We hope you enjoy the Together Series, where we are sharing stories and videos from this past summer about how Camp brings people together within generations through play, service, and faith.
Where else would you spend your afternoon playing capture the flag in the woods or watching your kids race bugs? At Camp Arcadia, we receive the gift of play. We are unburdened from our daily responsibilities and disconnected from our screens, giving us time to relax and enjoy some old-fashioned fun with family and friends.
From the beginning of the week, with the silly skits in the Staff Talent Show to the dining room jokes, the entire week at Camp is infused with a playfulness that is contagious. Guests join in on the fun by running Patio Carnival booths, participating in tournaments, and line dancing to “Amos Moses.”
Kids love the freedom that they experience at Camp. At a relatively young age, kids are allowed to roam freely throughout the Camp property, a rarity in today’s society. Nine-year-old camper, Hosea Salzburg, said, “What I love most about Camp Arcadia is that you can do whatever you want. Everyday, you get to choose from so many fun activities or you can just go play with your friends.” This autonomy creates space for friendship making, lots of imaginative play, and some memorable adventures.
Kathleen Ewing, a longtime camper who first started coming to Camp back in 1972, remembers all the fun she had with her friends at a young age at Camp. She shared, “As a child, I have incredible memories of spending time in a little fort that my friends and I had built in the trees near the beach. We would spend hours there enjoying our time together.”
This time, together with friends can also lead to some of the best adventures. MacKenzie Carpenter shared about one of her favorite memories from her teenage years, which involved kayaking with friends all the way to the North Bluff. This group of friends then hiked all the way to the top of the bluff, surprising some hikers who weren’t expecting them. MacKenzie reflected, “It was that sense of accomplishment afterwards that I’ll always remember. It was a spontaneous adventure that I would not have been able to do by myself, but having the camaraderie and support of friends made it possible and very memorable. We did it and even made it back to Camp in time for dinner.”
In addition to outdoor play, the well-stocked Craft Shop offers campers of all ages a fantastic opportunity to explore their artistic side. For many, the Craft Shop is their happy place—a space to unwind, chat with friends, and create crafts.
The Camper Talent Show is also a fun way for families to express their creativity. Sarah Salzburg, Camp Arcadia Dean shared, “One of our favorite traditions is performing a skit each year with our friends and their kids in the Camper Talent Show. We have fun planning it ahead of time and love bringing the joy of the Juniper Cottage to the Camp community.”
For many families, there’s nothing better than an afternoon on the beach, soaking up the stunning beauty of Lake Michigan. Beachtime is a highlight for the Drinan family who has been attending Camp Arcadia since their daughter, MacKenzie, served on staff in 2015. For Lori, MacKenzie’s mom, swimming in the lake is her favorite activity at Camp. She makes it a priority to be in the water with her family each day at Camp, regardless of the lake temperature.
Joan Jones, a longtime camper, shared a special memory that she experienced last year at Camp with her children and grandchildren. One evening, they decided to have a beach campfire, and everyone in the family gathered underneath a star-studded sky on the shore of Lake Michigan. The night was filled with laughter and fun as they listened to music and shared stories. It ended with the entire family joining hands and running fully dressed into the lake. She reflected, “It was a sight to behold. The kids were jumping and twirling, while the parents laughed and sang. There was so much joy in us being together. I am forever grateful for this memory.”
These moments of joy shared with our loved ones are truly gifts from God. Camp Arcadia Dean Matt Popovits summed it well as he stated, “At Camp, you are blessed physically, spiritually, and emotionally. As you walk out of this place at the end of the week, you are healthy and whole and strengthened for whatever the Lord has in front of you.”
We pray that you continue to experience the joy and playfulness of Camp throughout your year. As you gather with your family this Thanksgiving, we encourage you to bring a bit of Camp to your celebration whether that’s creating your own trivia night or talent show, or taking a polar bear plunge. However you celebrate, remember to give thanks to God for these cherished moments of playful togetherness.
