Camp is a time for creating memories, singing songs, braving the outdoors, and finding God in ways and places you never have before. Throughout its history, Camp Wyoming has been a place where many people, families, and churches have come to grow in their faith, to explore, and to create. These are just a few of the Camp Wyoming stories that originally appeared on our parent blog last summer.
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“Another couple months Kyle will be attending church camp at Camp Wyoming. He has attended here every year since Kindergarten. In 2007, at “You and Me” camp, Kyle and I met and became life long friends with Laurie and her son Austin. The first photo was taken during a bad storm in the middle of the night when we were evacuated to the Deer Center where we stayed in the basement for couple of hours. They both crawled inside my pullover to keep warm. I have been searching and finally found this picture to post of Kyle and Austin. (Second photo was last summer). Because Laurie and her son live in Wisconsin, we rarely get to see them other than FB and yearly visits to camp. We are looking forward to seeing them again this year and make more great memories!”
-Susan (Bellevue, Iowa), Parent of four campers
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“I learned that small kids and big college kids love and need to play and I think you really only see that at camp in such a pure, raw way. There’s no TV, cell phones, texting, computers, or video games of any type- what a great way for everyone to enjoy. You see God everywhere and you interact with everyone. The ‘outside world’ is such a wonderful place. I wish everyone could enjoy it if only for a day…it’s worth it when you hear the kid’s sing, or listen when they read their Bibles with emotion. It’s worth it when they try to look up and read the 5th chapter of Galatians and ask you how to find it. Those are ‘God-giving tools’ to these kids. I actually got to teach a skill that will help a child read and study the Bible in the future! What an awesome responsibility and blessing!! It’s so worth it when they pray; VOLUNTEER to pray at Bible Study. When they give input at Bible Study without fear of someone laughing. For sure, camp is a gift; a place to revive. At least for me this year it was.”
-Jenny (Oskaloosa, Iowa), Volunteer counselor and parent
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“I went to Camp Wyoming during the summer of 1976 and had the BEST TIME with the BEST COUNSELORS! They were unique, uplifting, witty, and super cool. The two assigned to my camp are especially memorable because they made me feel special, like they loved to have me around. That’s not easy to project to a group of (I am sure) annoying 6th graders and I came home more confident in myself and more willing to take risks while being a positive leader. My daughter is now a counselor at Camp Wyoming after she was a life long camper and I am so thrilled that she has this opportunity to be that special influence for kids. Camp Wyoming has Rocked for our family for a long time:)”
-Wendy (Newton, Iowa), Former camper
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“As both a previous camp counselor and intern, I would say that both experiences have been invaluable to me in their own ways. I spent 2 summers working at Camp Wyoming, after having been a camper for years. They were two of the best summers of my life. Not only did I get to work with a great group of people who became my friends, but I did learn some important skills. I learned about the patience necessary when working with a group of people; I learned how to listen; I learned to be confident in my own ability to make a difference. And lots of other things too — I can build a pretty great fire. 
Then the third summer, I had a tough decision to make. Go back to camp, or become an intern through a program to which I had applied and been accepted. I decided that the internship was the route to go, and it was a great summer as well. I learned a lot about my field of biology and the work I did helped me realize what I want to “be when I grow up.” But the thing is, I don’t think I would have been nearly as successful at the internship if I hadn’t had the previous experiences as a counselor. All the interns were living together in one big house, so I certainly needed patience. Important protocols were explained quickly, so good listening skills came in handy. And because I was confident in my own abilities, I made good impressions that have lead to references and even job offers. I owe a lot of who I am to these three summers, and even more to Camp Wyoming. Even now, when I go back, I feel refreshed and renewed. And I have a sneaking suspicion that I’ll be learning about the blessings of camp for the rest of my life.”
-Mischa (Iowa City, Iowa), Former camper, LIT, and Staff member
Technology at Camp