A few decades ago, John Bergland and company trudged into the low area between the camp office and the pool and built what became known as Big Bertha catwalk. The catwalk created a much-needed pathway for retreat groups, summer campers, and visitors to cross from one section of the camp to another. The catwalk also provided access to Big Bertha herself, the largest Black gum tree east of the Mississippi. Sadly, recently, due to excessive wear and tear on the catwalk, we were forced to close it due to safety concerns

By the grace of God, about a year ago, we received a grant from the Long Leaf Association for the rebuilding of the Big Bertha catwalk and the construction of a 40x40 pavilion that would be attached to the current Big Pines pavilion. 

The grant proposal established the pavilion and the new catwalk as an activity and outdoor education area for campers, guests, and school children in our area. The amount originally projected for the project would have more than covered the expense of the material, as well as professional help in constructing both the pavilion and catwalk; that was before COVID. Because of the COVID pandemic, the cost of building supplies (especially treated lumber) has increased 250%. The gracious grant given to use by the Association no longer covers even the materials for the entire project. So, we are turning to the Rockfish family to help us make this new path and much needed addition to the overall ministry of the camp a reality.

We do have enough funding to do the site work on, and acquire the materials for the 40x40 pavilion, 200’ of crushed gravel walkway, 150’ of the catwalk from the pool area to Big Bertha, and a 32’ platform instruction and encounter deck around Big Bertha. However, we still need to buy the material for the  320’ of catwalk from the Big Bertha access catwalk to the office area. An example of the type of catwalk we intend to build is above.

We have calculated the material cost for a 12 foot section of the catwalk to be $800. We are inviting friends, families, churches, small groups, Sunday School classes, and organizations to sponsor a 12’ section in honor or memory of someone who has made a path in your life toward a deeper relationship with God. Each sponsored section will have a plaque on the main handrail noting who sponsored the section and in whose honor it was dedicated. We need roughly 25 sections sponsored in order to complete the catwalk. If you would like to sponsor a section of the Big Bertha catwalk, simply select your donation amount in the form below and in the comments box indicate if you are donating as a part of a group or mail a check or money order with your individual or group's donation amount, your names to be written on the plaque, and if applicable what is to be printed on the group plaque to:

Rockfish Camp and Retreat Center

226 Camp Rockfish Rd

Parkton, NC 28371

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*Note - Important Information Before Donating: If you are an individual donating an amount to contribute to the overall project, but not sponsoring a full section of the catwalk your name will be added to a plaque of individual contributors to the overall project which will be posted along the trail. If you or your group sponsors a section of the catwalk in full your group will get a plaque on the section sponsored. Please indicate in the comments if you are donating as part of a group or individually. Group coordinators can also leave what they would like written on their group's plaque in the comment section in the form below.

Because we are not able to hire workers to build the Big Bertha catwalk or deck, we are also trusting that God will inspire families and groups to volunteer in the building process. If you are interested in helping build any aspect of the catwalk, please contact me, Jim Martin, at jim@camprockfish.org with questions or dates your family or group would like to help. The building process could also be another aspect of the dedication. Groups who donate the funds could also take part in building their 12’ section.

Thank you for prayerfully considering coming alongside us to build a new path for the guests, campers, and ministry of Camp Rockfish.

In Christ,

Jim