Church Camp: The Secrets of the Kingdom

The First United Methodist Church of Downers Grove is offering a summer camp experience for children and youth from June 25 to 29, 2012. 

Camp offers children and youth the opportunity for fellowship with other children. It offers youth and adults an experience of God’s creation while exploring nature. It offers everyone a chance to experience Christian community and develop skills for Christian living.

This year, the theme of the camp is The Secrets of the Kingdom. Jesus used stories, called parables, to teach his disciples—and us—about what it means to live in God’s kingdom. In Secrets of the Kingdom, campers look to the Master Storyteller, Jesus, to discover four different parables and their meanings for our lives.

Secret 1: We are the Soil (Mark 4:1-9, 4:13-20)

Secret 2: We Can Ask Boldly (Luke 11:5-10)

Secret 3-God is Generous (Matthew 20:1-16)

Secret 4-God Treasures Us (Luke 15:1-10)

Camp will be held at Wesley Woods Conference Center in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. Wesley Woods is owned and operated by the Northern Illinois Conference.

To learn more about the camp site please visit their website.

Children and youth will be divided into small groups by grade. Each group will be led by at least one adult leader and a 11th or 12th grader or post-high school assistant.

There will be small group, large group and camp wide activities. Adults and high school youth from DGFUMC will provide leadership for all activities. There will be time for Bible Study, nature, games, swimming, arts and crafts and camp fire.

There will be three camps this year:

• Elementary Camp: 2nd-6th grade
• Junior High Camp: 7th-8th grade
• Counselor-In-Training: 9th grade

The grade listed is the grade the student will be entering in the fall of 2012. Space is limited for all three camps.

Note: All first time 2nd and 3rd grader campers will need a parent to attend camp (the parent will attend at no cost).

Counselor-In-Training!

The Counselor-In-Training (CIT) program is for all 9th grade students. Each student accepted into CIT program will receive some guided experience in order to become a camp counselor. Each CIT will be assigned to a grade level and will be working directly with Pastor John Smoke and others on their way to becoming a camp counselor.

Camp Counselors!

All 10th-12th graders may apply to serve as a camp counselor. Cost will be reduced to cover lodging and food: $230.00. Post-high school (age 18-25) students are invited to apply to be hired as camp counselors. Post-high counselors will receive compensation of $100 for the week. Applications to serve as a camp counselor may be downloaded below. Applications are due by May 6th.

Camp Costs

Elementary Camp: 1st-6th Grades

Church Member: $290
Non-Member: $315

Junior High Camp: 7th-8th Grades

Church Member: $315
Non-Member: $340

Counselors-In-Training: 9th Grade

Church Member: $230
Non-Member: $255

Registration for members begins on March 1, 2012. Registration for non-members begins on April 1, 2012. A $50 deposit is due at time of registration with payment in full due by June 17, 2012.

You can find further details in the brochure that is available for download below.