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Summer Update
We are nearing the end of a full and exciting summer at Camp Mardela! We have had 6 amazing camps for campers 1st-10th grade, with 2 more camps happening - Day Camp for 2nd-4th graders this week, and Me & You camp for Pre-K - 1st grade with parents next weekend, August 12th-13th. So far we have had about 100 campers and over 70 volunteers come down the lane to help make this summer’s camp’s possible.
ACA Visit Update
On July 25th we had our ACA accreditation visit. The visitors were pleased at the organization and excitement we had at camp. They gave some helpful suggestions to improve our program and a couple items to fix. We will get the results from our visit in October.
What's ACA?
The American Camping Association (ACA) is a well-respected organization that, through extensive research, has developed operating standards that prioritize the health, safety, and education of summer camp programming. Because of this, the Maryland Health Department also defers to ACA's standards in many areas, which makes the Maryland camp licensing process more streamlined as well. We are honored to be a part of this organization.
Upcoming Events
Me & You Camp
Me & You camp has been rescheduled to August 12th-13th. This camp is for campers Pre-K - 1st grade and 1 adult. Register at www.campmardela.org/event-details/me-you-camp-2.
Family Camp
Family camp will be held September 2nd-4th at Camp Mardela. Walt Wiltschek will be our guest speaker and the theme will be “Close Encounters of the God Kind”. See the attached
to let us know when you will be joining us. Please register by August 25th, 2022 by submitting the completed brochure or online at www.campmardela.org/event-details/family-camp-2.
Camp Supper
The Camp Supper will happen on September 17th, 4pm-7pm. Enjoy a delicious ham and turkey meal with dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, candied sweet potatoes, rolls, applesauce, desserts, and beverages, all prepared by camp volunteers. Meals will be a $10 minimum donation. www.camparmardela.org/camp-supper-22.
Fundraisers
The “Cozy Cabin Campaign”
We have raised almost $6,000 of our $9,000 goal to get new mattresses for the cabins. The sizes of the bunks in each cabin vary significantly, so we need to special order several sizes to furnish all of the cabins. Our goal is to have all new mattresses by 2023. We already ordered 10 smaller sizes and are ordering 10 more larger sizes soon.
Scrip Fundraiser
We are continually running our Scrip fundraiser. Whenever you are out shopping, consider supporting Camp Mardela by purchasing gift cards for stores you frequently shop at. You won’t be spending any more money than you normally would and Camp Mardela gets a percentage back. Visit /www.campmardela.org/post/shop-with-scrip-fundraiser to learn how you can enroll in this program.
Projects
Workdays
We plan to have another work day on November 19th from 9am-5pm to work on some tree cutting, winterizing buildings, and other general camp maintenance, as well as preparing for our winter fundraiser. In the meantime, any volunteers are welcome to join us for our weekly Thursday work days from 9am-2pm.
Grants
A proposal is to be submitted by the end of August for a living shoreline and rain gardens behind Krabill Hall, as well as planting native plants around the walking path in the main area to reduce erosion of camp’s property. We are also looking at grants to improve our network access.
Storm Damage
On July 12th after our Mini campers left, high winds from a severe thunderstorm took down many trees at Camp Mardela. 45 trees fell down in the camp program areas, but the only structural damage was to the camp store, 1 cabin air conditioner, and the benches at the main fire circle. Between Tuesday night and Saturday afternoon, 80 volunteers came and put in 360 hours of labor to clean up the program areas so that we could run the remaining camps. There are still many trees down in the woods, and trees that need to be replanted, so there will be ongoing projects as a result of the storm damage.
Devotional Thoughts - "Making Room for Sunshine"
By Jennifer Summy
Making room for sunshine
Is not an easy task
In the overgrown garden of the mind - it requires uprooting
In the dense forest of the heart - it requires trees to topple
In the fluorescent light of a home - it requires wires to be cut
Many barriers get built
Between us and the sun
Getting distracted by surroundings
We forget to look up
Not all plants are meant to stay rooted - so remove the weeds
Not all trees are meant to stay standing - so let the trees fall
Not all lights deserve to keep shining - so turn off the lights
To see the one true light
Sometimes
It's only after the dust settles
And we survey the awesome power of God
The one who gives life and has the power to take it away
The universe and all of existence is in His hands
And at the end of it all
My hope lies in His hands alone
To miss the forest for the trees
Would be a travesty
For there is no greater majesty
Than the God who stirs the winds and seas
In the rubble
There is still hope
There is still love and joy
Music and laughter still dance together
At the dawn of each day
And God still reigns
Tragedy is not always punishment
Destruction is not always discipline
Sometimes
It's just a reminder
To make room for sunshine