Who We Are

Land.  Water. Stewardship. Access. Recreation. Preservation. Affordable Housing.

Our Shared Vision

Rotary Charities and Rotary Camps & Services will be the collaborative leaders of strategic efforts to achieve positive change in the five-county Grand Traverse Region.

Our Mission

The mission of Rotary Camps & Services is to identify community need and create new, proactive collaborations primarily through:

• The stewardship of natural resources
• Access to recreational opportunities

Rotary Camps & Services Board of Trustees

John Hall, Chair
Paul Schmuckal, Vice Chair
Al Olson, Secretary/Treasurer
Steve Chambers
Chuck Downey
Rob Lovell
Doug Meteyer
Dave Millross
Lee Olewinski
Bob Witkop

Staff

Marsha Smith
Executive Director
msmith@rotarycharities.org

Becky Ewing
Program Officer
bewing@rotarycharities.org

Stacey Foster
Administrative Assistant
sfoster@rotarycharities.org

Howard King
Capacity Advisor
hking@rotarycharities.org

Rotary Camps & Services’ work links directly to mission and includes proactive collaborations, water- and land-based stewardship, and affordable housing initiatives.

Proactive Collaborations

Encouraging proactive collaborations in the natural resources and recreation are integral to our mission.  During 2010-2011, Rotary Camps & Services has been a partner in the Boardman River, helping to find resources for dam removal and stewardship initiatives in the watershed.  We have also partnered with the City of Traverse City to develop resources for implementing the Bayfront Plan, which was a result of extensive public input about the community’s vision for a two-mile stretch of waterfront in downtown Traverse City.  The funder collaborative formed included over 17 local and regional funders and raised over $452,000 to support Phase 1 of the Bayfront Plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh Water

The Freshwater Roundtable was formed with the help of Camps & Services and consists of a group of Executive Directors from the region’s natural resource organizations. The Freshwater Roundtable provides a venue for community organizations focused on the study and protection of our cherished water resources to confer, convene, and collaborate on projects and activities. Keeping themselves informed of the each others’ programs and achievements makes cooperation easier and duplication of efforts less likely. They hosted the third annual Freshwater Summit, which brought together water resource professionals and the public to discuss issues and network.

The RC&S Water Committee extends to the three Traverse City Rotary Clubs and engages in water-related projects such as: Kid’s Creek clean-up, stream bank stabilization and habitat restoration through the Grand Traverse Conservation District, Adopt-a-Stream through the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, and the Jim VanEenenam memorial work bee at East Creek reserve.  They provide a scholarship for one regional natural resources professional to participate in the Great Lakes Leadership Academy.  Christy Roman, Executive Director of the Antrim County Conservation District represented northern Michigan.   This year, the sixth annual Kids Free Fishing Day was held in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Great Lakes Children’s Museum, Grand Traverse Area Sportsfishing Association, and the Great Lakes Water Studies Institute. Over 300 kids participated in the event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land Management

Rotary Camps & Services owns nearly 1,800 acres in Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties:

• Camp Greilick, operated by the Scenic Trails Boy Scout Council
• Camp Sakakawea, operated by the Girl Scouts Michigan Shore-to-Shore Council
• East Creek Reserve and Canterbury properties in the Boardman River Valley
• The Discovery Center ~ Great Lakes, home of the Great Lakes Children’s Museum, Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay, Maritime Heritage Alliance, and Traverse Area Community Sailing

The Next Generation of Affordable Housing Leadership

Rotary Camps & Services has a long history of supporting affordable housing initiatives, including the incubation of HomeStretch, a nonprofit community land trust and housing development organization.  In cooperation with Northwest Michigan Council of Governments and key housing advocates, RC&S supports Community Housing Choices and the Affordable Housing Task Force of the Grand Vision in their efforts to create and implement affordable housing strategies that support the sustainability of our community.  In 2010-2011, A $5,000 grant was awarded to Grand Traverse County to assist the Grand Traverse County Land Bank in resource development for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.  One of a few of its kind in the state, the Housing Trust Fund will help to support affordable housing development in the county.