Taking a quick break from preparing to host their first group of campers later this month, Camp Korey’s team celebrated the official purchase of Carnation Farm with a ceremonial flag raising and the unveiling of a giant new sign on Tuesday, July 1.

“Camp Korey will truly come alive on July 21,” said founder Tim Rose, who looked forward to the arrival of a group of children with genetic conditions that affect facial structure and cause organ abnormalities. They’ll spend five days playing and enjoying the camp that Rose established in honor of his son, who died at 18 from bone cancer.

Camp Director Hillary Carey said she’s already hearing from eager campers who have packed their bags weeks ahead of time.

“We’ve been getting letters and drawings from kids who are excited to come to camp,” she said.

Because a week of camp costs about $2,500 per child, and is provided free to families, the organization is putting on fund-raising events.

This weekend, the site will host the Washington Wines Festival, which includes entertainment by Vince Gill, Amy Grant and Lisa Loeb, as well as meals prepared by top Seattle chefs. Event details and registration information are online at www.washingtonwinesfestival.com.

North Bend resident Jan Sliger, who is Rose’s sister, was thrilled at the unveiling of the sign. For months, she has been raising funds for the camp through grassroots efforts around the Valley. It felt like her brother’s dream was finally coming to fruition.

“When I drove by and saw the sign, I knew it was finally real,” Sliger said.

The transfer of the historic property from Nestle to Camp Korey finalized on Friday, June 27, two years after Rose began working on the purchase.

“It took a long time to dot the i’s and cross the t’s, but everything closed just in time,” Rose said at the flag-raising event.

This summer, Camp Korey will host two week-long sessions for campers from Children’s Hospital. Eventually, it will host 10 sessions each summer, with more than 100 campers from all over the Pacific Northwest attending each session. Camp activities will include fishing, horseback riding, arts and crafts, and woodworking.

Camp Korey is associated with Hole in the Wall Camps, the dream of actor Paul Newman, who started the first one in 1988. There are now a dozen camps worldwide serving seriously ill children.

More information about the camp is online at www.campkorey.org.