Wilderness Expansion Campaign
Financial objectives for the Wilderness Expansion Campaign to run from January 31, 2008 to January 31, 2009
| Purchase eight hundred user days in the Wind River Range, Wyoming from O'Kelly outfitters | $200,000 |
| Research and development of spring and fall program areas in the southwestern United States and South America | $50,000 |
| Expenses necessary to conduct a combined campaign | $25,000 |
| Estimated cost of Wilderness Expansion Campaign | $275,000 |
Why does SROM need additional user days in the Wind River Wilderness?
United States Forest Service (USFS) requires that a concessionaire (an individual or organization providing services for a fee) possess user days in order to operate within USFS lands. The Forest Service asks for an itinerary and fee for every day used on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. These permits are difficult to obtain as there is a limited quota given out. The only way to obtain additional user days in the Wind River Wilderness is to purchase them from a current permit holder with user days.
We have motivated sellers. Their names are Mark and Kelly Pearson. They purchased O'Kelly Outfitting in the 90’s but are undergoing a career change. They are attending the University of Wyoming and shortly will graduate. The Pearsons like the Christian emphasis of Solid Rock Outdoor Ministries. Mark Pearson served on the board of the Episcopal HR camp that now operates near Laramie Peak.
The Pearsons have reduced their asking price from $295,000 to $200,000. But we must act quickly or we could lose this opportunity to impact countless lives through increased programming opportunities.
We have a pressing need and opportunity! Enrollment is up and continues to go up as there is increased demand for our services. At the present time we are able to serve 10 students for 30 days. This equals 300 user days. With the acquisition of O’Kelly Outfitters we will be able to serve 10 students for 110 days. This is an increase of 300%!
Why does SROM need to develop program areas in Southwest United States?
The southwestern United States possess unique scenic and natural beauty. There are colorful red canyons and spires. The desert flora emerges in resplendent color during the spring of the year. The country is vast giving scenic panoramas and big blue skies in every direction. It is a country where man is truly a visitor who feels small in relation to such grandeur. The brushstrokes of the Creator can be seen everywhere.
We want to operate here on a permanent basis. This country is literally in our backyard. We want to combine the beauty of the desert with the beauty of the mountains. In this way we will be able to offer our students the best that this nation has to offer. Imagine a semester course beginning in the mountains in late summer and ending in the desert in the fall. It is simply the best of both worlds.
Why does SROM need to develop program areas internationally?
For the last several years the Lord has been casting vision for taking Solid Rock Outdoor Ministries to an international level. This vision goes much deeper than just wilderness adventure in a foreign land. There still exist numerous un-reached areas throughout the world where groups of people have not heard the Gospel because the spiritual and physical conditions are so harsh that it is difficult for missionaries to venture there, let alone live among the people for an extended period of time. This highlights a gap in the typical short-term missions model that we believe the Lord is calling SROM to help fill.
The vision the Lord is birthing involves semester courses in which students are equipped with the technical skills, the spiritual mentoring, and the wilderness encounter with the Lord that SROM has always provided. However, after the season in the wilderness, SROM will take these students who have grown in unity of the Spirit together and have been equipped to live in adverse climates and conditions to the corners of the earth and live amongst the lost for a season—exhibiting incarnational love. SROM’s ultimate vision is to combine wilderness training and leadership equipping with a missions model that will bring the Good News and rise up disciples in the hard-to-reach areas across the world.
