Trashing the place, they stole every piece of copper, steel and pipe they could. Damage to the not-for-profit summer camp, which houses up to 700 kids in a summer, is estimated at $35,000. The figure could go much higher.
"Jim Burton, the director was bringing some arts and crafts materials to the camp," said Executive Director Leo Matzke, "when he looked through a door and noticed, a sink had been moved." The staff made the discovery on Sunday, April 20.
"I was confused at first," said Burton, who then looked around the room and saw the sink on the floor. He checked his cabin and seeing the door broken down, called police. Every door had been kicked in.
Police knew about the break-in on April 17, but were unable to contact a key holder to gain entry through the gated entrance to the camp. It is believed thieves gained access through service roads near the waterfront.
"We were just up there on April 10 and it was fine," said Matzke.
The industrial sink had been ripped off the four legs that held it. The four legs remained, bent but standing. All the sinks were smashed, all the hardware gone. Showers were ripped out of the wall, their faucets and pipes taken. One sink, yanked off its cabinet, sat upside down, drain, pipes, faucets, all missing.
In the kitchen all the counters, the dishwasher, sink, and ice machine had been pulled away from the wall so thieves could rip out the pipes, even the new stove was stripped of all copper. The dishwasher was pulled apart. Sprinklers were pulled down.
In their search for stainless steel, the kitchen was wiped out of all pots and pans, flat trays, and silverware.
In the nurse's station, the smashed sink lay broken on the floor, the shower ripped out of the wall.
Thieves used the camp's hammer to smash their way around and had taken wheelbarrows out of the storage shed to haul away the loot.
Shower stalls were torn out, and sinks shattered. Pipes were ripped out of the wall. Copper was removed from water heaters which were then thrown on the floor. All the above-ground piping was damaged or stolen.
The Cry in the Wilderness building, used as the maintenance cabin, had damage to the outside as wood shingles were removed and pipes pulled through the wall to the outside.
Madison County Children's Camp, also known as Camp Lookout, opened in its current location, in the Town of Eaton by the Bradley Brook Reservoir, 35 years ago.
"Back then it was 40 kids for 4 weeks, then 60 kids for 6 weeks." said Matzke, "Now it's 700 kids for 7 weeks of camp. As soon as school lets out, we have about 150 every week that stay."
Children attend the camp for free, 80 percent of the campers fall within the federal guidelines of poverty. Each school in the county has an allotment of how many kids it can send. In addition, the county Social Services Department and the public health nurse send campers.
"For many of these kids, it's the only vacation they have," said Matzke.
A grant from Gorman Foundation last year, enabled the camp to purchase new equipment and appliances in the kitchen, like the ice machine, dishwasher, and stove. The CNY Foundation had helped with funding to update the bathrooms. New showers, sinks and toilets were installed. The Oneida Area United Way is also a generous supporter of the camp.
Matzke said the estimates for repairs included $27,000 for plumbing, $2,000 for carpentry, which includes the doors that were torn apart and $4,000 for the kitchen.
It will be awhile before they know what works and what must be repaired or replaced. "We won't know if the stove, dishwasher, or water heaters even work until we get the plumbing and electrical repaired," said Matzke.
"We have no fire or theft insurance," said Matzke, "We have tried many times and have always been told that we are too far away from the main road."
"Our problem is one of time," said Matzke, "We have groups using the camp as soon as four weeks from now. Cedar House comes the second week in June." The first group of kids and counselors will be there the end of June.
He's been advised by the plumber that it will take three men at least two weeks to complete the work. "They have to get permits and applications but we need to start right away."
Said Burton, "I'm sure the community will respond to help us out, we have to open in time."
"Camp has impacted a lot of lives, certainly here in Oneida where the largest group of kids come from," said Matzke, "I believe, with all my heart, there is higher power that looks over the camp. This camp has impacted many people in a very positive way. We appreciate all the help we get to keep this camp running."
According to Matzke, the Madison County Sheriff's Department has possible leads and is investigating the crime. The department did not return phone calls in time for this story.
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Donations can be mailed to:
Madison County Children's Camp
P.O. Box 753
Oneida, NY 13421
