God blessed the camp with protection for campers and staff and with good weather for our outdoor activities. Two of our camp goals were to enrich campers’ lives by giving them opportunities to build relationships with other children who share common beliefs, and to deepen their relationship with God by getting to know more about their loving Father through daily Christian Living classes.

The theme of this year’s camp was “The Fruit of the Spirit.” Campers enjoyed the new Jelly video, Jelly Learns the Fruit of the Spirit. They immediately began trying to memorize the song lyrics.

In Christian Living classes, we discussed the nine fruits and each dorm picked a fruit of the spirit to demonstrate each day. Campers experienced a variety of challenging and fun activities including horseback riding, swimming, zip-lining, arts and crafts, field games, climbing wall, archery and BB guns, creek walk, team challenge, sling shot and tubing down a long Slip-N-Slide.

Campers also enjoyed evening activities including a carnival, a campfire sing-along/fireside chat, Novelty Olympics and on the final night, a “Dance with Jelly and Mr. Nathan” followed by a treasure hunt.

Camp Ironwood has become known as a family camp with many parents bringing their preteens and teens (as well as those 5 and under) and spending four days together in a loving and nurturing family environment.

This year we had a wonderful group of teens who served as assistant counselors and activity assistants and were the big brothers and big sisters to the campers. Adult staff included many parents who served as activity coordinators, counselors, support staff and dorm parents. It was a fun-filled four days!

The friendships, camaraderie, nurturing family environment and opportunity to work and play together according to God’s way of life is an experience that those who attended Camp Ironwood this summer will not soon forget.

We praise God and thank Him for another successful year at Camp Ironwood and welcome campers and teens to Camp Ironwood next year, July 12-15, 2020.