A relaxing sauna will be on the programme again soon at the Otago Youth Adventure Trust's Berwick camp, as the rebuilding required after last year's dramatic landslip nears completion.
Trust chairman Brian Pickard this week said it was hoped the rebuilt section of the camp would be opened in the next fortnight.
About a third of the Berwick Lodge was hit by an early morning slip in May last year during a training event for a Red Cross emergency response team.
The 42 people present evacuated the building before it began to move, but the slip trapped several vehicles and took out the boys' accommodation and part of the access way to the sauna.
The sauna has been replaced, along with the boys' accommodation, and part of a gymnasium wall.
Mr Pickard said the total cost of the rebuilding, which was covered by insurance, was not known at this stage, but he had earlier predicted there would be little change from the trust's $500,000 cover.
The trust had to pay an insurance excess of $20,000.
The next big hurdle for the trust is raising money to upgrade the sprinkler system in the older part of the building, expected to cost tens of thousands of dollars, and also completing between $20,000 and $40,000 protective landscaping work behind the building.
Mr Pickard said the trust was required to have a programme in place to upgrade the sprinklers.
Green Island and Taieri Lions clubs were aiming to raise more than $100,000 for the camp, which was appreciated.
A lower amount might also help secure grant funding.
Camp warden Jenny Scott said ideally, the sprinkler upgrade should be done next year, but getting grants in the existing climate was difficult "It's not that people aren't supportive," she said.
Although the camp lost accommodation for 30 in the slip, it was back in business soon after the May event.
Mrs Scott said it had managed to squeeze in extra beds in other rooms so it could offer 50 beds rather than its usual 65, but "it's not pleasant".
Despite its not being able to cater for 65, bookings have been steady - the camp has only five days available in the next two months.
This week, 24 children are having their last school camp as pupils of Forbury School.
The school closes at the end of the year.
