The Gathering Place

New Dining Hall & Fellowship Center

Beautiful and functional dining and meeting facility to serve present and future needs.

Dining Room double-sided fireplace

“We desperately need modern facilities that accommodate all campers together. Mealtimes, meeting times, and other group activities are as essential to the Camp Zion family as they are to any other family. Now more than ever, young people and our other guests need to unplug from their media and connect with themselves, their family and friends, and their savior, Jesus Christ. ”
— Dale Stewart, Executive Director

Why Do We Need a New Dining Hall?

Current indoor dining and meeting spaces are over-crowded, hot, and noisy.

  • Discussions have been underway for more than fifteen years about the need for expanded space for meeting, dining, and other activities.

  • Our lack of meeting space has been a hindrance to current and potential groups, limiting the amount and types of indoor activities we can offer and accommodate.

  • The present aging dining hall, completed in 1986, does not adequately service our capacity, and the kitchen is out of date and inefficient.

  • Due to setback requirements, density and impervious surface issues, adding on to the existing building was not practical or feasible.

What Are the Benefits Of This Project?

Years of planning, camp-specific architecture by Fletemeyer & Lee, construction management by Millennium Construction

The Gathering Place will:

  • Enhance the guest experience,

  • Meet the increasing demand for nicer, more guest-friendly venues,

  • Replace insufficient and outdated meeting and dining facilities,

  • Better service the allowable capacity,

  • Improve the overall Camp operations,

  • Meet the needs of a broad base of user groups – youth, families, and adults – throughout the year, and,

  • Be sustainable into the future.

How Urgent is the Need? How Can I Help?

Current Construction Status

  • Construction is well underway, and we cannot stop now. We are at a critical moment in the project, and we need you to “strengthen our hands” so we can finish this much-needed facility. (See our recent appeal)

  • Pray. Pray for God’s financial provision and direction.

  • Give. Give sacrificially.

  • Spread the word to friends, family, and churches about our awesome summer camps, guest group retreats, and the new dining hall. Host people in your home, share YOUR Camp Zion story. Camp staff can help.

  • Make a financial pledge over the next 5 years. Contact the camp office for details.