Giving Back: Kay Builders Completes Camp Fowler Pavilion Restoration

At Kay Builders, we don’t just work in the Lehigh Valley, we call it home. We genuinely care about our neighbors and want to do our part to strengthen our community. So we give back in a variety of meaningful ways.

Our owner and President Rick Koze generously supports a number of local causes. He is especially focused on helping young people in need, since they represent the future of the Lehigh Valley.

Over the years, Kay Builders has developed a special relationship with Valley Youth House and has helped them with a variety of projects. Valley Youth House helps young people who are experiencing difficult circumstances including homelessness. They give these kids a place to belong and help them discover their true potential.

Kay Builders’ History at Camp Fowler

At Valley Youth House’s 43-acre Camp Fowler in Orefield, Pennsylvania, kids can explore their passions through adventure-based, transformative experiences that foster healing and personal development. Programs are designed to help kids develop self-esteem and build positive values.

Kay Builders has previously helped rebuild Camp Fowler’s sleeping cabins, resulting in a $2.3 million transformation of all seven sleeping cabins with modern, ADA-accessible amenities.

More recently, Kay Builders helped fund and build the Carter Family Center, a $2.7 million state-of-the-art indoor recreation and education facility that provides year-round opportunities for recreation, learning, and community connection for young people across the region. On May 5, 2025, the Koze family and Kay Builders’ employees were on-hand for the dedication of Koze Family Hall at Camp Fowler in appreciation of Rick Koze and the Koze family for all their efforts to transform Camp Fowler over the past 6 years.

The Pavilion at Camp Fowler

This year, Kay Builders was the lead donor on the renovation of the Pavilion at Camp Fowler. Construction started in April and finished in June.

The old pavilion was a metal structure that was built in the 1940s and likely renovated in 1966. The old metal was sandblasted and coated with an epoxy to add durability. A new roof, concrete pad, lighting fixtures, and additional elements were added to make sure this pavilion will be a valuable part of Camp Fowler for many years to come.

“During the demolition of the old pavilions, we discovered a gate plaque under the rusty old electric panel that we believe was from the previous renovation. The dedication plaque said June 30, 1966,” said Shannon Cawley, Vice-President of Design at Kay Builders. “That was 60 years ago. And our hope, and I'm speaking for everybody from Kay Builders, is that the renovated pavilions will continue to uphold the mission and the vision of Valley Youth House here at Camp Fowler for at least another 60 years.”

In July, Valley Youth House hosted a celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony to debut the brand new, state-of-the-art outdoor pavilions. Leading up to the ribbon cutting, board members and guests were treated to guided tours of the Camp Fowler grounds, led by Camp Director Mike Brady. The tours highlighted the camp's outdoor recreation programs and demonstrated how the new pavilions will enhance the daily camp experience.

The evening concluded with a special community dinner in the Koze Family Hall, where guests and staff sat down to share a meal alongside the campers themselves.

The new pavilions represent a major upgrade for the camp, providing versatile outdoor spaces designed to shield youth from the elements while fostering connection, teamwork, and adventure.

For over two decades, Camp Fowler has served as an adventure camp for youth to build leadership and life skills, through experiential learning and fun activities. The addition of these new outdoor pavilions ensures that Camp Fowler can continue to expand its high-impact programming for years to come.

Thanks in large part to all the recent improvements to the camp, attendance at Camp Fowler has skyrocketed. They’ve gone from hosting only 300 kids in a year to over 4,000 last year!

“The buildings we've provided here at the camp aren't just buildings.” Cawley said, “They help fulfill the mission. Our time, talent, and treasure help the vision become reality. By being involved with the buildings here at the camp, We also own the mission and the vision. That's why we're here today.”

Kay Builders Is Proud to Support our Lehigh Valley Community

At Kay Builders, supporting our local Lehigh Valley communities has always been at the forefront of our values. We want to build and live in communities that care and support each other - especially when it comes to our children. We are proud to support Valley Youth House’s mission to give children a brighter and more promising future.  

For more information about Kay Builders’ Communities in the area, contact us today at (484) 353-6100 or fill out our online form.