Camp History

2000:  Chapel Lane started the summer camp program in the summer of 2000 as a Music Camp at the “Flint Rainbow Club” in Baldwin, Michigan. We headed north with 18 excited kids who were looking forward to four days of intense fun and music. And that's what we had – so much fun in fact, by the end of the week the kids were already looking forward to the following year.

In July 2001, we took 21 youth north for a repeat experience and added a day so to enjoy a trip to the beach in Ludington, Michigan. The food, fun and great weather made us look forward to the next year. Counselors: David Young, Karen Graef, Johanna Jozwiak, Charlene Marcus & Richard Trest.

In July, 2002, youth started asking why only the music kids got to have fun at camp? So we redesigned our program to include ALL kids and took 24 youth to the Flint Rainbow club, which was the attendance limit at that facility! That year we started an annual tradition of producing a musical during camp to present at worship the Sunday following our return! Counselors: David Young, Karen Graef, Johanna Jozwiak, Charlene Marcus, Jennifer Breneman and Dan Veresh.

In June, 2003, we knew we had to find a new facility to accommodate a growing group! After searching the state, we found Camp Sea Gull on Lake Charlevoix. This time, 28 youth attended C.A.M.P. and had a great experience playing tennis, field games, riding horses, making great arts & crafts and more. (We also learned that June is too early to swim in Lake Charlevoix!) Our musical that year was titled “Miracles of Faith”. Counselors: David Young, Karen Graef, Johanna Jozwiak, Charlene Marcus, Leslie Stuart, Jennifer Breneman, Trish Huggard and Dan Veresh.

The year 2004 was a BIG transition year for us as we searched for a permanent facility to call home. We found Camp Sancta Maria in Gaylord, Michigan with 90 acres of woods, a high ropes course, 2 swimming lakes, horses and so much more! It was love at first sight and our current plans are to hold camp at this site every year. We also made a change to our staffing to give our older youth a training opportunity as Junior Counselors. We took 32 enthusiastic youth north and had a wonderful year at our new Camp home. We produced the musical “Heroes of the Faith” that year. Senior Counselors: Al Collins, Michael Richards, Adam Young, Leslie Stuart, Jennifer Breneman and Charlene Marcus. Junior Counselors: Stephanie & Alicia Pashby, Jessie Powell, Leah Wicander. Administration: David Young & Karen Graef.

In 2005 we increased attendance again and took 36 youth to camp. What a blessing to see camp continue to grow each year! Many of our Chapel Lane youth bring friends and there is so much to do that campers complain that the 5 days pass too quickly! The musical production this year was “A Technicolor Promise” and kids either participated in music, drama or set design. Senior Counselors: Al Collins, Adam Young, Leslie Stuart, Jennifer Breneman and Jessie Powell. Junior Counselors: Tyler Brown, Ben Wilson, Sarah Johnson, Rachelle Pringle. Administration: David Young & Karen Graef.

In 2006 we made a big change! We extended the camp to boys and girls in second through eighth grade so that we could concentrate on the activities that they were interested in. Our Senior High youth continue to have great times through their youth retreats and mission trips. We produced a musical entitled “Splash Kingdom” and all of our campers were involved. Senior Counselors: Al Collins, Adam Young, Tyler Brown, Ben Wilson, Jessie Powell and Sarah Johnson. Junior Counselors: Alicia Pashby, Rachelle Pringle (Life guard). Administration: David Young, Karen Graef and Chrissy Westbury.

AND so it continues......We have camp EVERY year as our children & youth look forward to it and it continues to grow!  As of 2009, we are running an "official" one week residential camp under state foster care licensing and regulations.