News at a Glance
Ministry Opportunities at Camp Hebron
Breezewood Hill Youth Community
New Challenge Course
Board Reorganization
Hope's Haven at Camp Hebron
Ministry Opportunities at Camp Hebron
“I can’t believe I get paid to do this!” exclaimed one of the staff. It is indeed a privilege to be able to serve the Lord for one’s livelihood.
Camp Hebron has an immediate opening for a Full Time Head Cook. Part-time applicants will also be considered. The Head Cook is responsible for the Food Service team at each meal including preparation, service and clean up. Food Service has the opportunity to minister to our guests three times a day.
Full time workers at camp will receive a wage with benefits. The benefits include paid time off, medical insurance; meals while working and retirement after 3 years. There is also the possibility of on-camp housing as it is available.
There is also a need for part-time Head Cooks, Kitchen Assistants and Housekeepers. These roles are integral to great guest service. There are often full-time opportunities for the Head Cook role. Don’t hesitate to ask if you are interested.
In addition to the paid roles, camp is a great place to volunteer. There are opportunities in the kitchen, housekeeping, maintenance and program. Camp is currently looking for a significant volunteer commitment for someone who would feel called to offer management expertise to the Gift Shop.
Contact camp for more information (717-896-3441 or 800-864-7747) , download an application now or email now to express interest or ask for more information. We would love to serve with you.
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Breezewood Hill Youth Community
Moses took off his sandals when he saw the burning bush because he was standing on Holy Ground. Many people have had a similar experience at Pine Lodge, the Outdoor Chapel or a Breezewood cabin over the last 50 years. Camp plays a significant role in the spiritual journey of our youth and many adults.
Fifty years takes its toll on a facility and many of the buildings in the Breezewood area have been around for most of that history. The Board and staff are working together with many individuals and churches to give Breezewood a facelift and continue the tradition of a vibrant youth community.
In 2005, Brookside, the adventure camp building burned to the ground, leaving a gap in the camp’s facilities. The Board envisioned a new concept that addressed some of the parental concerns that had been raised regarding the shelters in recent years. Last year seven shelters and a new bathhouse were constructed in the area southeast of Fern Glade and above Pine Lodge. The new shelters are screened in to provide better protection from mosquitoes and other “wild” life. They provide greater privacy and ventilation. They are also wired with electricity to allow for lighting and fans in the hottest part of the summer.
The original cabins were built by member churches that had an interest in the camp. Last year they were invited to come back and give these units a facelift. Many of the original churches and a few new ones sent crews and dollars to bring about amazing changes. The bathrooms now have tile floors, vanities and large mirrors. The interior to the cabins have been painted and brightened up with drapers and other “homey” touches. The summer campers were thrilled with the “new” look. We are so appreciative of all that our friends from the churches have done to improve this area.
The Breezewood kitchen was forced to do double duty when Brookside was lost. Thanks to two significant gifts we were able to purchase equipment to enhance the efficiency of the kitchen and serve excellent meals this summer. The future will bring many additional improvements to this wonderful old building.
Last winter we invited several youth leaders to camp to discuss the needs of the area. They were very affirming of all that Camp Hebron has to offer. The meals are great, the lodging is very sufficient for their needs and the activity options are superb. However they advised us that we lack do one thing. They indicated that there is not a good, large group teaching and worship space on the hill. This has become increasingly important in youth ministry and is the one thing that is keeping many of them from using Camp Hebron for their youth retreats. The Board took this input very seriously and has been studying the possibility of building a youth chapel next to the current Breezewood building. Watch this site for further news on this prospect.
Thank you to the many persons and groups who have made financial contributions to camp and made these improvements possible. Camp continues to need your support. Click here to find out how easy it is to donate and continue these great strides.
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Camp Hebron builds new Challenge Course
Last July lightning hit one of the trees on the High Ropes course, at night while no one was around thankfully. This damaged the tree to a point where we were forced to close down our course until some major repairs could be done; we needed to replace a tree. The quickest answer was proved to be a rather expensive option. As we continued to pray and consider we found that switching to an all pole course wouldn't be too much more expensive than just putting in the one pole. The advantages of having an all pole course are numerous: low maintenance, durable, shorter and therefore less likely to get hit by lightning, and poles don't grow or die like trees do. After much prayer and number crunching we decided that the switch to a complete pole course was the wisest. We chose to use the same location as our previous tree course because it is in such an ideal situation and it would be hard to part with a 300ft zip line. In early January Sam Levy and Chris Schulze came to camp to volunteer to take down the old course and after a fun day with much laughter and hard work (as Chris was leaving he commented about his tired arms, "I feel like I just birthed a child thru my forearms.") all that was left of the previous course was a few bolts still in the trees and a platform. Later that month we started construction and I was amazed at the machines man can build. John Nissley came and took down the tree hit by lightning and a few other small trees to make room for our new course and the way he used his tractor and saw boggled my mind. Then our poles arrive and between a crane truck and back hoe 3 guys planted these 5 one ton poles in the ground. A few weeks later and we began the high flying construction act of hanging wires. A professional builder, Ben, came in for two days to help us get started an to show us a few cool tricks as we continued to build project after he left. Ben was a huge blessing and in truth half the work was done in those two days. Building continued from Camp's staff over the next few weeks until the project was finally done and inspected on April 9th. The new course starts with a pole climb to the first of 5 connected elements. There are two paths to choose once across the first element, the Duck Walk. Go left and you'll take the path of least resistance although at 35 ft off the ground there is still plenty of challenge on the Multi-Vine and 3-Line Bridge. For those more daring or more experienced, go right and you'll get a real liver shiver on our Space Walk (the only one of its kind) and the Heebee-Jeebee. Both paths meet up at our Zip Line dismount. Also new to our course is a Giant's Ladder team building stand alone element. At the time of writing our staff are anticipating their first play date on the new course and 3 groups have already booked experiences for April. Call today for information about how you and your friends and family can come and play.
Dan Cannaday
Adventure Program Specialist
PS: We are very excited about our new course and think that it is a wonderful avenue to see people grow and to minister. However, the cost of construction was significant and Camp would really appreciate any donations to help offset the cost of this project.
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2008 Camp Hebron Board of Directors
The Camp Hebron Board has been blessed by many talented and committed individuals. Board members are elected for three year terms. The last year for the current term is noted in parentheses after each member's name.
Lester Weaver ( 2009) is currently serving as the President of the Board. This is his second stint on the board, having maxed out due to term limitations in 1999. A Lancaster resident, Lester is a home builder, an active member at Hinkletown Mennonite Church and a leaseholder at Camp Hebron . Our Vice President, Curtiss Kanagy (2008) is completing his first term of service this year. He is the pastor at New Danville Mennonite Church and a former camp staff member. Jeff Miller (2009) serves as Board Treasurer. Jeff says he grew up at Camp Hebron and currently is an accountant in Hanover . Our secretary, Leon Buckwalter (2010), has also returned to the Board after maxing out in 2004. He is a teacher in the Harrisburg area and has been involved with camp for its entire history as he walked the original site with his grandfather. Bruce Stauffer (2008) serves as the Fifth Member of the Board Executive Committee. He is a former Board chair and is also serving a second time around. He is actively involved at Forest Hills Mennonite Church , works as an estimator for a paving firm and is a leaseholder at camp.
There are nine elected members to the Board. The four remaining Directors are Joyce Martin (2008) of Bird-in-Hand, Mindi Schrock (2010) of Mechanicsburg, Jim Stauffer 2020) of Fredericksburg and Cheryl Weaver (2009) of Strasburg. All are actively involved in camp in many ways. Mindi and Cheryl are currently giving full time to their family. Jim is a physician and Joyce manages apartments for her family. Joyce and Mindi are leaseholders. All are actively involved in Mennonite churches (Forest Hills, Slate Hill, Gingrichs and Strasburg respectively).
The Board is also encouraged to appoint persons with particular needed expertise to advise the Board. Currently we have an architect, Elvin Engel, an Information Technology specialist, Lamar Weaver and a General Contractor and businessman Rich Esh. Lamar is also a camp leaseholder. They provide an invaluable service to the Board and camp.
The Camp Hebron Board is a significant commitment and we have been blessed to have a great deal of expertise helping to guide and direct the ministry. Please include them in your prayers as they direct our vision and provide oversight to this ministry that helps people to connect with God, nature and each other.
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Hope's Haven at Camp Hebron
The Lord has blessed us with a wonderful opportunity to host a new camping ministry. Hope's Haven will provide a Christian camping experience for children who have experienced significant abuse and are placed in long-term foster care.
The ministry is based on a program that was initiated by Camp Alandale in California . Jason and Vicki Tabb were volunteer counselors in that program and have a heart for these children. They relocated to central Pennsylvania and felt God's calling on their heart to create a similar ministry for children in this area.
The Tabb's were guests at one of the Family Camps last summer and felt that Camp Hebron would be an ideal setting for the camp. They submitted a proposal and, after significant review and discussion, the Camp Hebron Board and Administration agreed that it was a good fit. One Board member stated that this venture is very similar in purpose to that of the original founding group.
Hope's Haven will run a one week pilot camp this summer focusing on fourth to sixth graders. There will be a two camper to one counselor ratio. The program will have a mix of fun activities, life skills training and Christian teaching. Campers will prepare their own meals. The campers will be invited to return each year, setting up a long term relationship with the staff. There are many testimonies to its effectiveness from the Camp Alandale experience.
There will be a significant need for volunteers and also for donated items to operate the program. Interested persons can learn more at www.hopeshavencamp.org .
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