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News & Photos

News from around summer camp! See what’s happening at retreats, and get updates on future camp and retreat programs!

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Fall Work Day Fun! Thanks to all!

Posted by JDavis on Nov 2, 2011 in Blog | 0 comments

Well, the fall work day here at our summer camp and retreat center went amazingly! 20 volunteers from Syracuse, Rome, Buffalo, and surrounding suburbs came to help us prepare for winter retreats and shut down the camp from summer camp season.

We were able to rake up mounds of needles that were killing grass in front of the commons, one of the most well traveled areas at camp.

We had a volunteer come to fix our sail boats!

Wonderful electrical work was done in Frank lodge to make a much needed repair to an exit sign! We did some mudding on our sheet-rock in the fireplace room as well!

We were able to split cords of wood for our chilly winter retreat season and for the winter reunion. We got some serious cleaning done in the kitchen, and a delightful meal was prepared for all of our volunteers – even us vegetarians!

We are eternally grateful to all of the volunteers that made this such a successful day! Annie, Steve, Teddy, Alex, and Ben Gross, Chris Fillipi, Kristin Leclair, Erik Smith, Pat Carrigan, Becki and Steve Harris, Don Harter, Steve Rothamel, Carl Basso, Sam, Sarah, and Andy Waters, Willy Peterson, Linda and Bob Graves, Taylor and Oliver Davis, and the Vanderkamp Staff! We hope to see you at our next work day on November 12th!

Cruise on in to the Silent Auction this November!

Posted by JDavis on Oct 7, 2011 in Blog | 0 comments

Vanderkamp Retreat Center and Summer Camp’s Annual Food Festival & Silent Auction

Cruise on in! Join the fun!

Enjoy the fellowship of friends, fabulous food & entertainment, while you bid on items of your choice!

This fundraiser supports camperships and program needs for Summer Camp 2012.

The When and the Where:

November 5 6-8:30 p.m.
Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church
5299 Jamesville Rd., Dewitt, New York
(Please use the north parking lot)

Bid on Items and Baskets:
Hand Carved Angel, Hand made stool, Adirondack Chair, Deltasonic Car Washes, Items for Gift-giving, Think Pink, Framed & signed SU Basketball photos, paintings, Framed pictures, and much more!

Tickets $15/person
Purchase from any Board or Committee member or by calling
Bev Carrigan 476-8800

Becki Harris 696-6566

Linda Graves 451-4944

Vanderkamp 675-3651

Winter Reunion Time at Vanderkamp Center!

Posted by JDavis on Oct 5, 2011 in Blog | 0 comments

Anticipating the Winter blues? We have the cure for what ails you…our Winter Reunion! For those of you dreaming of summer camp – what could be better than doing Winter camp instead? If you want to do it, you let us know. Whether you want to cross-country ski, sled down Cherry Hill, drink hot chocolate, reconnect with old friends from the Junior High Retreat or summer camp, it will be a blast! We’ll be sure to have a fire and we’ll definitely be ringing in the new year – Vanderkamp Style! Come and see your best friends and your favorite staff members, but be sure to bring a hat and gloves! Children and Adults are all welcome!

Click here to register!

You will also need our registration form, as the software we use for online registration is not equipped for customizable forms. The form is here: Winter Reunion Registration Form. If you don’t feel like downloading it, we can also mail you one after you register online at one of the links above.

If you’re looking for a retreat center and summer camp conveniently located near Syracuse NY, look no further! We are open all year round for retreat groups, and our Christian summer camp is the most creative and loving experience in the area. Give us a call today at 315-675-3651 to learn more!

Wonderful Times at the Middle School Retreat!

Posted by JDavis on Oct 4, 2011 in Blog | 0 comments

17 youth from both Lutheran and Presbyterian Churches in the greater Syracuse area came out to our retreat center and attended our Junior High Retreat this year! Luther Memorial, First Presbyterian of Auburn, Onondaga Valley Presbyterian, St. Mark’s in Baldwinsville, and St. Michael’s in Camillus all sent children to enjoy a weekend of faith and fun. We talked about everything from what it means to be a Christian youth in this day in age, to coping with life’s pressures, to what our friends mean to us, to what our perfect church would look like. Participants even wrote letters to their own churches talking about what they would appreciate about their church, and what they would like more of. We took a wonderful hike, and didn’t let the rainy weather deter us from having an amazing faith driven time. We played with the chickens, played Ga Ga, and shot some archery — and even got out into the woods for some late night Ga-Gi-Yot. Don’t know what that is? Guess you’ll have to come some time and find out! We closed with an indoor campfire on the last night, and are already looking forward to the Winter Reunion so we can reunite some time soon! Thanks so much to everyone who attended – you’re already missed! Let’s do it again at summer camp next year!

Great Times at Family Camp 2011!

Posted by JDavis on Sep 21, 2011 in Blog | 0 comments

Family Camp is over, but the memories will never fade! Several families from central New York to Canada and a Vacation Bible School joined us for 5 days of fun, family, and fellowship on a wonderful retreat. We enjoyed wonderful weather as we went swimming, hiking, and boating.

We had evening vespers each night, and insightful discussions on faith each morning. We give all the glory to God for this incredible experience, and can’t wait to get together for camp again next year! It was amazing to see people of all ages gardening, kayaking, hiking, singing, and enjoying God together. Please enjoy the pictures from our Family Camp and make sure you come next year!

We were so humbled to see the impact this inter-generational camping experience had!