As I sit down to write this blog post, I feel so blessed. I’ve spent much of the last two weeks at Camp Magruder. I lead a family camp over the 4th of July, dropped my youngest daughter off for her first camp on her own, and then made a 24 hour site visit as a member of the Board Camp and Retreat Ministries Program Division. I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time at my favorite place on earth.
Bryn Wittmayer at Camp Magruder
I’ve been so lucky to go Magruder most of my life: family camps, church retreats, my own camps. This special place has been central to my faith formation. My parents taught me that than when we go under that “Magruder Arch”, we’re in a place set apart from the world, a place for growing closer to God, and closer to others. This is not an experience unique to Magruder. Our Camp and Retreat Ministries are blessed with six Camp and
Retreat sites, each beautiful, and unique. We’re known nationally for the quality of our camping program. At a time when some annual conferences have moved to day camps only, or have no camping program at all, ours continues to grow and blossom!
We have extraordinary leadership at every level of our camping program. Do you go to camp to with dietary restrictions? Our camps can take good care of you! Does your child have special learning needs? Our staff and volunteers are well trained, and will help your camper connect with God in the way she/he/they learns best. At Magruder this week for a site visit, I was constantly amazed at how the counselors and staff were on the lookout for ways to connect God’s love to campers, and would keep trying when one method wasn’t right. Even simple things like telling campers to put away life jackets were given with the message, “pick up your vests, and I love you all!” to which the campers grinned, and picked up their vests.
Camp Magruder’s Smith Lake
A program this strong is a collaboration between volunteers and employees. Our paid camp staff is amazing, and at every level we rely on volunteers. I saw them as kitchen and housekeeping staff and counselors. One couple is spending their entire summer in their RV at Magruder volunteering with the housekeeping staff. So many people give their time to the camping ministry. It’s extraordinary. None of our camps would even exist without the hard work and sacrifices people have made for generations: fundraising, working on buildings, and spending their time in this ministry.
The result of all this hard work and devotion is a camping program that raises generation after generation of campers who know God’s love, and experiences it outside in God’s beautiful creation!
This fall, my family and I will get to attend your church retreat for the first time. I was raised attending my home church’s retreat for years. I went with my parents. When I was in high school and college, I took my grandmother every year. I’m so excited to share this new kind of camping experience with my family and all of you!
I may never get used to being able to see Bunch from Shorehouse.
See you at camp!
Bryn Wittmayer
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