Camp Woodmen ended its 14th year as a UYC camp on July 10, 2011. Many campers and staff reported that it was their best camp experience yet!

With standard sports such as basketball, sand volleyball, softball and speedaway being the staples, Woodmen facilities also feature a high ropes course, riflery range, swimming pool and water slide.
Each morning after breakfast, campers and staff joined together for Christian living class, which emphasized the camp theme of “A World Away From the World.” Campers were given daily memory verses, starting with Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Dorm inspections were conducted each morning, and starting from the first day, all three girls’ dorms were awarded a perfect score. As a prize, all campers in those dorms were given popsicles later in the day as a treat. By the third day, the boys’ dorms began making perfect scores on their inspections as well, so we gave out a lot of popsicles the last half of camp!

Camp Woodmen provided their own staff to run the high ropes course, which included a 35-foot high climbing wall, zip line, tightrope, high swing and trapeze, which could be reached only by jumping off the top of a pole. Many campers were scared, but most still tried the activities. It was amazing to see a camper who was obviously scared listen intently to instructions from their counselor and follow every step, even though the instructions seemed impossible.

Though the weather was hot and humid, a couple storms passed through during the week to cool things off, and all the facilities were air-conditioned. There were no serious health problems or accidents during the week.

On the first and last nights of camp, we had a dance. One evening, we held novelty Olympics, which was a great chance to mix up the dorms and staff into different teams. Games included team races, a water balloon toss and a watermelon eating contest.

We were happy to have Mr. and Mrs. Jerold Aust as our guests one evening. Mr. Aust gave a presentation about Ambassador Bible Center, which was followed by a fun show. All the dorms, and some staff, created and performed very entertaining skits.

Every evening before camper curfew, everyone gathered in the meeting hall to sing “Seek Ye First,” accompanied by various campers on keyboard. It was a wonderful hymn to focus our attention on God’s Word right before bedtime.

Each dorm took turns cleaning the facilities, which were left better than when we arrived. The manager of Woodmen always schedules our group for the fourth of July, because that’s when he takes his yearly vacation—he knows that he can trust our group while he’s gone.

We had a wonderful group of teens this year and an exceptional staff who worked hard to make Camp Woodmen 2011 the best camp yet!