Church Camp

To say it mildly - Camp has changed my life! I am sure that I wouldn't be where I am today if it had not been for my Aunt Carol who invited my mom to bring all five of us crazy youngins to go to family camp at Mission Meadows on Chautauqua Lake in NY. Needless to say I fell in love with camp, but better yet I fell in love with Jesus thanks to hearing the good news while at camp. I continued to go all through elementary and high school until I was finally old enough to be on Staff! I worked at camp for three years and it was life changing - the friendships that I had made transformed me into a better person, and left me with some amazing memories!

After my time at Mission Meadows I spent a summer working at Messiah Pool which was fun and filled with memories, but definately not camp.

Then I was able to work at a camp in Massachusetts called Lakeside! Let the fun times begin! I am not sure I have ever laughed so hard or so often. I spent a lot of time in the mucky lake, with the occasional leech that got stuck between my toes. Although that was minor compared to all the amazing memories that I was able to be a part of that summer!

Then after I grew up or at least graduated and got a real job I got connected with a camp called Krislund - I would spend my summers there as I taught during the school year. The outdoor adventure setting was so cool to experience life in God's creation. My summer as program director was one of the hardest yet one of the most rewarding summers. I even ended up having red hair after that one!

I am remenising about my camp experience today because I got to go visit a hidden treasure right here in our own back yard - okay not our back yard but within 50 minutes and in our county. That was the Christian Retreat Center! Really cool to spend the day there with Brian Ford, having lunch, taking a tour, and sharing ministry moments.

If you live in this area - check out that camp, if you don't check out a camp near you - consider how you might get involved in supporting or using that camp to do ministry, or to be challenged in your faith! For me it changed my life - what will it do for you?