After Recent Vandalism, Day Camp Strives to Make Repairs By Summertime

An act of vandalism at the Camp Fire USA location won’t stop members of the organization from opening their doors for the season.

Annually, hundreds of kids attend the outdoor located on seven acres just off of Boughton Road on Trout Farm Road. Activities during the day camp include archery, fishing, field trips, cookouts and crafts.

Members of the volunteer-driven Camp Fire USA organization were recently notified of the vandalism, which happened last weekend and included a broken window, torn screens and spray-paint damage to one of the buildings on the site, according to Lt. Michael Rompa.

No damage estimate was available.

Stephanie Schiszik, chief operating officer of at Camp Fire USA Illinois Prairie Council, said Camp Kata Kani is closed for the winter.

“So now we’re in the process of getting ready for our day camp program,” she said. “We’re doing a work day out there this weekend in order to get things cleaned up—it's something we're putting on our calendars to get people out and help out with that."

The community is invited to help get the site ready for the children who will soon be attending.

“We’re a relatively small organization and very volunteer-driven so if somebody is willing to roll up their sleeves and pitch in we welcome them,” Schiszik said. “We’d be thrilled to have that kind of assistance.”

She lauds the partnership Camp Fire USA has with the .

“We have a really good relationship with them," she said. "It’s nice to have good neighbors."

For more information, visit Camp Fire USA's website.