A Message About Camp Week from ECCC's Executive Director
Dear Friends,
I’m excited for Camp Week, a week to celebrate and raise up camps during this very challenging time.
What is there to celebrate? Some things remain true. Camp is transformational! It:
Provides a safe space for young people to be challenged by the Gospel
Shows young people how to love and be loved deeply in community
Demonstrates the value and importance of stewarding God’s Creation
Empowers young people to create change in their communities
Gives young people an opportunity to live in community, embodying Jesus’s Way of Love
And, kids can unplug at camp: Remember unplugging? It’s becoming more important than ever.
Because of COVID-19, there are campers all over the country that are missing their transformational communities of faith. Even more, young people are being asked to adapt to our ever-changing world, quickly.
COVID-19 has led our camps to alter or pause their summer camp programs. We’re creatively responding, but the truth is that campers are missing important experiences at crucial stages in development. Camp, a safe place to wrestle with new ideas and realities, is not there for them as they need it.
We will survive, but it is more important than ever that we ensure that camps are there when this is over.
Without expected revenue from summer camp, retreat, and outdoor education groups, Episcopal centers are creatively trying to preserve their ministries for the future.
Despite camps’ efforts, there are centers that will struggle, and camps that are in jeopardy of closing permanently without support from people like you.
Please consider supporting Episcopal camps and conference centers now, by donating to a camp’s annual fund, purchasing merchandise from an online store, starting a crowdfunding campaign for the camp that transformed your life, or sharing a testimonial about your camp experience.
Please keep Episcopal camps and conference centers in your prayers.
Peace and Blessings,
Patty Olson Lindsey
Executive Director
Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers
