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SUMMER CAMP: Camp Asbury | Camp Aldersgate | Camp Wanake
HEADING DOWN THE RIGHT PATH
One vision. Three camps. One mission. Three distinctly different sites.
Although the vision and mission of East Ohio Camping and Retreat Ministries are the same, the places where the ministry comes alive are all different. The three sites: Aldersgate, Asbury and Wanake all provide excellent camping and retreat experiences, yet offer a variety of programs that celebrate their uniqueness.
Camp Asbury - “It feels like home!” Kinships with Asbury’s natural beauty, programs, and people run deep. Hike to a secluded waterfall, sleep out under the stars, soak up a sunset on Communion Hill, bask in the moon glow over Lake Hibbard, shoot down the mudslide and a whole lot more. Explore Camp Asbury’s 433 acres of forest, fields and wetlands nestled in the Eagle Creek Valley which is home to a diversity of northeast Ohio’s plants and animals.
For three generations, building a sense of belonging and community has driven the design and delivery of Asbury’s summer programs. Asbury continues to embrace the value of camping in small groups. Asbury’s programs are progressive – challenging maturing campers to try new activities each year. Asbury’s programs honor multiple-intelligence learning – whether your daughter or son is a mathematician, an active learner, a writer, an artist, or a naturalist, he or she will have fun and learn new skills at camp. Asbury’s residential programs feature a variety of accommodations: cabins, modern retreat centers or rustic camping.
Day Camp (Grades 1-3, and Grades 4-6) connect with the natural world and have fun outdoors. Attend one-week or summer-long. Core Programs (Grades 2-7): “Discovery,” “Village” and “Pioneer.” On-site outdoor activities that utilize the resources and program areas of Camp Asbury. Live as cabin groups. Themed Programs, Art and Nature Programs (Grades 4-12): focus on a particular theme or learning style with time for traditional camp activities. Rustic Programs (Grades 8-12): Nothing brings a group together like a week of roughing it in the woods, in close contact with the natural world. Trip Camps (Grades 7-12): Grow community and sharpen outdoor living skills through off-site adventure.
Camp Aldersgate - The Camp Aldersgate staff has announced a new program model for summer camp. Based on feedback provided in camper and parent evaluations, the Aldersgate experience campers have grown to love and value will continue to be offered while moving programming in a fresh direction.
The theme for Summer 2009 is: “Oh-9.” Oh-9 is a movie, with campers as the cast and staff as the crew. Our three Oh-9 programs are: “Reign Forest Productions: Where God Reigns and Children Grow” for Grades 1-3; “Studio Four-56: Make Your Own Adventure” for Grades 4-6 and “DOCKumentary: What’s Your Story? ” for grades 7-12. Each day campers’ activities will be saturated with a different theatrical genre. As part of the “Act Up” Bible study curriculum, campers will also spend time studying their Bibles as “scripts” each day.
At the beginning of each week, Aldersgate campers will now have the opportunity to select activities previously featured in specialty programs once per summer (Remote Control Mania, Boaters Extreme, Archery, Spy Kids, Chillin’ Beach bums; Cooking etc). New and innovative activities, challenges, and adventures will be added into the mix for campers to choose and experience. Under the new model, Aldersgate will have an overarching summer-long theme. Three mega-programs, one for each age group, each fitting into this overall theme will be run weekly. In addition to these three all-inclusive programs, campers can also sign up for MADD camp, The Weekend Stayover Program, and a new Future Aldersgate Staff Training (FAST) Academy program.
It is hoped the new stream-lined event offerings will help families in many ways. Each camper will be able to develop their own individualized program and summer camp can now more easily fit into the calendar.
Camp Wanake - Summer camp at Wanake is a place where lives are changed in ways that last a lifetime. Strong friendships and deep understandings are built as campers grow together at Wanake – a beautiful, spiritual place among the hills.
Campers live, work, eat, play, study, and pray together as a small family group of 10 -12 with two counselors who serve as positive, Godly role models. This community, centered on Jesus, provides a setting that encourages new ways of thinking and reinforces positive habits. Within these small groups, campers plan their week, choosing from many activities. Each group designs and builds their “hang-out spot,” called a Home-in-the-woods. The group plans and prepares two or more cookouts during the week. Through these experiences campers practice decision making and have opportunities to take responsibility.
It is Wanake’s goal that campers will have a new, renewed, or strengthened relationship with God as a result of their time at camp. To this end, Wanake counselors facilitate devotions, Bible Study, prayer, and teachable moments each day, providing a setting for campers to grow in their relationship with Jesus. Each camper is also given opportunities to practice leadership that encourages growth as a Christian leader.
Wanake offers a wide array of opportunities for campers of all ages. Overall, campers benefit from being in God’s Creation and actively exploring it in the 250 acres that make up Wanake. Wanake’s specialty line-up includes string programs in swimming, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain boarding, theater production, and go-kart racing. For the more adventurous camper there is whitewater rafting and caving through our trip to the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. Every activity provides opportunities to try new things and build skills with practiced mentors.
Wanake’s housing for campers includes modern retreat centers, traditional cabins, and unique living spaces: the climbing lodge, Adirondack shelters, and a survival hut. The Wanake pool with a rock-climbing wall and diving board and Wanake’s 47-foot rock climbing tower add to the unique nature of this place.
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