CRYSTAL SPRINGS — A camp in Copiah County serving handicapped Mississippians was awarded $250,000 by the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund for continued project work Friday. The funding will go to an outdoor recreation field and nature observation area at Camp Kamassa. 

Funds will also be used to plant hardwood trees near the project sites. Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund reported the trees will enhance the natural environment, provide shade and reintroduce trees native to Mississippi. 

Camp Kamassa

Camp Kamassa secured $150,000 in funding to go towards improving recreation and fishing opportunities for handicapped children and adults of Mississippi last year. 

Camp Kamassa is run by the Mississippi’s Toughest Kids Foundation to provide recreational and educational outdoor opportunities for people with special needs. Serving all 82 counties in Mississippi, the camp is located 30 minutes from Children’s of Mississippi hospital and is in a central part of the state. 

The project funding from the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund last year was to construct fishing access piers and a canoe dock designed for use by handicapped and special needs people. Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust reported 2,500 guests are expected to visit Camp Kamassa annually once the camp is finished. 

Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund

Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund announced $14.5 million in funding for 33 projects statewide Friday. According to a press release from the trust fund, nearly $30 million will be matched with project funds from other sources.

Ricky Flynt  became the Executive Director of MOSTF after the program was created by law in 2022. Mississippi’s Legislature allocated $10 million in funding last year. The funds rose to $15 million this year. 

“The demand for funding is obvious,” Flynt said. “We received 70 project applications from communities and organizations from all regions of the state. Some of these projects have statewide benefits. The diversity of project proposals is improvised and helps the MOSTF Board of Trustees meet the goals of the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Act.” 

Check back for an update on the Camp Kamassa project.