Holy Ascension Family Camp
When: This year, August 6th-9th 2024. (Tues-Fri).
Organizer: David Sellers, . Cell: 517-306-8313.
Where: Indian Lake Camp at 8258 Victory Street, Vicksburg, MI 49097. Their website is www.indianlake.camp with much more information. Here is a Map of the Camp.
Payment Link: Use this link to pay.
Vespers: We have Vespers each evening at 6pm, in the “Learning Center”, followed by dinner.
Housing Reservations: Please make reservations by July 12, 2024 by emailing or by phone or text to 517-306-8313. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Please indicate who you are, what housing accommodation you wish to have and what nights you will be staying.
– “Rustic Village” Yellow Cabins – $55/night (2 bunk beds, electricity, A/C, fire ring, picnic table)– Missionary Lodge Double – $85/night (2 queen beds, A/C, private bath, 12 units available)– Missionary Lodge Single – $85/night (1 queen bed, A/C, private bath, adjoins to other lounge but can be closed off)– Family Units – $85/night (1 queen bed, 1 bunk bed, private bathroom, sink, fridge, microwave)– RV lot/tent lot – $50/night (electric, water, and sewer hookups, no limit on tents, pets allowed)
Camp Rules:
A. Learning Center kitchen allows for rewarming food but is not licensed for us to cook from scratch. We will have a flat top grill outside the LC.
B. Pets are not allowed in any camp buildings but are allowed on leash in outdoor spaces.
C. Please be respectful of the Nazarene’s camp policies of no drinking/smoking on camp property. There are plenty of lovely places to drink and smoke in Vicksburg just a few minutes drive away.
8 am: Prayers and Pancakes at the Learning Center (LC)6 pm: Prayers and Dinner at the LC. Campfire to follow.Meals: Breakfast – either on your own or pancakes at the LCLunch – on your ownDinner – communal meal after vespers.
We usually split up into groups to cook communal dinners each evening. David will organize that, let him know what evening you can help on. All the other meals are fend-for-yourself..
The Learning Center has a full kitchen and we are allowed to use it to rewarm food but it is not licensed for cooking from scratch. Plan to only use the stove to rewarm trays. Family units and the Missionary Lodge Lounge have kitchenettes. Cabins and tent sites have fire rings. Yellow cabins have a minifridge. Family units have a full size fridge. Otherwise there will be a communal fridge in the Learning Center and the Missionary Lodge Lounge.
Check-in Instructions: Keys for housing will be in the missionary lodge lounge. Check-in with Dave Sellers or Fr. Joshua at the Missionary Lodge Lounge. If neither of us are there, call/text us and we’ll get you setup.
11 am – noon Friday August 11.Check out instructions: Tidy the space you stayed in and leave your key with Dave. If checking out Tues. – Thurs. the check out time is 5 pm and you can leave your key with Dave at vespers.
Remember to bring your own linens with the exception of those staying in the Missionary Lodge. Camp website and family camp page on the church website have descriptions of what style beds each housing option provides.Those staying in cabins/tent sites will have bathhouses available. Family units and Missionary Lodge have an in room bathroom.
Swimming at the lake, boating, tubing, kayaking, playground, axe throwing, biking, basketball, disc golf, and soccer (bring your own equipment for these).
Camp vibe: (from Fr Joshua): It isn’t really a “church camp” in the normal sense, we don’t have any kind of educational programs going on, and not really any schedule except Vespers/dinner each night, followed by hanging out by the bonfire. The idea is mostly just to allow everyone to hangout in the same place for a few days and do whatever they want to do together. But usually plans are made of some sort or another each year organically as the week progresses, whatever happens to come up: a group kayak trip, or a “murder mystery” night, board games, hikes, Greek dancing, crafts, bike rides, etc.
In particular the kids love family camp because it’s their opportunity to be turned loose with their friends all day, with somewhat less supervision than they’re used to, riding bikes or swimming in the river or paddling kayaks or going on excursions to whereever. When my kids were still kids, they would count down the days to family camp each summer because they looked forward to it so much. But the adults also appreciate the opportunity to get to be together as a church for a longer chunk of time that we otherwise would be able to. I know I certainly do. I’ve learned many things about many of you in the years we’ve just sat around the bonfire each night.
You can also sample some of the family camp experience without committing to moving in all week. Some families get a house or campsite and spend the whole week there, but most of us just come and go as we’re able rather than staying overnight there, usually coming for Vespers, dinner, and hanging out thereafter, on some or all of the evenings. No need to signup or register for that option, just come and go as you please.
