A campground in Northern New Mexico is foreseeing drastic losses for years to come after the devastation caused by the Hermit’s Peak-Calf Canyon wildfire.
El Porvenir Christian Camp in Montezuma was in the path of the historic wildfire. Buildings and other infrastructure were destroyed. “We weren’t able to get vehicles through again until October,” executive director, Nate Stafford told KRQE. “We were coming in on foot, crossing the river on foot when we could to get in and do work here at the camp and tend to things.”
It appears the camp could be closed for the fourth straight season after shutting down due to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 and the fire last year. Donations have kept the camp in operation, but losing the continuity of student attendance could have a long-term impact.
“Those students grow up to be parents of future campers,” Stafford said. “They grow up to be future donors. That interruption in our camper experience is going to have an effect for a long time.”
Stafford said there’s not enough to repair, renovate and make the major improvements needed.
Twelve buildings were severely damaged or destroyed and the main bridge in and out of the camp is gone. The U.S Forest Service told camp officials it could take as long as five years to repair.
“Without a bridge, monsoon season is just dead in the water and that’s normally our middle of the summer,” Stafford said. “So, that’s normally our primetime. That camper experience is like a continuation from generation to generation.”
