Summer Camp

From our Pastor:

Rev.Mike Murphy

I am visualizing several very fun summer activities— swimming in a pool, boating in a lake, fishing in a pond, sliding

down Big Bubba, canoing on French Creek, hiking in the woods, making crafts, sleeping in tents or cabins or dormitories, eating home-cooked food, paddling around in Funyaks, roasting S’mores and singing by the campfire. Thinking about all of these things reminds me… It’s time for summer camp!!

The month of March always reminds me that it is time to plan for summer camp. For decades, our United Methodist conference has offered a variety of opportunities for children and youth to participate in a week of summer camp. There are four camps within the boundaries of the conference: Pocono Plateau (in the Poconos), Carson-Simpson Farm (Willow

Grove), Innabah (Chester County), and Gretna Glen (Lebanon County).

A child or teenager can choose from a variety of half-week or full-week camps: dormitory/cabins, platform

tents/shelters, off-site trips, or day camps. Summer Camp 2010 brochures, describing all of the camp choices and registration information, are available at the summer camp display in the lobby of the church.

Also, you can call the toll-free summer camp hotline at 1-877-UMCCAMP (1-877-862-2267)

or check out their website: www.epaumc.org/camping

or go to each of the camp’s individual websites.

DUMC and the Outreach Ministries want to make sure that everyone can have that Methodist Camping experience Pastor Mike writes about .

In April, our mission is “in reach” to provide that camping experience for all of our youth. Our April mission will help defray the cost of camp. Every church family should take advantage of this opportunity.

You may register on line or on paper. Either way, every form for each of the camps, has a special box or line for you to declare you are expecting a scholarship. Please check the box declaring that you are expecting a scholarship of $100 from DUMC. Then, please be sure to tell the office (Karen Aduba) that you are registered for the camp. DUMC will contribute that amount from our April Mission account. You can still pay the remainder by check or credit card. We want to see all of our youth take advantage of this opportunity, if this is still more than you can handle in your budget see Pastor Mike or Pastor Donna for an additional scholarship.

Also, there is a huge need for summer camp volunteers.

I am volunteering as a program director for two camps called Trailblazers and Trail Bloazers: Above and Beyond at Pocono Plateau August 5-11 and I need some ablebodied volunteer counselors to join me. Don’t let the word “counselor” scare you away.

You don’t need to be a professional!

You will be one of two counselors with a group of 10 children (4th – 7th grade)

whose responsibility it will be to guide each child through a week of camp fun and spiritual growth.

I set up the schedule; the Plateau staff will lead you through some great activities; you and your co-counselor will reside with the campers and supervise them in their camp experience.

A few people from our church have already experienced what it means to be a summer camp counselor and they are very enthusiastic about their experience (and they are still alive!). If you are interested in helping me out

this summer, please give me a call (215) 348-5224.

Let’s encourage our children and youth

to participate in something that will change their lives..

...SUMMER CAMP!