Lebanon (Kchag)
Kchag Evangelical Armenian Camp
EMI Project 5410

June 3-12, 2007

Existing Site Photos
Existing chapel
Staff housing and dorm
Staff and guest house
Utility shed and guest housing

Project Scope
Kchag youth camp has been the heartbeat of the evangelical Armenian community in Lebanon for 50 years. The site is located on 5 beautiful hillside acres, covered with stately pine trees. It is only a 20-minute drive from Beirut, but feels completely as if you are in the country. But, damaged seriously by the Lebanese civil war, and occupied by 7 different armies up until 2002, it is in serious need of renovation. The remaining buildings are in various stages of disrepair. A renovation plan is needed to restore the camp and take it to the next level.

Initially, the camp was conceived as a center for cultural, social and spiritual activities, to serve the Lebanese Christian Community in general and the Armenian Evangelical Community in particular. It was intended as a conference center for children, juniors and young people, where they could spend a week or two out of the city hearing and studying God's word amidst His great creation. The first youth conference in Kchag Center was in 1949, and it was carried out under tents.

Over the years, construction continued on the site, and new buildings and facilities were added every year. The center became the heart-beat of the Armenian Evangelical community during the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Many of today’s leaders in the Lebanese church came to Christ, grew in their faith, met their spouses and dedicated their lives to God at the Camp. The center was drastically affected by the start of the Lebanese war in 1975, and gradually declined until the last camp was held in 1987. From 1988 to 2002, the center was occupied by various military forces and was heavily damaged.

The Armenian Church intends to revitalize the center after long years of occupation by military forces during the internecine war in Lebanon. A revitalized Kchag will meet the spiritual, intellectual, physical, and creative needs of Christian youth in a fellowship environment. The center will allow children and youth to come to faith in Christ and instill in them the spirit of leadership, community service, and humility in support of the needs of the poor.

The project scope of the eMi team will include determining which facilities are salvageable and designing the restoration or replacement of the first several buildings to be restored. We will prepare a site master plan, a construction design, and a fundraising brochure for the center. We will review a site master plan prepared by another design firm in 2005. The ministry is currently focused on the immediate basic needs of the camp: water, wastewater, electricity, roads, dormitories, sport facilities, a library, and a kitchen.

Project Team
Craig Hoffman – eMi Team Leader
Susanne Hoffman - Volunteer
Gene Fagan - Architect
Stuart Godfrey - Architect
Dustin James - Civil Engineer
Irwin Kim - Mechanical Eng. Intern
John Means - Structural Engineering
Leah Means - Volunteer
Brett Tippey - Architect
John McKenzie - Civil/Transport. Eng.
Brad Hansen - Mechanical Engineer
Kendra Hansen - Civil Engineer
Jim Cathey - Electrical Engineer
Mary Ann Cathey - Volunteer
Daniel Buker - Structural Engineering

Costs
Approximately $2,100 (plus $200 ACDP membership if not already a member)
More information on project costs.

Other Project Information
Volunteer Resources.

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