JB asked me if I would get on here and explain a little bit more about camp. More specifically I was asked to discuss how we went from Iron Springs to Brookhaven this year. Here is my attempt at that task:
Many people are familiar with the piece of land down in Whitney, Texas where Iron Springs Christian Camp used to be held. This was "home" to quite a few different sessions of ISCC. This was where countless young Christians put on their Lord and Savior in baptism, where many friendships were forged and strengthened, and many other memories were made.
September 11, 2001 changed a lot of things for our country. Unfortunately I believe it has changed how people have chosen to spend their money, their time, and energy. Camp is one of the things that has been hit hard. Over the years, people have had a lot more choices of where to send their kids and in doing so something has to be sacrificed. Unfortunately, church camp often times gets sacrificed.
So all this, along with other factors involved, was causing the camp to not really make enough money from summer campers and off-season retreat-goers to keep things updated and support the caretaker of the property. A plan was put in place to creatively solve the problem, unfortunately it did not work out completely. A nice cowboy from Whitney jumped on the property when it went up for sale and made an offer that could not be refused. Over the past 3 years the sessions of ISCC have had to find other locales to hold their session as the new property owners have chosen to go in a different direction.
Long story short, it got too expensive to keep the property running for camps/retreats, it got sold, the new owners want to use it for different purposes. Now we are left to keep in mind that "Camp is not a piece of property, it is the people and memories from the past and the future."
So now with an optimistic outlook we are planning on a great year at Brookhaven Retreat Center in Hawkins, TX. No big tree swing, but they do have an awesome looking water slide!!!
If you have stuck through this whole post with me, will you do me a favor and post your favorite ISCC memory?
Dub/DW/David
5 comments:
Dava Lynn was our counselor a few years and I loved how we'd all sing songs together before going to bed at night. I'll never forget walking back from the evening activities singing, "Be still and know".
I remember the slip-n-slide (and the inevitable stickers in your feet).
Planting bluebonnets in an open field.
Swinging on the big swing.
We had an activity where we threw a ball of yarn to our other cabin mates and held on to the string. Then we'd say something nice about them. By then end we were all woven together. I remember that b/c there was a girl that we'd been making fun of that became a friend because of that game.
Grandpa Jack was a staple of my time as an ISCC camper. I LOVED him.
Of course, who can forget JB and Jeffery Sparks singing "Somewhere Out There".
I have so many memories of ISCC...but they also blend together with the retreats and the times I was there as a counselor.
The smell of Salon Selectives shampoo still makes me think of ISCC!! I thought I was so grown up when I got to go away to camp. Like Staci, my memories are very blended with retreats and being a counselor. I always loved the big swing. One of my many camp memories is when Beth Pope taught the girls water aerobics during swim time. It is the only place where I remember ever playing pingpong and tetherball. I loved camp at ISCC, and although the place is very special, ( I think my name and Laura and Amanda's names are written in just about every bunk!!!) David is right, it isn't the place but the people and the experiences that count. All kids should go to church camp!!!!!
Stefanie (Redden) Copeland
I had forgotten about "Somewhere Out There"! That was classic! The first thing I thought of was when Dava Lynn was our counselor. Be Still And Know still reminds me of ISCC to this day.
Grandpa Jack...the cat came back...that candle thing that Karan B. used to do...the Austrian Yodler...slip and slide and the soap that would sometimes burn a place I won't mention...the huge swing...pool games...the yarn thing...
I also remember being a counselor and having a HUGE crush on another counselor-oh wait, I married that crush! I rode home with D in 1995 and 1996, and I have some great memories of those trips.
Long live church camp!!
I never went to the PR session because I was too independent for that, so I don't have memories with anyone from church. What I do remember was a retreat in 8th grade I believe where we couldn't do a lot of things because of the rain, so a few of us went out and played mud volleyball. Then Steve hosed us down with freezing cold water.
I also remember playing in the Toilet Bowl football game when I was in Jr. High.
I would not normally comment on a blog but since you did not put an age limit on the memories from ISCC, I am going to mention some of mine. They are from the sessions I was privilidged enough to attend when my daughter and son went. Of course they were a different session than most of the sessions mentioned in the other comments. These were the sessions that gave my son such a wonderful love for the Lord and a desire to be able to provide that experience for other children now. And for many years my daughter went back as a counselor and hopes to be able to again when her children are old enough to attend camp.
I remember one year it rained every day that week. The kids and adults both walked around with muddy feet, towels around their necks and HUGE smiles on their faces. A little (no a LOT) of rain did not dampen spirits or keep anyone from having a good time and making memories that year, yes things had to be adjusted as we went due to the weather but it was a wonderful experience. Truly there are so many memories, memories that last a life time and help shape and form children (and the adults that are there) for their lives; it is my belief that every child should have an opportunity to attend Church Camp.
Just in case any of you reading this wonder who the son I referred to is, it is of course David Ledbetter. His father and I are so very proud of him and his family for their work to provide these memories for our grandchildren and other children.
Love,
D&M
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