Taking care of Camp Melacoma

By Heather Acheson

August 6, 2013 12:00 am

Life

Deer wander freely around the 142 acres of grounds of Camp Melacoma, and are even hand-fed by Dodi and Andy Jensen, who formed the non-profit Camp Melacoma Association to purchase the site. Nieman Lodge (pictured above) includes a dining room for 200 people, sleeping quarters and kitchen. Due to high levels of naturally occurring arsenic found in the water, the facility has not operated as a camp since 2010. A water treatment plan is being formulated.

This Camp Melacoma sign and map is one of many projects completed on the property by members of Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops. Caretaker Dodi Jensen is grateful for the help. "This place is 142 acres," she said. "There is no way that I would be able to take care of it all without my volunteer groups. It would be impossible."

This bell sits next to Nieman Lodge. Jensen said she's not sure how long it's been on the site, but she intends to one day have it inscribed to recognize 2013 -- the year the camp was purchased by the non-profit Camp Melacoma Association.

Trails are located throughout the 142-acre camp. It also includes 17 buildings, as well as a pool, canoe pond, and archery and sling shot ranges, as well as a bb gun range where biodegradable ammunition is used.

Stepping onto the grounds at Camp Melacoma is a lot like stepping back in time.The 142-acre heavily wooded site is tucked away in the hills of Skamania County, 13 miles up Washougal River Road. It has been a kids’ camp since 1948, when Robert Wineberg deeded the first chunk of the property to the Camp Fire Cascade Council.

Over the years, it’s been a place where literally thousands of kids of all ages and backgrounds have converged to explore nature first hand, and get the quintessential summer camp experience.

Related Stories