On January 6, Florida’s bustling Camp Kulaqua got a bit busier when 59 volunteers from Maranatha Volunteers International arrived to help spruce up the campus. The Seventh-day Adventist summer camp and retreat center is one of the largest Adventist summer camps in the world, hosting roughly 50,000 visitors each year. Maranatha projects at Kulaqua are somewhat of a tradition, this being the seventh service trip volunteers have completed here. In addition to various maintenance and construction tasks, team members had the unique opportunity to work on animal enclosures at Kulaqua’s zoo. They even experienced the culmination of their efforts when one winged critter was released into its new home.
Camp Kulaqua’s zoo features a variety of animals native to Florida, like raccoons, bears, and porcupines and several exotic species, like lions and tigers. Maranatha volunteers built a wooden viewing platform to accompany the lion exhibit. They also completed a Barn Owl enclosure, complete with a sturdy wooden frame and metal wire screens.
The group tackled other projects around the camp in addition to their work at the zoo. They built a new audiovisual building, installed cabin porch railings, and replaced rotten benches. The team also repaired a boardwalk, which was damaged by Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
In addition to their love for service, many volunteers enjoy Camp Kulaqua projects because Florida’s winter is milder than winter at their respective homes. “They want to get out of the cold,” project leader Beattie-Chrispell explained mirthfully. But this year’s volunteers faced uncharacteristically chilly temperatures. “They were very surprised,” she said. “They had to wear their jackets the whole time.” Yet the unexpected chill was no match for the team’s warm camaraderie. “We had such a good group,” remarked Beattie-Chrispell. “The Lord just always brings the right people; I am always so amazed!”
Each year, Maranatha works with organizations in the United States and Canada to provide volunteer labor for various construction or renovation projects at summer camps and retreat centers, schools, and churches. Work ranges from renovations of existing buildings to new construction, and saves thousands of dollars in labor costs.