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What We've Been Up To
Camp Supper
On September 17th we hosted our Ham & Turkey supper. We sold 420 meals and made about $5,300 in net income! We were pleased to see so many people take time in their busy schedules to support this fundraiser, and are grateful for the funds that will help us continue our ministry. Thanks to Fairview COB for being instrumental in cooking and serving this meal.
Family Camp
On Labor Day weekend, we invited families of all ages to join us for Family Camp, directed by Bruce & Stacey Layton & featuring guest speaker Walt Wiltschek. We had about 100 people join us throughout the weekend & activities including campfires, corn hole, bird hikes and Mardela-opoly, and more! We look forward to Family Camp on Labor Day weekend 2023 that will feature 75th Anniversary presentations and celebrations.
Upcoming Events
Dairy Queen Fundraiser: Nov. 8, 5pm-8pm
Join us at the Easton Dairy Queen for a 1-day fundraiser for Camp Mardela. Between 5pm and 8pm on November 8th, 10% of all sales will be donated to Camp Mardela! No coupon needed! So come and join us and show your support!
8438 Ocean Gateway, Easton, MD 21601
Camp Work Day: Nov. 19, 9am-5pm
We're going to be cleaning up camp, cutting trees, painting, and winterizing, but also, CHRISTMAS-IZING! Join us to do manual labor or to help decorate for Christmas - or both! Lunch will be provided.
Sights & Sounds of Christmas: Dec. 10 & 17, 5pm-8pm
Come enjoy our 2nd annual Christmas celebration! Admission is $5 per car and includes a drive-thru light display, live music, kids Christmas crafts, hay rides. We'll also have a food stand and a Christmas Tree Auction. We had a blast last year and this year will have DOUBLE the Christmas spirit! For more information visit
75th Anniversary Celebration
Anniversary Memories - "If the Slipper Fits..." - Elanor (Wooters) Plagge (BVS, 1956)
"After language & orientation training in Kassel, Germany in 1956, I went on a short term project to a family refugee camp in Hamburg. There were 5,000 people there waiting for assignment somewhere. It was during personal visitations that 2 of the families expressed concern about their 12 & 13 year old daughters, who were creating family problems because they did not want to leave Germany. The parents set up a time when they would come to my room for a visit. Just before they arrived I had a visit frim another volunteer who had some boxes of clothing which really did not fit the clothing distribution we were doing. They thought I could find a way to distribute them to the families. After he left, I opened a box. To my amazement, joy, & shock, there was the green pair of felt slippers I had made at Camp Mardela during the summer before, when I was completing my BVS application...
Can you imagine how I felt when those slippers appeared before me ten months later? I was in tears when the girls knocked on my door. They immediately put out their arms to comfort me, only to discover that mine were tears of joy. I related the story to them, and they wanted several pairs to send to their family back in East Germany. My tears were the opening to a different relationship with them. Needless to say, that day changed their whole attitudes toward Americans, their families, and going to the United States. I kept in contact with them during my 2 years in Germany, [while] they settled in [New York]. We always ask the question, "Do the little things I do make a different?" Often we never know but this experience answered that question for me, from the making of the slippers to this very day!"
Archive Day: Jan 7, 2023 - 10am-5pm
We would love to share stories like Elanor's on a larger scale! There are many pictures and memories in the Camp Mardela archives that we want to compile to make displays and eventually, a history book of Camp Mardela through the years. Come and join us on January 7th to help compile and create displays of the most memorable moments in Camp Mardela's 75 year history. We would love for you to send us your stories, pictures, memories, arts, and other historical items to campmardela@gmail.com to be shared as part of the anniversary celebration.
SAVE THE DATES! We plan to have a "Happy Birthday Camp Mardela" celebration on May 21st, 2023, and our full anniversary celebration will be at Family Camp on September 1-3, 2023.
Anniversary Shirt Pre-Sale: Ends Nov. 28, 2022
We are selling anniversary throw-back shirts! Get a t-shirt or sweatshirt in maroon or kelly green. To celebrate our anniversary, they say "Making Memories since 1948" under the logo. We are currently running a pre-order sale - t-shirts $12, sweatshirts $20. These shirts will make great Christmas gifts, and after Nov. 28th the prices will increase, so take advantage of this deal while it lasts! You can order online at www.campmardela.org/fundraisers.
Rentals
We saw an increase in rental interest as people were looking to get together with families and friends again. We had about 25 rental groups this year and it was very exciting to get to host so many people at camp this year!
Not only is renting Camp Mardela a great way to enjoy camp year-round, but it's one of the primary sources of direct income for Camp Mardela, and has a direct impact on our winter and summer camp programs.
If you are interested in renting camp for a family picnic, kayak trip, birthday party or a week-long church retreat, visit www.campmardela.org/rentals-1 to learn more about how you can enjoy and support Camp Mardela year-round. Spaces fill up quickly, so don't delay!
Year-End Donations
As we are nearing the end of the year, we are looking at needs for the camp for next year. We could use your support to ensure we can make it to the end of the year in the black. Send a donation at www.campmardela.org/donate or send a check to P.O. Box 460, Denton, MD 21629.to support us as we wrap up 2022 and plan for 2023.
Projects
Storm Clean-Up
After the initial shock and the immediate response to the storm that hit Camp Mardela, we've been slowly repairing the remaining damage. The Camp Store has been repaired, and we continue to cut fallen and damaged trees. We will continue these efforts on Thursdays and on our work day on Nov. 19.
Mattresses
We've reached 75% of our mattress fundraiser goal! We are starting to place the final orders and hope to have all new mattresses for the cabins by January of 2023! We need $2,000 to finish the job. If you're interested in supporting this fundraiser, send a donation at www.campmardela.org/donate or send a check to P.O. Box 460, Denton, MD 21629.
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