STANWOOD, WASH. — Counselors are on-site at the Snohomish County camp where a deck collapsed Friday night.
Now supporters are rallying to help raise money to help keep the camp afloat.
An estimated 25 people were on the deck at Camp Killoqua in Stanwood when it collapsed at about 9 p.m. Friday night.
Eight adults were taken to the hospital but expected to be okay. No children were at the camp.
There’s a devoted alum living here in Lake Stevens.
Marianna Ouellette is surrounded by memories of Camp Killoqua.
She has the quilts, the scrapbooks filled with pictures, all of it charting her time at the camp in Stanwood that has been an integral part of her life for nearly 30 years.
Camp Killoqua means a lot to her. Yes it does,” said Ouellette. “It very much does.”
So, it was devastating news that the deck there had collapsed Friday night with about two dozen people on it. None of them the campers themselves.
“But it made me worry,” Ouellette said, her voice emotional. “It made me think of all my friends who were up there.”
No one at Camp Killoqua would talk on camera. We arrived as they were locking up the gate. They said only that their lawyer had advised them not to speak, and that they have counselors on hand for those who remain behind. They also said they will have a statement on Monday.
“They have so many staff they’re trying to support right now that are there,” said Ouellette, “that can’t go home because they’re from other places in the country or they’re from other places in the world.”
Ouellette said the kitchen is in the building where the deck collapsed. So, she is appealing to those who love this camp as much as she does to help.
“We’re trying to pull everything to get the deck fixed to,” she said, “get the staff fed and just all the revenue that’s going to be lost from not having the kids there.”
She said the camp is closed next week for sure. She thinks there is just one more week of camp after that. There is no word yet on whether that week will be suspended as well.
The camp said those who would like to help can donate here.