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Spring is such an exciting time at camp! From fundraisers to building projects to the blossoms of spring, Camp Mardela is coming to life again, and we are so excited.
In the past few weeks, we were able to get new roofs on the camp store, and all 6 cabins! There are one of the many new green "blossoms" here at Camp Mardela! Thank you to all of the churches and individuals who donated to make this project possible.
We also had a spring Camp Dinner fundraiser to help raise money for the summer program. As we prepare to open camp again, we are grateful for all the support we have gotten from the community. We sold about 500 meals on Sunday, April 11th and made over $5,000, with donations still on the way! A very special thank you to Amy Hutchison and her crew of volunteers for another delicious meal! Thank you also to those who supported camp through buying meals and giving donations.
And summer camp is just around the corner! We are offering day camps for younger campers, and older campers will have a condensed week of overnight camp. Day camps include Science Camp, Arts & Crafts Camp, Mini Camp, and 3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade Camp. Day camps will run from 7:30 to 5:30 Monday - Thursday to give younger campers enough time to soak up as much Mardela as they can! Campers will need to bring a packed lunch; light snacks will be provided. Pick-up and drop-off will be at the Pavilion.
Our overnight camps will be condensed to promote safe distancing and smaller groups, but still enjoying all of the best parts of camp! Overnight camps include Horses, Horses, Horses, Youth Camp, Fine Arts Camp (a new program for 2021!), Performing Arts Camp, Me & You Camp, Outdoor Adventures Camp, and Tween Camp. These camps will start at 3pm Sunday and run until 7pm Thursday, so campers will get to have a final dinner at camp before heading home. Youth Camp and Outdoor Adventures will get the opportunity to stay an extra night with a sleep-out on the final night! Me & You Camp will arrive Friday at 5pm and leave Saturday at 5pm, for a full 24 hours of camp fun, and the unique opportunity to experience overnight camp with a parent or guardian! Pick-up and drop-off will be at the Camping Area.
These programs will seek to utilize all of the outdoor elements Camp Mardela has to offer, and will safely use the indoor activities with distancing and safety protocols. Campers will be asked to wear masks when safe distancing cannot be maintained, or while in confined indoor spaces. We hope to offer Camp Mardela masks to all summer campers this summer, but we need your help to make that possible. We will be selling Camp Mardela masks for $6 as a fundraiser for the summer program, and for an additional $4, you can donate a mask to a summer camper! These masks come in every color of the rainbow, including black, brown, white, and grey. They come in child and adult sizes with a nose piece to keep the mask securely on your face. If you would like to order a mask, you can do so at www.campmardela.org/fundraisers, or you can email campmardela@gmail.com with your order, or send your order and payment to P.O. Box 460, Denton, MD 21629. Some churches will also have masks available for sale. Help a camper come to camp safely this summer by participating in this mask fundraiser!
As we are preparing for the summer, we invite you to come and enjoy Camp Mardela. We are having a Camp Mardela Grand Re-Opening event on Saturday, May 15th from 12pm to 8pm. The day will start with a Walk-A-Thon to support the Brethren Disaster Relief. You can find sponsors to donate to your walk, take a hike at Camp Mardela, and bring your sponsor money to help the Brethren Disaster Relief fund. We will also have a food stand, a craft station, the camp store and boats will be open, and we will end the day with a camp appreciation campfire, complete with music and classic campfire songs. Activities will take place at various locations to promote safe distancing, and there will be distanced seating areas and parking spots available for those who attend. Come and see all of the new and exciting things happening at Camp Mardela by joining us on May 15th!
We are thrilled to be opening camp back up again, and we can't wait to see you here soon!