Breaking ground at Western Plains Camp

by Michelle DeRusha

At the Western Plains groundbreaking are (l to r): Majors Stephanie and Daniel Sawka, Jr., Major Adam Moore, Lt. Colonel Darlene Harvey, Majors Lee Ann and Greg Thompson, Lt. Colonel David Harvey, Major Deannie Moore, Captains Rachel and Christopher White.

Even as Majors Greg and Lee Ann Thompson, Western divisional leaders, stood ankle deep
in mud at flood-ravaged Gene Eppley Camp in Omaha, Neb., in the spring of 2019, they already
had begun to dream about the possibility of a new camp where children could connect with God and each other in the great outdoors.

The majors took another step toward the realization of that dream on September 1, 2021, when they joined dozens of community leaders for a groundbreaking celebration at the Western Plains Camp in South Sioux City, Neb.

The 112-acre property was purchased in 2020 after the Western Division’s iconic Gene Eppley Camp was destroyed by catastrophic flooding. Phase one updates to the Western Plains Camp include upgrading nine sleeping cabins, as well as construction of a new 16-unit lodge to accommodate families and other guests, a nurse’s station and a boathouse. Phase two calls for construction of a chapel and additional lodges.

“This camp is a tremendous blessing,” said Major Lee Ann. “This is holy ground to those of us at The Salvation Army, and we are here today to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in our camp’s history.”

Lt. Colonel David Harvey, territorial secretary for business administration, and Lt. Colonel Darlene Harvey, officer resource and development secretary, attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

“The children who will come to this place are looking to us to welcome them as family,” said Colonel David. “They will come into this godly space and realize how much God loves them.”

Also in attendance were Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott; South Sioux City Mayor Rod Koch; Regan Zeller, senior project manager at Dicon Corporation; Michael Breclaw, principal at FitzGerald Associates Architects; Kristi Quinn and Chris McGowan, presidents of the South Sioux City and Siouxland Chambers of Commerce, respectively; and officers from Western Divisional Headquarters.

The camp welcomed a limited number of children over the last two summers, but the Thompsons are hopeful that a decrease in COVID-19 cases will allow the camp to operate at full capacity in 2022.

“We have a clear vision for the camp as we move forward,” said Major Greg. “We are confident that as we turn the dirt today, we will also be burnishing The Salvation Army’s nationwide reputation as a premier provider of youth summer camp programs.”

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