Canby Grove spared?

Portland YMCA might keep camp operating

By JOHN FORTMEYER
CNNW publisher
    CANBY — Canby Grove Conference Center might get to see its 83rd year after all. And an 84th — and beyond — thanks to YMCA of Columbia-Willamette.
    In what Canby Grove leadership sees as a potentially miraculous answer to their prayers, the Portland-area “Y” organization contacted the camp about a possible acquisition. That initial communication on July 15 came only about a week after the non-profit camp’s executive director, Ray Schnickels, had an-nounced to stunned staff that the 82-year-old facility would close in October due to financial struggles.
    The following day, YMCA President and CEO Bob Hall and Vice President Steve Hunter toured the 74-acre camp on the Molalla River. By early August, Schnickels had signed a memorandum of understanding with the YMCA, which would assume Canby Grove’s assets and liabilities.But talks to complete the deal are still under way with the governing boards of both organizations as well as with the bank that holds the camp’s $1.2 million mortgage.
   “We’re excited to see what opportunities the Lord may open up for expanding services in youth development, healthy living and social responsibility,” said Jason Barnes, YMCA spokesman.
    YMCA of Columbia-Willamette is known locally for its strong emphasis on the Christian principles on which the “Y” worldwide was founded.
It serves Clark County, Wash., and Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Yamhill counties in Oregon and already has one camp facility — Camp Collins in Gresham.
    During its first seven decades, Canby Grove was owned by the Pacific Northwest Conference of the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church, but became a stand-alone organization in 2000.
Schnickels said the current economic downturn had hit the camp hard, with group bookings and individual attendance slumping this year, a sharp drop in donations to the camp, and the bank declining to extend the camp’s line of credit.