Camp Asbury’s 2023 summer program has come to a close, and we are celebrating a season filled with staff and campers planting new roots in a spiritual home!
This summer, we played host to many campers and families who traveled from western and central Ohio, after grieving the closing of the West Ohio UMC camping program. Despite the long drive to Camp Asbury and the uncertainty of what a new camp would provide, several families made the 2-plus hour trek to the East Ohio Camps for what they hoped would be a similar camp experience to what they were used to.
Jenny, a mother of two, shared feelings of worry and exhaustion after making the drive to Hiram after a full day of work. “As soon as I arrived and saw the joy and excitement on my children’s faces, my worry and exhaustion disappeared,” Jenny shared. “As they introduced me to their new friends and the staff, I, too was filled with joy. During their group presentations, I saw the bonds my children created and heard about the new experiences they took part in at camp. Suddenly, the long drive home didn’t seem so daunting, and we were the last family to leave. We had to stop at the camp store for souvenirs and a final wave goodbye to all the staff from the car window as we pulled away. A summer that started out as one of potential disappointment and uncertainty ended up being one of joy and the discovery of a new camp home.”
The summer season only lasts for six weeks at Camp Asbury, but the footprint that camp makes on the lives of campers and counselors life can last a lifetime. We thank you all for a wonderful summer season and can’t wait to welcome you home again next year.
Sincerely,
Sammi Riggs, Director and John Cruz, Assistant Director