Cindy’s Range Dedicated at 2015 Friends Weekend

Campers this summer enjoyed a beautiful new rifle range pavilion, thanks to generous donors and the skilled volunteer efforts of Norbert Garvey, Larry Davis, Don Koehler, and 45 other volunteers who toiled throughout the spring and summer to complete the project.

“Cindy’s Range“ was dedicated on Sunday, September 6, in honor of former camper, counselor, and Program Director Cindy Moehlenkamp Smith. Cindy’s family and friends gathered at the new range, and two of her three children, Betsy Smith Stierwalt and Jimmy Smith, in unison shared the honor of firing a salute through a green dedication ribbon stretched across the range.

“While she was associated with the swimming area, actually anything (with) water, my mom was a certified shooting instructor while she was here at Camp,” said her daughter Betsy.

The rifle range pavilion was made possible by generous gifts from Cindy’s husband Lee Smith, his family, and several other camp friends.

The old rifle range pavilion was dismantled in mid-March by volunteer Boy Scouts and Lodge members. A 16 X 100 foot concrete slab was poured in mid-April.  Soon after, Norbert Garvey, a professional building contractor and former Ondessonk Riflery Director who managed the project from design to completion, began building Cindy’s Range with the help of numerous volunteers.  Of note, Larry Davis, a former camper, counselor, and fiercely loyal volunteer, worked nearly every day of the project.  The new facility was ready for use by the first day of summer camp.  Finish work continued during the summer on days when it was not in use. The pavilion boasts a new storage room with two gun safes and steel roll-up windows, and a longer covered shooting line featuring a 63 foot aluminum bench on which campers learn firearm safety skills prior to shooting.

“Camp has always had guardian angels. Now “Cindy’s Range” has a permanent guardian angel,” said volunteer Don Koehler.