CAMP NEWS

Camp Emmaus (Mount Morris, Ill.) was among the recipients of new grants from the denomination’s Brethren Faith in Action Fund in this spring’s disbursements. The grant of $2,500 will support renewal of the camp’s central activity area that includes a volleyball court and basketball court/campfire-picnic area. The first stage of the project is to renovate the volleyball court with new poles and a net, improved sand surface, and regrading of boundaries. Any funds remaining go toward the work on the basketball court/campfire-picnic area. It is hoped the volleyball court will be finished in time for summer camps this year.

Camp Emmaus has announced its 2026 summer camp dates, and registration is now open at www.campemmaus.org:

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

Camp Emmanuel has announced its 2026 schedule:

May 29-31: Women's Camp
June 5-7: Pre-Junior Camp
June 7-13: Middle School Camp
June 16-20: Junior Camp
June 25-28: High School Camp
July 10-12: Mommy and Me
July 13-17: Day Camp
August 7-9: Men's Camp
September 4-7: Family Camp

Learn more at www.campem.com.

Camp Emmanuel has added to its website a chart of the birds that have been identified on the camp’s grounds, aided by the Merlin Bird ID app. More than 50 water birds, songbirds, woodpeckers, raptors, and others have been sighted.

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.” Daily themes will examine the nature of wilderness and how it’s woven into our lives (Psalm 139:7-14); how we experience awe in the wilderness (Job 12:7-10); God’s presence in our wilderness times (Exodus 13:17-22); Jesus’ example of using the wilderness to recharge and renew our souls (Matt. 14:22-30); the sense of community and never being alone (Esther); and being equipped to face our wilderness moments (Jer. 29:11-14). 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/.