By Kyle Troutman ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

Hundreds of volunteers have converged at Camp Barnabas this week, working through the days to repair facilities and clean up the grounds in preparation for opening week after the Camp was struck by straight-line winds up to 90 miles per hour on Tuesday.

Abby Smith, marketing coordinator for Camp Barnabas, said the response has been overwhelmingly encouraging, with some volunteers donating time the day of the storm, then more than 100 arriving on Wednesday and more than 200 on Thursday.

“We anticipate we’ll have at least 200 this weekend,” Smith said. “The majority of the work has been tree removal, cutting them and moving them off roads and walkways. That should be close to done, then we will shift to repairing cabins and getting all the many branches and sticks picked up for our campers in wheelchairs.”

Located about 3 miles northwest of the Highway B and Highway 97 intersection west of Purdy, Camp Barnabas offers 9 weeks of summer camp experiences to more than 1,500 campers (facilitated by more than 3,000 staff and volunteers) from across the U.S. and Canada who live with long-term diagnoses, physical disabilities and developmental disabilities.

According to the National Weather Service in Springfield, ground crews determined the area was struck by straight-line winds of 80-90 miles per hour, part of a storm line that also struck the city of Monett with the same speed of straight-line winds and produced an EF-1 tornado near Highway 60 between Verona and Aurora.

Smith said Camp Barnabas staff lost count at 40 large trees down across the property’s on 120 acres, many of which were large and uprooted. Three of the Camp’s 20 camper cabins were damaged by felled trees, as well as several fence lines and a ropes course.

Two of the cabins struck were older, but one was a new construction this year anticipated to be finished in coming weeks and open June 1 for campers.

The first week is the “Legends Camp” for intellectually and developmentally adults, some of whom have been attending Camp Barnabas for 30 years.

“Camp Barnabas is like a home away from home for them,” Smith said. “They have friends who have been coming here a long time, so they have their own community here they look forward to seeing.”

With some volunteers and staff set to arrive in two weeks for training, Camp Barnabas leaders are hoping to have the grounds and facilities ready as soon as possible, and they are asking for manpower to do it.

“We still need many kinds of volunteers, especially skilled laborers who can fix the cabins, siding, roofing and holes left by the trees,” Smith said. “We’ll also take volunteers to help us finish the work we had going on before the storm.”

Those interested in volunteering or wanting more information can email cody@campbarnabas.org.

“But, if someone shows up at the gate, we will not turn them away,” Smith said. “We like to have a count because we are feeding our volunteers a light breakfast, lunch and dinner. We’ll also take kitchen or catering volunteers.”

Smith said insurance adjusters have been on the property, and Camp Barnabas is working through that process, as well.

“We have a massive amount of people that come out to Camp Barnabas,” she said. “The work we’ve already been able to get done and all the volunteers who have showed up is incredible and encouraging.”