Pre-teen Camp Buckeye in North Central Ohio continues to grow every year. This year we had 66 campers and 82 staff members coming from 12 different states and one Canadian province. This year we reached our sleeping capacity for the facility.

Each day began with engaging Christian living classes, followed by many other exciting activities such as archery, arts and crafts, canoeing, court games, dance/skit, field games, indoor games, fishing and swimming.

Court games was a new activity this year and broom-ball became a hit with all the children, especially with those who decided to “make memories to last a lifetime” by playing broomball in the rain! Dance was also new this year and it was an opportunity to teach the children some of the fun line dances they often see at family dances or when they go on to teen camp (and, of course, they did learn the hamster dance!).

We had our traditional evening campfires with kettle corn and Bible skits one evening and Mark Graham leading a fun-filled sing-a-long on another evening.

Here is just one comment from the parent’s survey on what they think about Camp Buckeye and why they want their children to attend:

“Everything about Camp Buckeye is a reinforcement to what we are trying to teach [our child] how God’s way works. It is good for [our child] to see other kids living His way, and what it looks like when a group of people are living God’s way.”

And one comment from the staff survey, on why they volunteer to serve:

“I serve at Camp Buckeye because it is a camp that had affected my views on the church and changed me growing up and a program I want to give back to and be a part of. It is such an amazing experience watching these campers grow up and become staff members and accepting the Church as not their parents’, but their own.”

Some exciting changes are being planned for next year, so put the Camp Buckeye 2015 dates on your calendar. Sunday, Aug. 2 to Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015.