The Lakeview Methodist Conference Center board recently communicated a decision to move toward a camping model where denominations, churches, and other organizations will be responsible for the planning, leadership, and programming of summer camp in the weeks they attend.
Texas Annual Conference leadership met and are dedicated to a proactive approach in developing a process that ensures a plan is in place for the best possible experience for our churches and youth.
But this was more than just another meeting. Attendees noted that it is an exciting time to be involved in summer camp, and there is a lot of enthusiasm surrounding the emerging Thrive values of the Texas Annual Conference: Clarity, Witness, Abundance, Kinship, and Joy. District Youth Camp 2025 will experience these values lived out!
Rev. Reggie Clemons explained “As a member of the Lakeview Board, I felt that as a decision was made to ensure the viability and sustainability of Lakeview, it was important that myself and other board members from the Texas Annual Conference make sure that the opportunity would be before us to create a camp experience that continued to allow our campers, volunteers, and leaders to have the Lakeview experience, and be able to offer new and exciting programming that would allow our conference and our churches to invest in and be a part of creating that experience. I am excited about the opportunity that is before us, as I believe that in addition to creating such a powerful experience, we may be able to reduce costs for participants, allowing more of our young people to be able to afford to attend. But the Conference needs to have a plan in place so churches have support as well. We aren’t going to do this in a vacuum, and a camping design team makes a lot of sense.”
“In the Texas Conference, we want to make sure the quality and consistency of our programming remains intact,” added Lauren Bedevian, Memorial Drive UMC’s Director of Children’s Ministries for the Journey. “Designing and planning summer camp is a lot of work. By pulling in people with a deep connection to Lakeview and experience with its camping programs, we can work toward development of consistent curriculum across our camps while also preserving the cherished traditions and unique feel of the Lakeview experience we all know and love.”
Camp dates have been set for 2025:
- June 16-20
- June 23-27
Campers of all ages will be welcome:
- elementary: 1-3 grade
- junior high: 4-6 grade
- mid high: 7-9 grade
- senior high: 10+
A Design/Steering Team is being formed:
- Nominate Camp Directors (two directors for each camp, each week)
- Set the theme, determine which districts will provide leadership for each week
- Identify which options we want Lakeview to provide for each camp
- Set the registration costs
- Establish the counselor/staff : camper ratio
The design team will be formed by the end of September. They will identify the camp theme in October and registration will begin in November. More details will be available to share with your congregations soon. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to the spiritual formation of our youth. We are grateful for the abundance of leaders in our conference and the youth with whom we get to minister. Pastors, children’s directors, and youth directors – please begin talking to your young people about coming to Lakeview next summer where they will Thrive in ’25!