The Atlantic Union Conference has a rich Camping Ministry background. Presently we operate five camps throughout the Northeast of the United States.
The objective of Camp Ministry is to lead children, youth, young adults, and families to Jesus through His first book, which is nature.
You and your family can enjoy our beautiful Camps in the Atlantic Union throughout the year; whether participating in our strong Summer Camp Ministry programs, Youth and Young Adult Retreats, Camp Meetings, Equipping and Training Sessions or other events held there, you will find our Camps to be peaceful and beautiful places where you can find God in nature. For more information, please contact the Camps.
GOALS & OBJECTIVES FOR CAMP MINISTRY (Kids, Teens, & Families)
1. Creation of the Camp Challenge Experience at each Camp of the Atlantic Union. A Camp Challenge which is unique to each Camp, and to which Youth, Young Adults, Pathfinders, and other youth groups from all across the Atlantic Union are able to sign up for and participate in.
2. Annual visitation of each Camp by Adventist Youth Ministries Director, the Atlantic Union *AACP Representative, and North American Division *AACP representative.
3. Visitation of Summer Camps by the Adventist Youth Ministries Director of the Atlantic Union
4. Adventist Youth Ministries Director of the Atlantic Union will work together with the AACP (Adventist Association of Camp Professionals) Representative in the Atlantic Union to nominate and select the AACP Award recipients.
The Adventist Camps across the Atlantic Union are:
Maine
Camp Lawroweld is nestled at the base of several mountains on a 1,000-foot frontage of Lake Webb. It occupies 200 acres of land on which is situated a very impressive lodge built of weathered field stone and solid rock maple logs. There are two fireplaces; the larger accommodates six-foot logs and has a mantle of green Vermont granite weighing three tons. The property also includes medical, store, staff house, and craft/nature facilities, and 10 buildings for housing campers. In a setting surrounded by wildlife, one may look directly across the lake and view the majestic moose feeding on the soft mosses of the lake bottom.
Camp Programs
From May to October, coeducational program are offered, including Blind, Teen, Junior, Family, and Aquatic Camps. In addition, a Teen Winter Bivouac with various activities of snowmobiling, skiing, sledding, etc., is offered. Professionals (ministers, doctors, dentists, teachers) and individual churches hold retreats at the camp. In addition to the fun and educational activities, the spirituality of the camp programs is of utmost importance and is demonstrated by the innovative and interesting morning and campfire worships by the camp pastors.
Massachusetts
Camp Winnekeag is open year-round with nearly 300 acres of land. It is situated beside beautiful Lake Winnekeag in Ashburnham, MA. The lodge, which can accommodate 56 overnight guests, is comprised of a main auditorium that seats 100, 14 private rooms with sinks and mirrors, and a small commercial kitchen. Restrooms and showers are located on each wing. The camp also has six winterized cabins with a sleeping capacity of 120, and a central bathhouse, as well as a new cafeteria/dining facility with a seating capacity of up to 300 persons and a small meeting room which seats 30. An activity center/gymnasium can accommodate up to 500 people and has a catering kitchen/meeting room which seats 40. A covered riding arena was also added for the horsemanship program. The camp is available for rental during the fall, winter, and spring months. There are trails for hiking and horseback riding, as well as opportunity for nature study and photography. Water skiing, swimming and small boats have great appeal during the warmer months. Basketball, volleyball, ping pong, snow tubing, sledding, building snow caves and ice skating are some of the activities awaiting guests during the fall and winter seasons. Our staff is dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of the camp and its surrounding area. There are several major alpine and Nordic ski areas from 30 minutes to 2 1/2 hours away. Boston, with its many sights to see and things to do is only 65 miles away. Several Seventh-day Adventist historical sites are within easy driving distance from 30 minutes to 3 hours away.
Camp Programs
Camp Winnekeag offers the following summer camp activities: photo-graphy, mountain biking, rock climbing, gymnastics, crafts, nature, skiing, swimming, small boats, wilderness survival, backpacking, and horseman-ship. Two Family Camps are also offered.
New York
Camp Berkshire is a year-round facility, with summer capacity for 400 persons and winter capacity for 80 persons. Twelve motels with kitchens and private bath are available all year. Additional seasonal cabins are also available (family cabins with private baths (some with kitchen), dorm-style cabins with private & shared baths. There are 27 RV sites, as well as designated tents pads, both with and without hookups, bath house and heated pool. Recreation includes swimming, boating, softball, basketball, volleyball, and 200 acres of wooded hiking trails. The main auditorium seats 1,600, and five meeting rooms are also available.
Camp Programs
Camp Berkshire hosts up to six different language campmeetings throughout the year, as well as a United campmeeting, youth camp, family camp, and spiritual retreats. We also host many training seminars and special events for the Greater New York Conference, individual churches, schools and youth groups.
Camp Cherokee is the only Adventist camp located in the heart of the famous Adirondack National Park, the largest park in the U.S., covering 6 million acres.
Located on beautiful Upper Saranac Lake, eight miles long and boasting 33 miles of shoreline. The camp is open from June 1-October 1. The property includes over 100 acres, seven camper cabins (12-14 bunks each, depending on location), and a large lodge with 30 bunks and queen beds, two baths, and a shower. In addition, a winterized lodge sleeps 24 and has a shared bathroom. There are no RV hookups. Recreational facilities include a ball field, one outdoor tennis/basketball combo court, an eight-stall barn and horse corral, and an unheated outdoor swimming pool. The cafeteria seats 75, the chapel 65-70. The camp has two large bathhouses for cabin use and two well-built lean-to’s. Camp Cherokee is located just 45 minutes from Lake Placid’s popular Olympic Village and two hours from Montreal, Canada.
Camp Programs
Programs include horseback riding, archery, a wide variety of water sports (waterskiing, tubing, windsurfing, kneeboarding, wakeboarding), ceramics, crafts, Indian camp, Blind camp, two Family camps, and accommodations for home, school, and church retreats.
From January to December, CVL buzzes with activities that range from Pathfinders to AY retreats and workshops, other departmental summits, and the yearly two-week Camp Meeting during the last week of June and the first week of July.
Two famous homes within a few miles of CVL and the Hudson Valley Region are the Vanderbilt Mansion and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Estate. The Vanderbilt Mansion is the lavishly decorated home of one of America’s most colorful railroad barons. The Roosevelt home, birthplace and long-term residence of President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, has, bordering the estate, extensive libraries housing memorabilia of both these historic personalities. Nearby also are the campuses of Vassar College, Marist College, and The American Culinary Institute. See the magnificent scenery, the beautiful farms, all very secondary but unforgettable educational experiences.
Camp Programs
Camp Victory Lake offers well-structured, balanced programs in a beautiful, rural setting. People from across the nation and from many foreign countries come to CVL. It is ideal for children who seek a deep religious faith and who love the outdoors, the arts, swimming, cooking, sewing, archery, canoeing, mountaineering, hiking, and sports. Campers develop confidence and alertness through individual and team instruction.
If you would like to know more about the Association of Adventist Camp Professionals, please click on the following link: www.adventistcamps.org