A.R.E. Camp Dining Hall Burned to Ground: Fundraising Underway to Continue A.R.E. Summer Programs

Virginia Beach, VA, June 11, 2015 --(PR.com)-- In the early morning hours of June 5, the A.R.E. Camp Dining Hall became engulfed in flames before burning completely to the ground. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the fire. However, this comes as devastating news to the A.R.E. community and campers who were preparing for another year of tradition and summer fun in Rural Retreat, Va. Despite this momentous setback, the A.R.E. Camp will go on. Camp schedules and activities are to go on as planned, and the A.R.E. is deploying the best creative resources to ensure campers experience the same magic, fun, and memories as dozens have before them. The A.R.E. is reaching out to the public to help reach the fundraising goal of $50,000 to replace one of the most-used buildings at the A.R.E. Camp site for future camp use. As of Monday afternoon, the A.R.E. Camp has raised just over $25,000 from over 100 generous donors.

A clean-up plan has been drafted, and will be implemented once the insurance process is complete, and the A.R.E. Camp is working on determining an ideal site for a temporary kitchen and dining hall set up. In order to provide facilities and services for A.R.E. Campers this summer, the A.R.E. is relying heavily on both donations and insurance to continue camp through the summer while planning the reconstruction project for next summer’s campers. Individuals who are financially unable to donate are encouraged to volunteer in whatever way they can. Those interested in volunteering may email A.R.E. Camp Manager, Malenka Kaydan, at Malenka.Kaydan@EdgarCayce.org. Additionally, A.R.E. Camp will be accepting donations of kitchen items, card and board games, balls, musical instruments, and more, to replace items lost in the fire. Those interested in donating goods may contact Subee Sheldon at Suebee.Sheldon@gmail.com. To make a donation, please visit EdgarCayce.org/summercamp and click the “Help Rebuild Camp Dining Hall” button. For updates on camp reconstruction and fundraising efforts, please visit facebook.com/arecamp.retreat.

Edgar Cayce founded the non-profit Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) in 1931, to explore spirituality, holistic health, intuition, dream interpretation, psychic development, reincarnation, and ancient mysteries—all subjects that frequently came up in the more than 14,000 documented psychic readings given by Cayce, who died in 1945. The mission of A.R.E. is simply to help people around the world change their lives for the better through the ideas and information found in the Cayce readings. The Virginia Beach headquarters is a popular site for locals and tourists with free daily lectures, a Health Center & Spa, the Cayce/Reilly® School of Massage, an extensive metaphysical library, a meditation garden, a stone labyrinth, and a bookstore and gift shop. Visitors from around the world come to experience conferences featuring speakers on subjects like ancient mysteries, holistic health, and spiritual development. The campus is also home to Atlantic University (AU), which offers two masters degrees (Transpersonal Studies and Leadership Studies) through an online platform, as well as continuing education and certificate programs. Through A.R.E.’s many programs, services, publications, and membership outreach, individuals from all walks of life and religious backgrounds are provided with tools for personal transformation and healing at all levels—body, mind, and spirit. For more information, please visit EdgarCayce.org.