell
Doug Meteyer
Al Olson
Bob Witkop
Staff
Marsha Smith
Executive Director
msmith@rotarycharities.org
Becky Ewing
Program Officer
bewing@rotarycharities.org
Stacey Foster
Administrative Assistant
sfoster@rotarycharities.org
Howard King
Capacity Advisor
hking@rotarycharities.org
Proactive Collaborations
Encouraging proactive collaborations in the natural resources and recreation sectors are integral to our mission. During 2009-2010, Rotary Camps & Services has been a partner in the Boardman River, sitting as an ex-officio member of the Boardman Dams Implementation Team to help find resources for dam removal and stewardship initiatives in the watershed. We have also partnered with the City of Traverse City to develop resources for implementing the Bayfront Plan, which was a result of extensive public input about the community’s vision for a two-mile stretch of waterfront in downtown Traverse City.
Freshwater
The Freshwater Roundtable was formed with the help of Camps & Services and consists of a group of Executive Directors from the region’s natural resource organizations. The Freshwater Roundtable provides a venue for community organizations focused on the study and protection of our cherished water resources to confer, convene and collaborate on projects and activities. Keeping themselves informed of the each others’ programs and achievements makes cooperation easier and duplication of efforts less likely. They hosted the second annual Freshwater Summit, which brought together water resource professionals and the public to discuss issues and network. The group is sponsoring an economic study of the value of freshwater to our region, which will be complete in 2010.
The RC&S Water Committee extends to the three Traverse City Rotary Clubs and engages in water-related projects such as: Kid’s Creek clean-up, stream bank stabilization and habitat restoration through the Grand Traverse Conservation District, Adopt-a-Stream through the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, and the Jim VanEenenam memorial work bee at East Creek reserve. This year, the fifth-annual Kids Free Fishing Day was held in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Great Lakes Children’s Museum, Grand Traverse Area Sportsfishing Association and the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute. Over 500 kids participated in the event.
Land Management
Rotary Camps & Services owns nearly 1,800 acres in Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties:
- Camp Greilick, operated by the Scenic Trails Boy Scout Council
- Camp Sakakawea, operated by the Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore-to-Shore Council
- East Creek Reserve and Canterbury properties in the Boardman River Valley
- The Discovery Center ~ Great Lakes, home of the Great Lakes Children’s Museum, Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, Maritime Heritage Alliance and Traverse Area Community Sailing
The Next Generation of Affordable Housing Leadership
Rotary Camps & Services has a long history of supporting affordable housing initiatives, including the incubation of HomeStretch, a nonprofit community land trust and housing development organization. In cooperation with Northwest Michigan Council of Governments and key housing advocates, RC&S supports Community Housing Choices and the Affordable Housing Task Force of the Grand Vision in their efforts to create and implement affordable housing strategies that support the sustainability of our community. In 2009-2010, some the accomplishments include:
- Development and implementation of a regional housing strategy
- Provision of advocacy, outreach and education to local units of government, media and the public
- Completion of a five-county Housing Needs Assessment
- Development of a Housing Trust Fund in partnership with the Grand Traverse County Land Bank Authority that will be considered for adoption by the Grand Traverse County Board in the fall of 2010
