Coming in 2022 2023: New Showerhouses!

Camp Onas is replacing the Showerhouses on both sides!

Camp Onas is replacing the Showerhouses on both sides! In September, the FCA Board of Directors met and approved moving forward with this project. We've signed the construction contract and the project is underway! The work will take place from now through the spring, and the Showerhouses are scheduled to be ready for use in 2022 2023.

The existing showerhouses, which were built in the early 1970s and are more than 50 years old were beyond the point where repairs made sense.

And, while Camp has a critical need to update the showerhouses so they function properly, this much-needed project also presented a great opportunity to think about the showerhouses and how they can best meet the needs of current and future campers, staff and visitors.

There is a lot that will be similar in the new showerhouses: They will still be simple, they will still be a shared space, they’ll remain buildings we work together to care for, and a centerpiece of life on the Sides.

In many ways, we expect the new buildings will feel more like Camp Onas than ever, because they are guided by what matters most here at Onas, as they will be:

• More Inclusive - They provide the privacy, flexibility, and accessibility a diverse community needs.

• Social - While the showers and toilets are more private, the new buildings have a large central shared space around the sinks where people can socialize.

• Reduce Waste - All the fixtures will consume less energy and water and the buildings will require less paint, chemicals, and materials to clean and maintain.

• Prioritize What is Truly Important - With showerhouses that are not in constant need of emergency repairs due to clogs, leaks, and broken fixtures, we’ll spend less time wondering when we’ll be able to shower or use the restroom and more time enjoying Camp life.

• Better Storm Shelter - The showerhouses serve a dual-purpose on the sides, also acting as our emergency storm shelter. With storms becoming more severe and frequent each year, more space to shelter everyone securely and comfortably will make a big difference to camp life.

• Promote Health and Safety - More sinks and showers promote better hygiene. The new designs are also easier to clean and sanitize effectively.

What Will this Cost, and How Will Onas Pay for It?

The total cost for two new showerhouses is around $1.3 million, which is a lot of money for Camp Onas. The board and camp's leadership put a lot of thought into the decision to move forward with this project, and ultimately decided (by consensus, as is our way), that this was a critical project to move forward as soon as possible, and that well-functioning showerhouses that meet Camp's needs are essential to our continued operations.

As an organization, Camp Onas is committed to avoiding significant tuition increases that ask our current camp families to shoulder the full cost of updating the facilities.

Onas will pay for this project through a combination of money Camp Onas set aside specifically for this purpose in prior years. (Its taken us about 5 years to get to the point where we're actually starting construction), a generous $50,000 unrestricted donation, several grants, and financing (loans). We are also asking the Onas community to help by making individual donations.

We hope the Camp Onas and larger Quaker communities will lend their financial support toward this project.

We’re asking past Onas campers and staff, the Quaker community, and the organizations who visit Onas each year to contribute, and by using long-term loans, some of the cost of this improvement will be covered through tuition from future participants.

We are very excited about this project as it advances our commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and sustainability while continuing to enrich Camp life.

Funding:

Thank you to the Tyson Memorial Fund, the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Quaker Building Programs Fund, and to our donors for supporting this project!