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PENN YAN -- Members of Salvation Army Advisory Boards from across the Empire State Division got an up-close view of Long Point Camp and Conference Center on Advisory Board/Auxiliary Day on July 23 at the 130-acre complex on Seneca Lake.
It was the first of two special days for advisory board and auxiliary members, who got personal tours of the camp along with boat rides on Seneca Lake. The next Advisory Board/Auxiliary Day is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15.
"It's a place for both seniors and youth," Maj. Ronald Lugiano, the division's development secretary, told the visitors as he welcomed them on behalf of camp and divisional leaders.
"It's a place to learn, grow and flourish," added Maj. Deborah Sedlar, the division's general secretary.
"It's a hidden gem," a sprawling camp with lake frontage, tranquil meadows, and trail-filled woods, said Capt. Brian Peabody, the division's new camp director and youth secretary. "Kids need a safe and loving environment. Long Point is that place. There's boating, a pool, crafts, hiking, sports, low ropes course, evening programs, church services and devotions... and a one-to-six ratio of counselors to campers."
Answering questions from the visitors, Captain Peabody noted that Long Point accommodates 192 campers for each weekly session, and that it employs 83 staffers during the summer. It costs $290 per child, and The Salvation Army and its donors pay all the expenses.
Week-long summer retreats for senior citizens are another feature, said Maj. Pauline Dressler, who is in charge of the division's older adult ministries. They stay in the modern, handicapped-accessible Lodge, where the visitors gathered for refreshments and the informal presentation. Senior "campers" have their own dining room and recreational facilities, as well as their own pontoon boat, Major Dressler said.
From September to June, Long Point is kept busy as a retreat and conference center, accommodating both large and small groups that can use everything from dorm rooms to lake front apartment suites. Conferences and retreats are usually booked six months in advance, noted Maj. Lucy Jordan, a retired officer who filled in for Long Point Administrator Barbara Cure.
In conjunction with a hamburger-and-hot-dog cookout, Divisional Commanders Maj. Donald Lance and Capt. Renee Lance took time to greet and chat with Advisory Board members. Following that, the visitors took a relaxing ride on a pontoon boat and toured the camp amidst the laughter and chatter of children.
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