Camper Parent Story - Kara
Rye and Sully's Camp Experience
Camp of the Woods has quickly become a highlight of the summer for our boys.
My oldest son, Rye, went to camp for the first time in 2023. He was a timid, but eager 8-year-old, excited to experience his first-ever summer camp. New to the area, Rye had not yet made any friends his age before attending camp.
“How are you feeling?,” I asked him, driving down the camp road on the way to his first week at Camp of the Woods.
“Excited…” he smiled, “and a little nervous.”
I was excited for him too (and a little nervous) but prayed that the Lord would give him good friends, good cabin leaders, keep him safe and draw Rye to Himself.
When we came to pick Rye up from camp after his first week, we couldn’t wipe the smile off his face if we tried. He introduced us to new friends, cabin leaders and eagerly filled us in on everything he had done the past week.
This summer will be Rye’s third year at camp and his younger brother’s second year and they’re already talking about it! They love paintball, archery, team games, camp food (dessert 😊), staying up later than normal, meeting new friends and having a week of non-stop FUN!
As a parent, I love that Camp of the Woods staff is sincere and intentional in the ways they love our kids. They send birthday and Christmas cards addressed to each boy– their faces light up as they read them. My heart lights up too as they read the cards – it’s comforting to know that others are pouring into my kids and showing them love.
I also love seeing my kids open their bibles and flip to the highlighted passages that they learned while at camp. They still remember verses from last summer and the one before that!
Investing in our kids by sending them to Camp of the Woods is, yes, investing in fun (and maybe investing in a little more quiet around the house 😊), but more importantly, it’s investing in things that are forever – that last for eternity – their faith. My main hope and prayer is that my children will know the God I know and love so much – and I think Camp of the Woods is a place where they can learn more about God and develop their own relationship with Him, as they see other people they respect who know and love God too.
Huge thank you to Camp of the Woods for providing a fun and safe place for our kids to be independent from us, learn and try new things, make new friends and learn about who God is and what he is like.
Kara, Camper Mom of Rye and Sully
