Ellijay residents Grover and Light Feather Coram (on the ground, l-r) are thrilled to welcome the Broadstreet Christian Church mission group into — and onto — their home. The Coram home was repaired through the Eagle Ranch outreach program. Photo by Mechele R. Dillard

Eagle Adventures has a higher ‘bottom line’

The Eagle Adventure Company, Inc. (EAC), was, for years, simply a rafting company, located in Copperhill, Tenn. “Fun, fun, fun” and “profit, profit, profit” were the names of the game. Individuals, corporate groups, social clubs, church groups — all types of people came through the doors of EAC, and all were guided down the rushing Ocoee River, on breathtaking rafting getaways.

Until the flood.

In 1990, the town of Copperhill was hit by sweeping flood waters. Many businesses and homes were lost. EAC, located in the heart of Copperhill, was almost completely destroyed. But, there is good to be found in every situation, and the devastation led to a turning point in the corporation’s overall purpose.

The bottom line is important in any business. However, the community outreach experienced by the owners and staff of EAC provided a different perspective on what the “bottom line” really is. The company’s owners were amazed at the outpouring of caring and generosity they received from the local community, bringing the EAC offices back from the brink of disaster. Now, they knew they must give back to the community what they had received.

Outreach ideas were considered, but most seemed limited. Then, an idea began to grow from the groups that rafted with EAC.

Director David H. Scott began to notice how many church groups and mission groups visited during the summer and fall months. He learned that many of the groups there to enjoy a day of rafting were actually in the area on mission trips, helping those in need. This, Scott realized, was the perfect community outreach for the new branch of EAC: Eagle Ranch.

David H. Scott, director of Eagle Ranch, and Kim Juska, assistant manager, get the day started by picking out the proper paints and supplies for the current outreach project. Eagle Ranch assists those in need, particularly the elderly, in and around Copperhill, Tenn. Photo by Mechele R. Dillard

Eagle Ranch (ER) is located on the old Stilley homestead in Copperhill. The family originally settled the land in the 1800s. The home that now serves as the offices for ER was built after WWII, when the resident Stilley, a skilled, self-taught electronics expert, returned from his assigned duty.

The North Carolina/ Tennessee line goes right through the homestead. The home/office is the most western pioneer cabin, located on the most western mountain, in North Carolina.

ER has sleeping, eating and bathroom/shower facilities for the approximately 130 work groups that participate in the community outreach program each summer. The program includes team-building activities for the group members, most of which are young adults.

The projects are often as far south as Ellijay; other areas included in the ER territory are Blue Ridge, McCaysville, Ducktown, and the North Carolina towns of Murphy and Andrews; ER also works with the Cherokees at Snowbird.

There are four areas of service in the ER program, and groups may do work in one area, or they could work in all areas. It depends simply on what needs to be done. The four service areas include:

Team members of the Broadstreet Christian Church mission group weather alternating scorching heat and pouring rain as they repair Grover and Light Feather Coram’s roof. The group traveled from Virginia to participate in the Eagle Ranch outreach program. Photo by Mechele R. Dillard

Groups generally stay at ER for six days. They usually spend three days working with projects, and spend the rest of their time rafting, rappelling, climbing, trying their luck at the ropes course and team building.

Most of the youth that arrive at ER are from urban areas, and Scott has found that they are fascinated with the rural experience ER provides. There is bunk space for about 250 individuals on the premises, which generally represents about 13 church groups, usually of various denominations.

At least 10 percent of ER projects are in conjunction with a North Carolina program, established in the late 80s, which assists Cherokee seniors. It was through this program that Scott was introduced to Grover and Light Feather Coram, of Ellijay.

The Corams appreciate the new roof they now have, thanks to ER and the hard work of the Broadstreet Christian Church mission group, of Martinsville, Va. Sue Perotti, mission coordinator, was extremely proud of the young people.

“We hope this plants seeds of hope and faith in our young people for the future,” she says, acknowledging that it was the idea of the kids themselves to take a mission trip — the first in the church’s history.

“This helps the older people on fixed incomes,” said Light Feather. “They help a lot of people.”

ER does not currently receive any grants. About 25 percent of its funding comes from contributions; the rest is funded internally.

When working on a project, ER works with local suppliers, such as Sisson Log Homes and 515 Builders Supply in Gilmer County.

The original EAC was destroyed by fire in 1996, so the entire operation is now housed at ER. In addition to the summer mission projects, EAC offers educational group programs, focusing on environmental and Appalachian studies, for schools during the fall and spring. And, of course, the company still offers rafting adventures to those brave enough to challenge the Ocoee.

For more information about any of the programs offered by EAC, Inc., contact David H. Scott at 1-800-288-3245.