CAMP NEWS

Camp Emmaus held a campfire and fall event on Oct. 18, featuring time for a picnic lunch followed by hayrack rides around the property, a campfire and s’mores. 

Upcoming “Escape to Emmaus” activity days include Primitive Shelter Building Day, Nov. 22, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (cost $10); and Earth Tones: A Creative Songwriting & Poetry Workshop, Dec. 13, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (cost $15). The events are open to all ages. See more and register at www.campemmaus.org. 

The fall leaf-raking day at the camp will be this Saturday, Nov. 15, with a youth retreat held Nov. 14-16. The youth retreat, led by Alissa Clark, begins Friday at 7 p.m. and ends at noon on Sunday. Cost: $50. The leaf-raking day begins in the morning and wraps up when the leaves have been corralled. Bring a rake if possible. Snacks and beverages are provided. 

Camp Emmaus has also announced its 2026 summer camp dates: 

May 22-25: Memorial Day Family Camp
June 12-14: Counselor-in-Training (CIT)
June 13-14: Elementary Camp
June 14-17: Target Sports Camp
July 5-11: Senior High Camp
July 12-18: Survivor Camp
July 19-23: Intermediate Camp
July 24-26: Young Adult/Young at Heart Camp
July 26- Aug. 1: Middle School Camp
August 6-8: Women's Camp
September 4-7: Labor Day Weekend Family Camp 

Learn more at www.campemmaus.org. 

Camp Emmanuel has also announced tentative 2026 dates: 

May 29-31: Women's Camp
June 5-7: Creation Camp
June 7-13: Middle School Camp
June 16-20: Junior Camp
June 26-28: Pre-junior Camp
July 9-12: High School Camp
July 13-17: Day Camp
August 7-9: Men's Camp
September 4-7: Family Camp

Learn more at www.campem.com. 

The 2025 Church of the Brethren Outdoor Ministries Association (OMA) national conference will take place Nov. 16-20 at Inspiration Hills near Burbank, Ohio, with the theme “Campfire Conversations.” The keynote speaker will be Travis Troyer of Off the Wall Discipleship. Workshop options will include a camp tour, group sharing, and more. A field trip will take participants to BibleWalk, featuring more than 325 wax figures of biblical scenes, and games, debriefing, and recreation will also be part of the week. Cost for OMA camp members is $200, non-members $225. Registration and more information can be found at https://omacob.org/camps-2/annual-retreat/. 

The 2026 OMA “InsideOut” camp curriculum will be titled “In the Wilderness.” An introduction to the theme notes: “Wilderness is a time or place where we encounter what is new, strange, scary, lonely, unknown or mysterious. The wilderness is a wild and beautiful time and place where we can discover the sacred within each person and all creation. … The wilderness reveals our strengths, growing edges, and potential as God equips us for the unknown still to come. The wilderness awaits us all, and God meets us there.” The annual InsideOut curriculum is a partnership between the Church of the Brethren and a variety of other denominations for use in outdoor ministry. Learn more at https://insideoutcurriculum.com/.