Butterfield RV Resort & Observatory, Benson, Arizona

Butterfield RV Resort, being the only RV Resort in the country with their own Observatory, has donated to the Benson Unified School District, the expertise of our resident Astronomer/ Telescope Operator and dedicated time on the telescope. Our Astronomer teaches about our Solar System and deep space, then follow up by observing through the telescope. We also attach a CCTV camera to the telescope and transmit the images directly to our flat screen television. The students are accompanied by their Science teacher to maintain consistency with their in-school lessons.

Butterfield RV Resort has established an in-Resort recycling program. Because the local community has not yet implemented a Recycling program, we collect aluminum cans at a central location in the Resort and contribute those cans to a local church who uses the money from recycling to help the less fortunate in our community.

Butterfield RV Resort periodically collects used but clean and serviceable clothing and household items and donates them to the local Church run charity.

During the past 2006 Christmas season, a guest of Butterfield RV Resort "adopted" a child in need. This child was in need of Surgery, and was living with his Grandmother. The guests of Butterfield took it upon themselves to get involved with the help. An auction of Crafts and other items was held. The manager, during one of our entertainment nights, got up and started telling jokes, and would not sit down until someone donated $20. He did this several times, and eventually, between the Auction, the entertainment night, and a sealed bid auction for a hand made blanket, over $700 was raised and donated to assist the child.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AT BUTTERFIELD RV RESORT

Butterfield RV Resort guests and staff have taken on two major Community service projects for the Winter Season, 2007-2008.

The first and main project is a local charitable organization…"ALL THE KINGS HORSES CHILDREN'S RANCH". The Ranch website can be found at www.atkhcr.org Their MISSION is to provide a refuge in a traditional-family setting for abused and neglected children who need long-term care. Their GOAL is to provide an environment of social, physical, educational and spiritual support for children-in-need so they can mature into their maximized potential, abilities and interests. Butterfield participated in numerous ways.

1. We held a food drive. We collected over 700 pounds of canned, boxed and other non-perishable food items. Some of our guests also donated Food Gift Cards to the local Safeway grocery. The cards totaled $240.

2. We held a SILENT AUCTION with donated items from guests and staff. We also held a Men's and a Ladies' Pool Tournament, charging each participant to compete. The Auction and Pool Tourney raised $570.

3. Throughout the winter, guests and staff continued to do volunteer work at the Ranch, especially with labor and other construction work to help repair existing facilities. Our guests are continuing to donate household items such as crock pots, stereo equipment and recently, a Sofa Bed!

4. Additionally, next winter (2008-2009), we are in the planning stages to help build a new home for the children on the Ranch property.

Our second project consisted of making knitted and stuffed bears for the "MOTHER BEAR PROJECT" (www.motherbearproject.org) This project , which is National in scope, is designed to provide comfort and hope to children, primarily those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations. Our ladies have knit and shipped to the Project Headquarters over 80 bears. This project started here at Butterfield RV Resort in November 2007 and the ladies are still knitting the bears as of the beginning of March 2008. All of the yarn and "stuffing" were donated by our ladies.

A small sample of the many bears we made. No two bears were alike!