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Each summer, teens from different states grace the city of Winchester with their presence in order to work on home projects and be engaged in a Christian atmosphere. 

This summer, from Sunday, July 7th through Saturday, July 13th, will be no different, and the annual opportunity for Winchester residents to benefit from their services already presents itself. 

2024 Work Camp applications are currently being accepted through Thursday, February 29th. 

They can be easily accessed through Clark County Community Services. 

“They can get those at [https://www.clarkcountycommunityservices.org], which is the website, or they can call Clark County Community Services and they will mail them one,” said Shannon Cox, who helps organize Work Camp each year. “They fill out the application [with] name, address, [and more], and what type of work they want done or need done.” 

Previously, a number of tasks have been able to be performed on homes and other locations during work camp. 

Among them are interior and exterior painting, working on outdoor decks, steps or porch repair, weatherization, pressure washing, yard cleanup, and more. 

Once applications are submitted, follow-up steps take place. 

“After we get all the applications, we will have a crew that comes in here probably the first of April and go out and expect each site [to] determine what the kids can do,” Cox said. “We’ll fit all those into a matrix and say, ‘Okay, we can do these sixty projects.’” 

Beneficially, all work takes place at no cost to the homeowner – who must live at the residence – benefiting from such services.

An adult will need to be onsite at the residence through the week, and kids must have access to the restroom. 

Previous Work Camps have featured adolescents and adults from different locations throughout the country, including Maryland, Washington state, and even Downers Grove, Illinois – a suburb of Chicago. 

The upcoming edition is already set to welcome 21 different churches from 15 states, including Texas, Minnesota, Michigan and New York. 

With 353 students – twice as many as ever before on their way this summer, Cox hopes for approximately 120 applications, which – as mentioned – will be narrowed down to between 60-70.

Regarding the growing attendance, Cox spoke positively of the event’s reputation.

“I think it’s the way we treat the kids here when we come,” Cox said. “All these kids talk to each other using Instagram and all this stuff, and they know that when they come to Winchester we’re going to make it as great an experience for them as we can.” 

In addition to the Christian atmosphere, attendees are treated to ice cream, Ale-8, guest speakers, and more. 

University of Kentucky baseball coach Nick Mingione spoke to the students last year, with hopes of him, players, and others returning for this year’s edition. 

The positive impact has also been felt by adults. 

“I think the most positive thing besides folks getting work done that some of them would not have been able to have done is the interaction with the kids,” he said. “I saw [one woman] and she was still talking about it and how she was still keeping in touch with the kids that came and worked on her house.”