I ‘Heart’ Camp Night
Sycamore Creek Church Potterville Celebrates Camp
While winter pressed on outside, Sycamore Creek Church Potterville held its first “I ♥ Camp Night” January 28 for children, youth and their parents.
Children were given invitations to give to friends. Anyone who brought a friend to Camp Night won a prize. Any camper whose friend who does in fact sign up for camp will be in the drawing for the grand prizes, such as an “I ♥ Camp” hat or sleeping bag. More than 50 attended and enjoyed a camp-style dinner of hot dogs, chips and s’mores. Church members shared camp testimonies during dinner along with a presentation from Eric Hoffman, Wesley Woods Camp Director.
After the meal, children participated in 6 activity stations, themed for different United Methodist camps. They learned about each camp and enjoyed activities like a fidget spinner craft project, glow in the dark bowling, magic tricks, “swim” race (done on roller boards), basket head, and balloon pop tag.
Camp Night was organized by Coty Robertson and Carmella Mitschke, who are the camp coordinators for Sycamore Creek Church.
Sycamore Creek Church Potterville sponsored 25 campers last year and is working hard to sponsor even more campers this summer. Coty said, “There are so many families in our church and community who have not experienced camping yet, we thought that a Camp Night to introduce them to it would be appropriate. We also thought it would be a great way to teach our kids outreach to their friends in a fun and meaningful way. Another goal of Camp Night was to share the variety of camps that are offered.”
The church believes that financial support for campers is key to getting children and youth to camp and for over 20 years they have provided financial support with funds raised through activities and donations. Their primary fundraiser is an annual cake auction in March. People donate cakes and pies for auction at an after-church luncheon. Cakes are decorated to express an annual theme. This year’s theme is “I ♥ Camp”.
The best thing about this auction is that the campers participate. Coty explained, “Whenever a ‘camper cake’ is brought up for bid, the crowd goes wild! The camper comes up and shares about why they love camp, and they walk around and show off their cake while the bidding is going on.” Last year bids for cakes and pies ranged from $25 to $200, with the entire event raising $6,000 for camp scholarships.
New this year will be a baked goods table where people who are outbid on a cake can purchase lower-priced items.
Thanks to Paul Cogger for attending I ♥ Camp Night and providing this report and photos!
Sycamore Creek Church Potterville I Heart Camp 2018 from Michigan Area UM Camping on Vimeo.
