Camp Memories

[Guest Guest]

Since it's June already and my husband and I are going to be counselors at camp next week, it gave me a topic idea. :ideas:

What are some of your favorite memories from camp (if you ever had the opportunity to go)???

Who was the best camp meeting preacher?
What decisions did you make at camp that changed your life?
Where was the camp located? What was it like?


Things like that... :cool



I'll start off....

The only time I've ever been to camp was when I was 12. It was some place outside of Salem, Oregon. I don't remember the name or the preacher, but he preached a really good message about Samson and Delilah. The message was about choices that you can make that will affect your life... and I remember making a decision that night that I would keep myself pure and not be a rebellious teenager (like most of the teens I knew in my church).

Ok... your turn! :Green

[John81]

Great topic!

I've never been to camp and I've mostly heard of unChristian things that went on in camps so I'm looking forward to hearing some better things.

[HappyChristian]

I can't remember a lot about the camps I attended as a child - other than one really important time. When I was 8, I attended a camp that was affiliated with our school. The previous year my bro had gone and gotten saved. This particular year, I went with him. And I got saved. That was in 1968. I enjoyed different things, but that was the best!

And then there was "______ (insert name), _________ (insert name), quick and able, get your elbows off the table. This is not a horse's stable. Run as fast as you are able." If someone had their elbows on the table at mealtime and got caught, this chant would go up, and they would have to run around the cafeteria. We all liked that.

As an adult, I worked at Mt. Salem Revival Grounds, when Joe Boyd was the director. I did a bit of everything, but I really enjoyed teaching the lady's classes. Bro. Boyd took college guys out during the summer, to teach them evangelism. They were at the camp for at least a week each month. They would take turns preaching. It was always enjoyable. During the camp meetings, there would be different preachers, but my favorite would have to be Bro. Joe - or "Deep Water Joe" as my grandpa dubbed him, 'cause he always said to be baptized in deeeep water. :Green That man truly had a large impact on my life.

[Bakershalfdozen]

How sad, John!

I have a good many memories from going to camp as an elementary kid. Our church went to the Bill Rice Ranch in Murfreesboro, TN for several summers. I can't remember any of the speakers :ooops but I sure did have a good time! There were watermelon hikes, horse rides, rodeos and all kinds of other fun. One year I got to participate in the Bible drill.

When I was a teen, our church ran a local day camp and I was a helper for that. In college, I worked at Harvest Time Bible Camp for one summer and really enjoyed most aspects of that. I was also an involuntary volunteer at a camp in Michigan for one week. That's a weird story so if you want to know, PM me. :Bleh

[Kayla]

Ahhhh...church camp.

I went to my first youth camp when I was going into the 8th grade. That year the Lord spoke to me about being separated from the World. Camp speaker was BroMatt's Dad, Brother Danny Souza, I love his wife and him.

My second year I was in senior camp, that year I remember surrendering my life to whatever the Lord would have. Speaker Dave McCraken.

My Third year was the year that I surrendered my music to the Lord and started throwing out my rock and roll trash. Sam Davison (Now my pastor when I am at school)

My Fourth year was the year that I surrendered to go to Bible College if the Lord would allow. Dave McCraken

My Fifth Year of camp I decided to make a look at my friends and make sure I was hanging out with the right people. Jason Gaddis ( My SS teacher at school)

My Sixth and last year of camp I surrendered to share my testimony of suicide and other things with others and how God had saved me from it. Bill Marshall

Oh I went to Sagmount Baptist Youth Camp in Joplin, Missouri all those times.

[John81]

Those are very encouraging stories! It must really make a huge difference as to which camp one goes to.

Seriously, I heard lots of stories about church camps and most of what was talked about was guys and girls sneaking off together, the sexual stuff they learned and/or tried, what they saw during co-ed swims, etc. I always thought these church camps sounded like nothing more than a place these young folks went to trying to hook up with members of the opposite sex.

[Guest Guest]

I think it really depends on who's in charge of the camp, and what kind of counselors are there. If the leaders are enforcing the rules, while still allowing the kids to have fun (good, clean fun), then the camp is usually good.

I've heard of bad things happening at so-called IFB youth camps... but that's because of a lack of good supervision, or the leaders just don't care about what happens.

[Kayla]

Those are very encouraging stories! It must really make a huge difference as to which camp one goes to.

Seriously, I heard lots of stories about church camps and most of what was talked about was guys and girls sneaking off together, the sexual stuff they learned and/or tried, what they saw during co-ed swims, etc. I always thought these church camps sounded like nothing more than a place these young folks went to trying to hook up with members of the opposite sex.

Our church camp is NO MIXED SWIMMING! and we have guards that drive around all night on a golf cart with a spot light...so... :thumb

[John81]

From the stories I was told either the counselors never watched them closely or the counselors were off doing things other than what they were supposed to be doing.

As with most things, if rules are set and enforced and if someone makes sure things are being done correctly, then things go smoothly. Of course, when these don't take place then sin natures tend to run wild.

[LAF]

I can't remember a lot about the camps I attended as a child - other than one really important time. When I was 8, I attended a camp that was affiliated with our school. The previous year my bro had gone and gotten saved. This particular year, I went with him. And I got saved. That was in 1968. I enjoyed different things, but that was the best!

And then there was "______ (insert name), _________ (insert name), quick and able, get your elbows off the table. This is not a horse's stable. Run as fast as you are able." If someone had their elbows on the table at mealtime and got caught, this chant would go up, and they would have to run around the cafeteria. We all liked that.

As an adult, I worked at Mt. Salem Revival Grounds, when Joe Boyd was the director. I did a bit of everything, but I really enjoyed teaching the lady's classes. Bro. Boyd took college guys out during the summer, to teach them evangelism. They were at the camp for at least a week each month. They would take turns preaching. It was always enjoyable. During the camp meetings, there would be different preachers, but my favorite would have to be Bro. Joe - or "Deep Water Joe" as my grandpa dubbed him, 'cause he always said to be baptized in deeeep water. :Green That man truly had a large impact on my life.

Me and my dh used to work at Mt.Salem a few years ago .

[LAF]

I went to Bill Rice ranch 2 different times

[Ashlee]

I've been to Sagmount two years, and God has really spoken both times. I'm thankful for the chance to attend a Godly camp. The only other camp i have been two i went with my aunt because she ran it. it's name was "High Hill Christian Acadamey" any red flags yet? Well, thankfully they used KJB not niv or etc., but on the third day, a bay and a girl were sent home for becoming involved. At sagmount out counselors took steps to keep girls and guys separate at all times, and ensure there was no cause for worry. I would just like to praise God for a camp where that is the norm, not the exception.

[Trish]

Oh, I'll try to keep it brief, but I loved camp soooo much growing up. One really neat thing about the camp I went to was that it was from Sat. afternoon till the following Sat.morn. Not at all like most camps now that run from mon. afternoon through fri. morn. From the summer I was turning 7 or 8 through 12yrs I went to Camp Northfield in MA. This is the same place D L Moody grew up and preached at. I loved just about everything, except the night we played capture the flag, I was too shy for that. I fondly remember the Missionary stories that the speakers wife told a part of every afternoon. The last 2 or 3 years they started an outdoor adventure week and we did every thing outdoors. We slept in lean to's and cooked breakfast and lunch over a campfire. The camp speakers were great too. I wish I could remember some of there names, I would love to know if I know some of them now. (I really think that one time it was Matt's dad) We were always challenged in Bible memory, and many times I was able to be near the top. I only remember winning(tying) one time though. There were many fond memories of camp Northfield. It saddened me when they started letting thier music standards slip and my parents no longer allowed me to attend.