DIETERICH - Camp Walter Scott didn't look a whole lot different Sept. 29 than it did the last time Kelly Pierce of Sullivan was there as a 14-year-old camper eight years ago.

But by the time she and more than 435 volunteers left later that day, the 45-year-old camp south of Effingham had undergone a major update.

In all, she and other workers had installed metal roofs on 11 buildings, added 15 pews to the Overlook Worship Center and built a rock path leading to it, cleaned and painted the dining hall and shower houses, expanded two cabins to accommodate commercial bathrooms and done extensive landscaping that included improvements to an in-ground labyrinth.

"I helped roof a couple of the hogans (sleeping shelters)," said Pierce, now a 22-year-old senior at Eastern Illinois University. "It was neat to see all the stuff going up and all the people helping out."

Indeed, the response stunned organizers who hoped 200 people would volunteer for the second round of Miracle Day in the Illinois-Wisconsin Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

"First we panicked for a minute," said project coordinator Doris Adkins Carter, a member of the Christian Church of Villa Park. "Then we worked hard at the last minute to add landscaping, fencing and more cleaning jobs so we could put everyone to work."

Fundraising surpassed the $50,000 goal, with 143 individuals and families, 70 congregations and six camps giving $65,000.

People also stepped up for the region's first Miracle Days in 2005, renovating Jackson Boulevard Christian Church in Chicago and the InterfaithCenter at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, but the enthusiasm to help Camp Walter Scott exceeded all expectations.

"The camp is dear to people's hearts," Carter said.

Pierce was among eight volunteers from First Christian Church in Sullivan.

They were joined by volunteers from 44 other churches, including Vine Street Christian, Arthur; Old State Road Christian, Charleston; Central Christian, Decatur; Marshall Avenue Christian, Mattoon; Davis Memorial Christian, Taylorville; and First Christian in Blue Mound, Casey, Paris and Shelbyville.

Steve Craggs and five members of his family - his wife, Kim; brother Bob; sister-in-law Sharyl; nephew Kelly and Kelly's wife Regena - were among 30 volunteers from Davis Memorial Christian.

The Rev. Lonnie Southern, pastor of the Taylorville church, motivated his flock to participate by growing a beard and shaving it off after his goals for the congregation were reached.

"It was a pretty stout beard," Steve Craggs recalled. "We met folks from DuQuoin and roofed with them all day long. It was a wonderful day, and we got a lot of work done."

Three generations of the Nevius family also pitched in: the Rev. Philip Nevius, pastor of Old State Road Christian; his daughter, Rebecca Nevius; and his 15-year-old grandson, Basil Beadles of Mattoon. They were among seven volunteers from the Charleston church and 23 from Mattoon.

Philip did roofing, Rebecca did painting, and Basil worked on the path and the labyrinth.

"The camp has given a lot to us," Rebecca said. "This was a chance to give something back and leave something for future generations to enjoy."

Ed Acheson of Decatur participated in Miracle Day at the Interfaith Center and wanted to repeat the experience at Camp Walter Scott by joining 33 other volunteers from Central Christian. At Carbondale, he learned a lot about plumbing, and at the camp, he learned about putting up a fence.

"It was fun both times to look back at the end of the day and see actually how much work had been accomplished," Acheson said.

Becky Lewis, camp manager for the past five years, said she couldn't find words big enough to say thank you.

"It was more than awesome," she said. "Not to sound overly sentimental, but you could see the hand of God at work."

Theresa Churchill can be reached at tchurchill@herald-review.com or 421-7978.