Essays
Camp 2:52 At The Rock
CAMP 2:52 AT THE ROCK
The summer of 2017 signals the start of a new era for our annual summer youth retreat. With the impending sale of Girl Scouts Camp Elliott in Volant, we have been forced to find a new venue for our retreat. After searching high and low we think we’ve found a really good place where we can continue for years to come. Blue Rock Camp is located in Thompson, Ohio (40 miles north of our church facilities, a bit west of Rt. 534, and a few miles south of I-90). Here are some positives I find inviting about this new setting.
The camp includes 150 acres with a large clean and clear lake as the centerpiece of camp with lots of surrounding fields and woods.
Lots of parking is available for attendees and visitors at the main entrance - - just a few steps from the cafeteria and main lodge.
The main lodge (cafeteria) is air-conditioned and has a long veranda on the eastern side with lots of bench seating facing the lake.
The lake, with an island in the middle, will provide a place for swimming, canoeing, peddle-boats and tubing, as well as fishing.
The camp offers dormitory style bunk lodging for 42 females and 42 males - - both sides with indoor toilets and shower facilities.
The kitchen is well-furnished and the dining hall comfortably seats 150. The Dining hall also has a big fireplace, should we need it.
Blue Rock has a playground, volleyball, basketball and gaga courts, and cleared fields for softball, kickball and various group games.
There’s a unique pavilion with double-decker seating that features an open roof allowing for a camp fire even in inclement weather.
There are two additional covered pavilions with lots of seating that will provide gathering places for numerous other activities.
The campground also offers several rustic cabins to supplement lodging for male cooks and/or other special staff members.
We are currently exploring the possibility of renting a large RV for the week to supply close-by lodging for our female cooks.
The camp permits the usage of additional tents and campers should they be needed to supplement lodging for staff and/or visitors.
Spinning Wheel Horses is nearby and has agreed to work with us in contracting for horseback trail riding throughout the week.
At about $2,000 for the week, the price is superb. In past years we rented Camp Elliott for $5,500 and Camp Judson for $15,000.
The camp board has proven to be very hospitable and seems eager to welcome us, expressing a desire to have us as long-term tenants.
We have selected a new time slot - - the last full week in June / June 25th thru 30th in 2017 - - with an option to reserve yearly.
Now just 18 weeks away, camp brochures will become available soon. Camp is for youth headed in the third-grade and older.
Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ
