Last weekend was wonderful for cleaning the winter debris from the cabins, buildings and grounds of Camp Wapiti, a camping facility for medically challenged children from Utah and surrounding states in Settlement Canyon about two miles from Tooele.

Fifteen Vernal Elks, family, and friends made the weekend trek to help make Vernal’s popular cabin, No. 13, and the rest of the camp ready for the season’s special visitors. Boy Scouts who were there to assist with clearing the grounds had spent the weekend at the facility.

Others from the state’s other 12 Elks lodges and other volunteers such as former campers, counselors and staff also assisted. The Elk family of Utah built and maintains the campus and grounds.

Camp Wapiti is home to many different entities for camping experiences and education and who provide all their staff, camping and medical supplies. This year’s schedule includes: Camp Hobe (cancer), Camp Wyatt (asthma), Camp Valor (hemophilia), The Royal Family Kids Camp (children in the foster care system), Healing Hearts (families living with heart conditions), Camp Hawkins (heart), FYCD (diabetes), and CJC (Children Justice Center).

There also is Camp Chautauqua (deaf women). Groups such as churches, clubs, law enforcement, state agencies, boy and girl scouts, and families use Camp Wapiti during the open dates. Many from the Uintah Basin have attended or helped at Camp Wapiti.