The Mountaineers Players use the Kitsap Cabin kitchen during many weekends of the spring and summer show season. Volunteer cooks cook delicious meals for hungry cast and crew (who are very appreciative). We had noticed that there was water damage to the floor and that it was soft in many areas. After receiving grant money from the Mountaineers Foundation, this project was tackled. As is typically the case, when you delve into a project, it can become more extensive that first imagined. Volunteers removed the main items from the kitchen and more experienced help was called in to deal with the floor removal.

Jim Hamilton spent three long days removing three layers of floor and repairing some damaged floor joists. Volunteers Craig McCoy, Brian Lindvall, Gardner Hicks, Olivia & Trenton Hickerson and I spent days getting rid of the huge pile of debris that was created by this demolition. In addition, Scott Baker spent a day finishing the details that had to be completed before we could call in the tile professionals, including rebuilding the cut-off pantry wall that had been water damaged.

We appreciated the volunteer help of Ezra Pergam and his team from Lile North American who spent several hours removing our old refrigerator from the cabin and transporting some wood debris from the theater to the dumpster - it took much of that time just to take apart the refrigerator to get it through the narrow cabin door. They were a great help!

Mark McNeill and his team (McNeill Tile & Stone) attached the hardie board backing and the tile - they did a beautiful job and the kitchen looks stunning. This floor should last for many decades, and we are planning on replacing the leaky plumbing, water heater and refrigerator to stop any further damage from occuring. By the time next play season starts in the spring, we should have a beautiful functioning kitchen for our volunteer cooks!

Please go to our photo-gallery to see lots more pictures from this project.

Not only have the Mountaineers Players been busy this spring and summer creating two incredible shows (Honk! & Annie), they have also been busy creating a new play area for kids of all ages.

It all started with a family whose daughter, Kamalani, auditioned for Narnia last year. Kamalani loved the experience, and her brother, Brayden, enjoyed hanging out at the theater. Her parents, Lisa Simpson and Brian Fielder, helped out behind the scenes – Lisa backstage and Brian selling concessions. Lisa became the teacher/leader of the Kitsap Forest Adventure Camp (last year and this year!). They had such a positive experience, they decided to join the Players Committee.

Noticing that the old play structure (built by volunteer parents several decades ago) was no longer safe – they volunteered to donate time and money to design and build a new one. After doing a site evaluation, they presented the Players Committee with their recommendations and design ideas. It was decided to build the new play structure on the other side of Kitsap Cabin to take advantage of the trees on the site. 

Here is Lisa's explanation for the design:

"The inspiration for the Treehouse was the Kitsap Forest itself and the imagination of theater. I watched what the kids do when they are playing in the Kitsap Forest and tried to imagine what they might build for themselves if they were lost in the woods — on a great adventure and needing a home. I thought of Peter Pan and pirates battling with swords, the Swiss Family Robinson, and Robinson Crusoe. I also thought of fairies and the magical times younger children, and we all, experience observing the creatures that live in the woods."

"It needed to have a balcony so the kids could be dramatic. It needed a crow's nest, so the kids could get up high and so the "set" would have several levels. It needed to appeal to kids that could just begin to climb up and to the older teens who still want to play a bit while they "hang out." I wanted to make something that would inspire the imaginations of all ages."

With Lisa's design expertise and Brian's carpenter skills, work was begun in the spring. They worked with other Players volunteers to clear the site, dig the holes and set the posts. The actual structure was built mostly by Lisa and Brian with others helping as needed. Lisa and Brian's donation of money was matched 100% by Brian's employer, Microsoft, and his hundreds of hours of volunteer work was donated in matching funds to the Mountaineers Players, paying for the structure as it grew. Additionally, the Walters family (Beaven, Mark, Sophie, Scooter and Maisy) who have been involved with the Players for the past five years as performers, volunteers, and serving on the Players Committee, donated money towards the Treehouse project.

Since the structure was completed in phases, kids could play on the parts that were finished while the rest was being built. During Adventure Camp the swing set and small tower was used. The taller tower was finished in time for Annie families to use. Last to be added was the suspension bridge and the climbing net. It has been a pleasure to see cast and crew kids (and their friends) climbing all over the structure while plotting their next adventure. Families attending shows are spending time at The Treehouse before and after the shows – fitting with our goal of making a trip to the Kitsap Forest Theater part of a "daycation" – picnic before the show, explore The Treehouse, see the show, hike to Big Tree, etc.

This was a labor of love (and a sacrifice) for the entire Simpson/Fielder family (including the family dog, Jack) – they spent almost every weekend of the spring and summer (and some weekdays) at the Kitsap Forest Theater working on the structure (and helping out with the plays).

Thank you, Lisa and Brian (and Kamalani and Brayden) – your thoughtfulness in design, attention to detail and masterful construction will ensure that your gift will bless generations of families. You have created a legacy that will keep on giving to kids young and old – truly inspiring the imagination of all who explore The Treehouse.

To see pictures of the build in progress, see our Photo Gallery.

The Mountaineers received grant money for upgrades on the Kitsap Forest Theater property (thanks to the Kitsap Branch and the Mountaineers Foundation for the funding). New signage on the property was one of our projects. Thanks to Mountaineers Players' volunteers Gardner Hicks, Scott Baker and Steve Bozorth for help in putting the signs in place, and thanks to Alvord Signs for the beautiful signs. 

We now have a better sign at the trailhead to identify the trail going down to the theater and to post information for visitors to the property.

As with all of our projects, it takes volunteers to make it happen. From digging holes to trimming wood to buying supplies, we rely on a village of worker bees to keep this property running.

We would like to eventually sign every building with new signs when we have new funding.

If you would like to join the legion of volunteers who work on the property (all skill levels desired) please contact us with your interest and availability – we would love to "put you to work" helping to preserve this amazing property for future generations! Not only will you meet new friends, get exercise, enjoy the out-of-doors – you will also be supporting a worthy 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose goal is to see more people get outside and enjoy the forest and streams of the Pacific Northwest.