Originally written in 2015 by camper parent and former camper, Jelise Ballon, for her blog, Neither Height nor Depth, here's a glimpse of the magic of summer camp from a camper and parent perspective. Summers may come and go, but these memories last well beyond. Here's a huge THANK YOU to all of our counselors, past and present, for sharing the magic of camp with all of our campers! Dear Camp Counselor, September is here. Backpacks are packed, pencils sharpened, and yellow

But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. 1968 was my first summer as a counselor at Caroline Furnace, and I returned in August to serve as chaplain for the last week of summer camp this year. Many people asked me about my reactions to the camp then and now. The Hogan Village is now only a dim memory at Caroline Furnace. People with names such as Pet

We have been blessed with an incredible Summer Camp season here at Caroline Furnace! With the help of God, as well as the communities and individuals that support this ministry, we had eight weeks filled with faith, fun, and friendships that will last a lifetime. A total of 297 campers came to Caroline Furnace this summer! Of those 297, over 100 campers had financial support from their congregation, an outside organization, or from our camper scholarship fund. God's love and

It's Week Eight of camp, which is always bittersweet. We've already had our final Opening Campfire for the summer, our last Color Tag, our last time in St. John's for Wednesday Evening Worship. There are no more doctor skits, no more staff introductions, and no more nervous campers arriving for the first time. We only have one more Fancy Dinner, two more option blocks, one more game of Capture the Flag, and just a few more meals together. It has truly been an incredible summe

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. We all have those special moments in our life that make us stop and truly appreciate what is surrounding us. Because we have all been blessed, we most likely have experienced one of these "ah-ha" moments on the 250 acres of Caroline Furnace that we all call home. I'd like to share two of mine: The first comes from when little me stepped foot on camp property as a timid 7-year-old. Not entir

This summer has been such an exciting one so far! We can't measure the amount of fun that we have had, the smiles we've seen, or the joy that has filled our hearts. Each camper has brought so much delight into our camp, sharing their stories, experiences and faith with us in their own unique way. Recently, our campers have enjoyed cowboy camping during Outdoor Challenge Camp, practicing canoe skills on the Shenandoah River, learning how to use kitchen equipment in Culinary

We are nearing the end of Week Four of summer camp and are overwhelmed with the joy, fun, and faith-forming experiences that the Lord has granted us. Through activities such as canoeing, singing, crafting, fishing, and archery, our campers and staff alike have explored the grace that God freely gives to each and every one of us. Together, we are learning that this is in fact not of our own doing but is an incredible gift from the Lord. As a community, we have committed our

Let your light so shine before all, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven - As nobody lights a lamp only to cover it up, but places it so conspicuously as to give light to all who need light, so Christians, being the light of the world, instead of hiding their light, are so to hold it forth before all. At Caroline Furnace, you learn of the light and how the light can bring you through the darkness, and into a place of hope and life and

Caroline Furnace is a place that’s filled with comfort and acceptance. Love flows all around us because of one simple reason - we are surrounded by God’s love in every moment and we get to experience it in a beautifully unique way while we’re at camp. Come feel it for yourself! Stay tuned to discover how this changes everything! We’ll see you soon! #friendship #adventure #memories #share #experience #growth #community #alleluia #welcome #love #grace #faith #family #fellowship

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. This passage takes me home to Caroline Furnace because it is the first place I really began to understand its meaning. In this passage, God tells us that He will equ

Psalm 46:10 Takes Me Home "Be still and know that I am God." Wow!! Camp is so beautiful! There isn't a day that goes by at camp where I don't stop and think, "Wow, God made all of this; that is crazy". Sometimes at camp it is the little things in God's creation that make me stop and praise God. It may be the heart shaped leaves that make me think about God's love, or maybe just helping a camper growin their faith. Before I came to camp this verse was a reminder to me in the

"The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" I love this verse because I think it's so easy to be held back by fear - whether it's fear of disappointment, rejection, etc. It can be hard to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone. But God says, "I'm here. I got you." And with God on your side, is there anything to really be aftraid of? Is there anything that can really hold us back from going outside our comfort zones and growing and learni

And the King will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, so you did it to me." Christ loves and accepts all of us, encouraging us to come as we are. Camp has embodied this open-minded, welcoming atmosphere for me in a way that has allowed me to feel comfortable expanding my own faith. As we sing in the hymn, WE ARE CALLED to love tenderly. Never does He mention only loving certain neighbors, but Jesus ca

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 brings me home to my new surroundings, where I look forward to experiencing God's sustenance with others in many ways. Sometimes we forget that concrete, tangible food is not the only form of sustenance. Certainly, we rely on a varied balanced diet for nutrition and energy. What might surprise us is we receive so much more in t

At Caroline Furnace, faith is central to the fun and adventure that forms our community. Join us in discovering God through morning worship, Bible study, Faith5, and our friendships. We’ll explore a new theme and story each day, and together we’ll find out how God’s love changes everything! Stay tuned to discover how this changes everything! Be on the lookout for a new post every Friday until summer camp! #share #serve #experience #growth #community #alleluia #welcome #love #

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. -Colossians 3:17 Col 3:17 takes me home in reminding me of the wonderful values that Caroline Furnace stands for. It's a place where anyone and everyone is welcome to come learn about the love of Jesus, grow in their faith, and gain an amazing support system. By doing all you do in His name you are opening up your life to the love of Caroline and the peo

Our explorer camps get into all kinds of shenanigans! Explorers stay in our centrally located Cabin Village and get to explore everything camp has to offer! The schedule is a bit less structured, so the group can decide together which activities they want to plan for the week. Explorer campers go creekwalking, play games, explore the furnace ruins and hunt for slag, sing silly songs, play gaga ball, make crafts, and have their own small group Bible study. They also join the r

A week at Caroline Furnace is more than just a good time. Stay tuned to discover how this changes everything! Be on the lookout for a new post every Friday until summer camp! #memories #share #serve #experience #growth #community #welcome #love #fellowship #praise #creation #faith #grace #renewal #ministry #fun #leadership #camp #summer

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” If these trees could speak, I bet they would have quite a story to tell. I sometimes wonder: How many people have spent time here and left more rested, a bit more whole, feeling closer to God? How many campers have experienced God’s love through their counselors or a new friend? What is the magnitude of impact from this place hidden in Fort Valley? There’s no way of truly knowing th

"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself though love." Galatians 5:6 For me, this verse perfectly describes camp. It is a place and a space where people come together and share in fellowship and the love of the Lord. It's that very love that pours out all around us, allowing us to love and support each other, uplift each other in the Spirit, and to point each other to Christ. It is through faith that we commit to this beautiful ministry. And through the ministry