Saskatoon Youth Development Complex Inc.
Blackstrap Youth Camp
October 2022
Dear Brother Knights and Friends of blackstrap Youth Camp
On behalf of the Blackstrap Youth Camp Board, I wish to acknowledge and thank you for your past generosity to the Blackstrap Youth Camp. We continue to benefit from donations made to the camp by individual donors, Saskatoon Knights of Columbus Councils, the Catholic Women’s League, and Knights of Columbus organizations such as Saskatoon Chapter Knights of Columbus, Saskatoon Knights of Columbus Charitable Foundation and Saskatchewan Knights of Columbus Charitable Foundation (Fr. O’Leary Foundation). Blackstrap Youth Camp has also been the beneficiary of countless hours of volunteer labour involving the Knights of Columbus.
I would like to thank those Councils in particular who donated funds to Blackstrap Youth Camp during this past 2021-22 Columbian Year as well as for this new Columbian Year 2022-23. As already mentioned we benefitted from the generosity of the following Councils during 2021-22:
Fr. O’Leary Council- 5104
Dennis Mahoney Council – 8215
St. Philip Neri Council – 9539
St. Anne’s Council – 8638
Sts- Martyrs-Canadiens – 8301
St. John Bosco Council – 11936
St. Josaphat Kunsevich- 13129
Immaculate Heart of Mary (Martensville) – 9690
Mary Mother of the Church-11888
Holy Spirit Council- 8905
St. Augustine Council – 10587
While 2022 was somewhat of a recovery year for us after two prior years of dealing with COVID restrictions, we continue to rebuild our camp experience for the close to 200 campers who attended camp this year. With 2022 marking the 50th anniversary of Blackstrap Youth Camp opening its doors in 1972, this year presented a unique opportunity to reflect on the many thousands of campers and camp staff who have experienced a week of camp at Blackstrap Youth Camp. We also want to acknowledge the efforts of the Prairie Knights Music Festival which attempted to assist us in raising funds for Blackstrap Youth Camp by hosting a live weekend concert on August 6, and 7th, 2022.
The original mission of the camp was to ”plan, contribute and maintain an educational, cultural, social and recreational facility for young persons regardless of race, colour, creed, or economic or social position. To establish training facilities and training programs to develop citizenship and leadership qualities in young persons. To stimulate in young persons an idealism following Judeo-Christian philosophy and morality. To cooperate with all agencies, governments, or departments throughout any level, groups, clubs or organizations with similar objects or purposes.”
This upcoming year we recognize that we need to fund the replacement of shingles on the church roof so that we do not experience water damage in the church. The ventilation system in the kitchen requires upgrading as do the screen doors in the mess hall. These are ongoing maintenance projects that we have listed but we certainly could envision longer-term renovations that might include the development of a grey-water system and renovations of the kitchen/mess hall. The Camp remains the property and responsibility of all Knights of Columbus in Saskatoon. We are challenging all Saskatoon Councils to make Blackstrap Youth Camp the main beneficiary of your charitable works. We are again appealing to each of you for financial assistance to ensure the future success of the Camp and youth programs offered.
Please consider a gift of $50 _ $75 _ $100 _ Other$_
For your convenience, credit card donations can be made online at https://blackstrapyouthcamp.org/
Make cheque payable to:
Blackstrap Youth Camp
Box 203
Saskatoon SK S7K 3K4
Yours fraternally,
John Marshall, President, Blackstrap Youth Camp