West Virginia Camp Gets Free Generator From Volunteers

A donated generator is bringing reliable power to a West Virginia summer camp, thanks to volunteers who spent a year making it happen.

Camp Kootaga in Walker lost its backup generator, leaving the former Boy Scout camp vulnerable during storms. Without emergency power, the camp had previously lost entire coolers full of food and faced operational shutdowns when bad weather hit.

That's when a volunteer from New Martinsville learned about the problem and got to work. The volunteer discovered a credit union building was closing and had a perfectly good generator sitting unused.

Getting the generator from the credit union to the camp took patience and persistence. Over the course of a year, volunteers worked with Delegate Vernon Criss and others to secure the donation and arrange transport.

The generator arrived at Camp Kootaga on April 19. Two volunteer electricians are now donating their time to install it properly and ensure everything runs smoothly.

"They are coming to help set it up and make sure everything is connected properly and that it runs well," said Andy Shaffer, the camp's vice president of operations.

The Ripple Effect

The new generator does more than just keep the lights on. It protects the camp's ability to serve more people than ever before.

The Kootaga Foundation recently purchased the property and expanded its mission beyond traditional Boy Scout activities. The camp now hosts family reunions, weddings, and community gatherings, opening the beautiful space to everyone.

This summer's camp runs June 28 through July 4, with more programming planned throughout the year. The reliable backup power means families can book events without worrying about weather disruptions ruining their special occasions.

The whole project shows what happens when volunteers spot a need and refuse to give up until it's solved.