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The Lane - Summer 2026
- jelysu19
- 5 hours ago
- 6 min read
For a PDF printable version of the newsletter, click below
UPDATES
Summer Camp
We had a wonderful season of camp this summer! Our theme was "In the Wilderness" and every camp got to experience God's creation in new, hands-on ways. We had over 100 summer campers, 50 volunteers, and 14 staff. We were able to give over $10,000 in camp scholarships and through Church Pays Half discounts to 52 campers! Thank you to those donors and church supporters - you helped make camp possible for nearly half of our summer campers!
Campers got to learn about animals that live in the forests of the Eastern Shore, learn about gardening, and some campers got to travel to see new wilderness in Virginia and North Carolina! In response to seeing the beauty of God's wilderness, one of our campers shared "the hand of God made such a beautiful place". It was a gift to take time this summer to meditate on the beauty of God's creation.
This summer's campers were deeply spiritually enriched. During camps, we got to teach campers about the character of God, the promise of Jesus, and the fruit of the Spirit shown in loving, Christian community. Some campers
shared that they made decisions to publicly declare their faith in Jesus through baptism. Others asked deep and curious questions about how the narrative of the whole Bible fits together. The Holy Spirit was stirring in hearts at camp, and what a blessing it was to get to steward that.
Anyone who has worked at a camp for even a few hours knows that bumps in the road inevitably happen. Thunderstorms that change plans, behavior challenges, homesickness, illness and injury. However, as one camper parent shared with us, "The injury will heal, but I pray that this camping trip experience will never fade away." It is the grace of God that allows us to overcome the challenges with wisdom and love to show grace, joy, and peace to all who are a part of camp. That is His promise in the wilderness - no matter what storms or struggles that may come that make us feel like we are alone in the wilderness, we are never alone. God - the creator of that wilderness - is always with us, guiding our steps, teaching us, and bringing us to deeper faith to trust in Him.
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
- Isaiah 43:19
Camp Auction & Yard Sale
This spring we had our annual Camp Auction in April and the Community Yard Sale in May. Both events saw good attendance and helped raise significant funds to support camp! We made about $14,000 at the auction and just under $1,000 at the yard sale. Thank you to Miles Roe from A. Curtis Andrews, and all of the many volunteers who helped make both of these events possible!
Appreciation Day
On June 7th we celebrated all of the people who help make camp possible. This began with dedicating a new bridge built on the Swimming Pond Trail in honor of Jim Lohr. We also dedicated new bricks for the Peace Pole Brick Garden in honor of Jim Lohr and Jerry Garey, and folks from the camp community got the share stories of their spirit and dedication to camp.
We recognized Jim & Felecia Summy as the volunteers of the year for their work helping with projects, programs, and events at camp this year. We also recognized Amy & Paul Hutchison for their hard work in the kitchen for the Camp Supper and Nancy Carter for her work as treasurer. The new ovens in the Krabill kitchen were also dedicated in honor of Pat & Eugene Baker who were long-time supporters of camp, and their families helped secure the funding for the new ovens. We had a lovely time celebrating camp with our friends and supporters.
Administrator Update
This spring, our Camp Administrator got married at Camp Mardela on May 30th! The ceremony was at Picnic Point and the reception was in Krabill Hall. Now that she is married, her name has officially been changed to Jennifer Williams-Summy. Her husband - Drew Williams-Summy - moved in just in time to help support summer camp, helping with office work, Walmart runs, and even counseling for a couple weeks!
PROJECTS
Swimming Pond Trail Bridge
Over the winter, the bridge on the swimming trail pond sustained some damage from fallen trees. A couple of faithful volunteers took it upon themselves to help design and build a new bridge. Spanning almost 3 times the distance of the original bridge, this was built to last another 50+ years! With Loretta Lohr's blessing, they dedicated it to Jim Lohr, as it reminded them of the countless hours he spent clearing trees in the woods and helping build things for camp.
Summer Volunteer Highlight - The Solidays
This summer we had a couple - Doug & Anita Soliday - volunteer for the whole summer. They came up from Texas, willing to help with whatever camp needed. Doug is a retired arborist, and helped cut the mountain of wood we had accumulated, and helped take down some other precarious trees. While he was doing this, his wife Anita was helping clean and organize various areas of camp, helped with the garden and boating, and also helped as a counselor for a few weeks. They also brought their son - Jordan - who became the official camp greeter, and friend to all who were at camp this summer. We are grateful for all of the work they did, and the skills, dedication, and joy they brought to camp this summer.
Vegetable Garden
In our second year of the Seymour & Eckert Learning Garden, we saw another bountiful harvest! Each camp got a chance to go into the garden, learn about what makes plants grow, and got to pick some veggies as well. We also had fresh veggies on the salad bar all summer long! Now that summer camp is over, we are offering this harvest to the community for donation. We have already made $50 on the fruits of our garden thanks to community generosity!
Jim the Turkey
If you have been at camp since mid-April, you have met our new camp mascot - Jim the Turkey. He has been here since about April 12th and has decided he liked it here so much and made so many new friends that he stuck around! What originally started as keeping him safe during turkey hunting season turned into a potentially new pet. Our staff have taken it upon themselves to help keep him safe and healthy, and he has brought us so much joy.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Vanderwende's Fundraiser - August 20th, 11am-9pm
Family Camp - September 4th-6th
Camp Supper - RESCHEDULED - November 14th, 4pm-7pm
2026 FALL PROGRAMS
Register TODAY for these events happening in September!
Host YOUR Event at Camp!
Camp Mardela is so much more than summer camp programs. All year long we host events, fundraisers, and rental groups. We love sharing our facilities and resources with the community to provide space for people to host their own events at our camp. If YOU would like to rent Camp Mardela to host an event - such as picnics, weekly meetings, family reunions, or even weddings - you can make a rental inquiry at www.campmardela.org/rentals-facilities. Our 2026 rental calendar is nearly full, but we still have openings for 2027 if you want to plan ahead!
We also want to extend our facilities to be used by our supporting churches, as a thank you for your support as an extension of our church camp ministry. Churches that give over $500 in annual financial support to Camp Mardela are "Camp Supporters" can host one day event per year at camp. Churches that give over $2,000 in annual financial support to Camp Mardela are "Camp Sustainers" and can host unlimited church events at camp for NO CHARGE (pending schedule availability). Just contact camp for open dates to host your church's events.
SUPPORT
Support camp by repping our merchandise, which you can order for a discounted price in our online store! www.campmardela.org/fundraisers
Support Camp while Shopping
Support camp while you shop with RaiseRight! Order gift cards and a percentage will go back to camp without you spending any more money than you normally would. Go to www.raiseright.com or use the RaiseRight app and enter the group code* to purchase gift cards and give back to Camp Mardela. If you order physical cards camp incurs a shipping fee so please consider getting e-cards which you get immediately!
For detailed information on how to set-up an account, visit www.campmardela.org/post/shop-with-scrip-fundraiser
*Contact campmardela@gmail.com directly for our fundraising group code to enroll
Invest in the Future of Camp Mardela
We are raising funds to start an endowment, to create a financial investment that will be a blessing to camp for years to come. Our goal is to raise $25,000 to start this endowment. If you would like your financial gift to be a gift that keeps on giving to camp, consider donating towards our Endowment Fund!
Of course, you can still give one-time gifts towards scholarships, building fund, the general fun, or other immediate financial needs of camp. However you feel lead to give toward Camp Mardela to help us sustain this life-changing, faith-forming ministry, you can use the link below or mail donations to P.O. Box 460, Denton, MD 21629. Just designate in the notes what you would like your donation to be designated for.
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