What’s it all about?

During the summer of 2011, over 400 teens and their adult leaders will come into Omaha to renovate the homes and hearts of 60-80 elderly, disabled, and low-income residents. These teens will also have many opportunities to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, which is the #1 goal of Group Workcamps Foundation.

To find out more about the camp or about Omaha read on or check out our About Omaha page.

Where will we be staying?

Grace University has graciously agreed to host the campers while in Omaha for the camp. The campers will be staying in dorm rooms at the University and will have access to the fabulous campus which you can tour online here.

From the explorers Lewis & Clark to the Mormons and other pioneers who camped here along the Missouri River, Omaha’s history is one of courage and determination. And while the city is benefiting from a revitalized riverfront and downtown, it is also a place of stark contrasts. It has the 3rd highest black poverty rate of America’s 100 largest metro areas, and the No. 1 percentage of black children living in poverty. There are more than 48,000 people with disabilities, and the overall percentage of residents living in poverty in 2005 was 15.3 percent. Social service programs and generous philanthropic ventures have begun to address the need for educational and employment opportunities, yet there remains a clear and immediate need for helping hands, hard work – and hope.

What’s going to happen

The goal is to work on houses where the residents typically earn half of the poverty level, and are elderly or permanently disabled. The work would consist of typical light home repair projects including painting, building wheelchair ramps, repairing doors and windows, etc. For the recipients, the need is great, as they often must choose between paying for these repairs or buying groceries and paying utility bills.

Where is Omaha and what is it all about?

Visit our About Omaha page to find out what Omaha has to offer.

Omaha is situated on the west bank of the Missouri River, near the crossroads of Interstates 80 and 29, Nebraska’s largest city is a destination of choice for creative artists, history buffs, sports fans and anyone who loves a great meal. Home to five Fortune 500 headquarters, Omaha has more than 420,000 residents – and 1.1 million people within a 60-minute drive. Cultural venues include Joslyn Art Museum, the Durham Western Heritage Museum, the Strategic Air and Space Museum, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, historic Boys Town, and the Mormon Trail Center with exhibits detailing the encampment they called Winter Quarters. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, ranked best zoo in America by Reader’s Digest, has the world’s largest indoor rain forest, indoor desert dome, and nocturnal exhibit and indoor swamp, as well as the Scott Aquarium, where a 70-foot-long acrylic viewing tunnel puts sharks and other fish up close. The city is becoming the amateur sports capital of the nation, hosting many annual NCAA championship events, including the men’s College World Series for more than 50 years. Beyond home plate to the dinner plate, Omaha has more than 1,500 restaurants whose fare ranges from world-famous, fork-tender steaks to a tempting mix of ethnic and local favorites.

The historic Old Market district boasts a mix of shops, restaurants and a thriving artists’ community. Attractions just north of downtown include the independent theater FilmStreams and Hot Shops Art Center, with its collection of forges, kilns, studios and showrooms. Top touring acts rock the 17,000-seat Qwest Center Omaha. South Omaha’s Latino businesses along 24th Street include markets, art shops and museums. Evening fun spots include inPlay, Dave & Buster’s and Thunder Alley amusement centers. Fans of the outdoors enjoy an abundance of city parks and pools, some featuring free summer concerts; the Fun Plex and Papio Bay water parks, Lewis & Clark Landing and Heartland of America Park riverfront walks, the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center, Lauritzen Gardens, and the Omaha Zoo Wildlife Safari and several serene state parks including Platte River and Mahoney, all within a few minutes drive.