Builders give Camp Scully in North Greenbush helping hand

North Greenbush

The professionals rolled up their sleeves and got to work in the sunshine Wednesday at a popular camp for kids.

Nail guns popped, power saws buzzed and the smell of fresh-cut pine filled the air as red-winged blackbirds provided a little background music at Camp Scully on the edge of Snyders Lake. About a dozen local volunteers who usually construct custom homes and office buildings were building neat and sturdy overnight sleeping cabins for youngsters 7 to 17 years of age who call the camp their home away from home for one week during the summer.

Sister Betsy Van Deusen grabbed a tape measure and helped one worker with a wall they just built by making sure the length of the diagonals matched.

"I got a lot of experience in building while I was with Habitat for Humanity International," the director of community partnership for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany said as she returned the ruler to her work belt.

Around her it was a busy and well-planned scene as professionals from the Capital Region Builders & Remodelers Association, Otterbeck Construction, Bluman Roofing, Bellevue Builders Supply, Roarke Custom Builders, Bonded Concrete, Capitol District Supply and Prime Properties built the cabins on concrete slabs poured two weeks ago on a hillside overlooking the lake.

Crews grabbed from piles of 2-by-4s, 2-by-6s, chip core siding and prefabbed roof trusses and knocked together three 18-by-36-foot cabins that will contain six bunk beds each.

It will increase the camp's capacity by 36 kids to provide a total of 140 children a summer opportunity some may not normally be able to afford.

Each will have a space for a counselor and storage, the cabins will come complete with ample front porches.

"Sister approached us a couple of months ago and we started planning this job, said Adam Zima, whose family co-owns Capitol District Supply. "We were eager to help out again. We are hoping to have all three framed in today, roof them on Thursday and finish them with white vinyl siding Friday."

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Builders give Camp Scully in North Greenbush helping hand