The Atlantic Union Conference has a rich camping ministry background. Presently, we operate five camps throughout the northeast United States.
Camp Ministries aims to lead children, youth, young adults, and families to Jesus through His first book, Nature.
You and your family can enjoy our beautiful camps in the Atlantic Union throughout the year. Whether participating in our strong Summer Camp Ministries programs, Youth and Young Adult Retreats, Camp Meetings, Equipping and Training Sessions, or other events, you will find our camps to be peaceful and beautiful places where you can find God in nature. For more information, please get in touch with the camps at the conferences.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR CAMP MINISTRY (Kids, Teens, and Families)
1. Creation of the Camp Challenge Experience at each Atlantic Union camp. This challenge is unique to each camp, and youth, young adults, Pathfinders, and other youth groups from all across the Atlantic Union can sign up for and participate.
2. Annual visitation of each camp by the Adventist Youth Ministries director, the Atlantic Union *AACP representative, and North American Division *AACP representative.
3. Visitation of summer camps by the Atlantic Union Adventist Youth Ministries director.
4. The Atlantic Union Adventist Youth Ministries director 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 fieldstone 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 a medical, store, staff house, 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 programs are offered, including Blind, Teen, Junior, and Family camps. In addition, a Teen Winter Bivouac with various activities, such as snowmobiling, skiing, sledding, etc., are 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 worship by the camp pastors.
Massachusetts
Camp Winnekeag is open year-round and is on nearly 300 acres of land. It is situated beside beautiful Lake Winnekeag in Ashburnham, Massachusetts. The lodge, which can accommodate 56 overnight guests, comprises 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, a new cafeteria/dining facility with a seating capacity of up to 300 persons, and a small meeting room that seats 30. An activity center/gymnasium can accommodate up to 500 people and has a catering kitchen/meeting room that 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. There are hiking and horseback riding trails and opportunities for nature study and photography. Water skiing, swimming, and small boats greatly appeal during the warmer months. Basketball, volleyball, ping pong, snow tubing, sledding, building snow caves, and ice skating are some activities awaiting guests during the fall and winter seasons. The staff is dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of the camp and its surrounding area. Several major alpine and Nordic ski areas are 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 summer camp activities including photography, 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 a summer capacity of 400 persons and a winter capacity of 80 persons. Twelve motels with kitchens and private baths are available all year. Additional seasonal cabins are also available (family cabins with private baths (some with kitchens) and dorm-style cabins with private and shared baths. There are 27 RV sites, as well as designated tent pads, both with and without hookups, bathhouses, and a 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 in the heart of the famous Adirondack National Park, the largest park in the U.S., covering six 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), 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, and the chapel 65-70. The camp has two large bathhouses for cabin use and two well-built lean-to’s. Camp Cherokee is 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, the 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. Vassar College, Marist College, and The American Culinary Institute are nearby. See the magnificent scenery and the beautiful farms, all 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 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.