By Ty Walker
The Mountain Times
Camp Arrah Wanna has invited the public to the third running of the Fun Run, Walk & Wheel Open House spring fundraiser Saturday, June 1. Money raised will help repair the winter storm damage to the camp.
The camp promises a day of fun activities for the whole family, which includes lunch and a full schedule of outdoor games. All ages and abilities are encouraged to run, walk or wheel through the grounds. The one-mile loop course is wheelchair accessible.
Individual tickets for the 9 a.m. fun run and full day of activities cost $35 per person. Tickets for the 1 p.m. lunch and open house only are $15 each. Tours of the facilities, raffles and a closing ceremony are included.
“The spring event is an opportunity for families, campers and community members to see the camp,” Camp Arrah Wanna Executive Director Laura Young said. “It gives them the opportunity to get acquainted with Camp Arrah Wanna, see who we are and what we do.”
Camp Arrah Wanna has set a goal of raising $25,000 to repair damage experienced from the January winter storm. Fun runners are encouraged to ask people they know – friends, family members, community members and church peeps – to help sponsor them in the event.
Donations are accepted for those who just want to sponsor teams. Things can get a bit crazy as teams are invited to dress up in costume themes. There will be a color splash station where color paint bombs are hurled at runners passing by, making for some colorful t-shirts.
Young expects to see 75 to 100 people turn out for the annual event, which returned last year after skipping two years during the Covid pandemic.
“This is an opportunity to see our beautiful place and meet our staff members,” Young said.
“There’s family friendly activities that involve the whole family, that also involve being active and goofy. We invite people to put together teams. Sometimes they’ll have a dress-up theme.”
Camp Arrah Wanna was established in 1941, serving different community members, churches and school groups over the years.
Nestled in the foothills of majestic Mt. Hood, Camp Arrah Wanna is a non-profit that offers a peaceful place of respite from the busy, fast-paced world for groups. Guests are invited to leave their cares behind and soak up the majesty of Camp Arrah Wanna’s forested 120 acres.
The camp hosts guests of all ages by providing the perfect backdrop for a variety of large and small group gatherings – adult retreats, youth camps, family reunions, weddings, school programs, community events and so much more.
“What we do is very dynamic,” Young said. “We do lots of different things. Our goal in terms of Welches, of our Mount Hood community, is to be a community resource, a place where you can involve your kids in something that’s wholesome, playful and joyful. There are different parts of service that we want people to know about.”
To buy tickets to the fun run or donate to Camp Arrah Wanna go online to www.camparrahwanna.org.