Fort Hill Christian Youth Camp hosts Family Retreat May 24-27

The Fort Hill Christian Youth Camp will begin its 62nd summer of service with a four-day Family Retreat from Friday, May 24 until Monday, May 27.

This is a spiritual retreat for families who desire a fun- and worship-filled holiday weekend in the heart of Brush Creek Township in southeast Highland County at the 110-acre Fort Hill Christian Youth Camp.

Families are asked to arrive at 5 p.m. (or shortly thereafter) on Friday, May 24 in order to "stake out bunks." Families may anticipate possibly sharing a cabin with others.

Those attending the retreat should bring hot dogs, buns and marshmallows for a wiener roast on Friday evening. Drinks and condiments are provided. S' mores are a popular item to bring for each night.

The fee is $50 per person. Children ages 4-6 are $35. There's no fee for children 3 and under.

Fort Hill Christian Youth Camp is located at 13500 Fort Hill Road, just off Route 41 near Carmel.

The camp will hold a Family Day Open House on Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Activities will include zip lines and a climbing wall for $5 each, face painting for $1, a children's fish pond for $1, concession stands and free activities including water splash slide, gaga pit, corn hole, ping pong, nine square in the air, four-square, tetherball, basketball and volleyball courts and campus tours. Those present at the open house can register to win a free week of camp for a child age 7-18.

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• Each year brings a number of new improvements and additions to the camp.

Last year, one of the more popular additions was a 540-foot zip line beginning near the outdoor swimming pool and slicing through the woods. A parallel zip line is being added this year so those fearless souls may discover the thrill of flight in tandem.

Camp administrator Jack Jennings explains that the zip line installation and staff training must meet certain safety standards and all youths under the age of 18 must have signed permission from their respective parents or guardians.

Similar safety training was necessary in order for the camp to add yet another sure-to-be popular attraction: A 36-foot high climbing wall.

Work continued last week on the climbing wall.

The low ropes challenge course is another popular feature at Fort Hill Christian Youth Camp.

This course is designed to be both a physical and mental challenge for all participants. By intent, the course requires that youth teams work together at each station, or challenge.

As Jennings explained this week, "There's a purpose of teamwork is all of these challenges."

For the new climbing wall, campers will work in teams of three, where one person will climb and others will assist. After each climbing attempt, team members will rotate positions.

"They have to work together to figure it out. Usually, the girls are the first ones to figure it out," Jennings said of the camp challenge stations.

Among the camp's facilities are a spacious dining hall and full-service kitchen, an administrative building, assembly hall, six pavilions, two shower facilities, and 10 20-bed cabins – one set for boys and the other for girls. The camp has a large outdoor swimming pool, athletic fields, an indoor basketball court, and outdoor basketball and volleyball courts.

The camp can accommodate as many as 204 kids, plus 60 adult volunteers.

The Fort Hill Christian Youth Camp has met the criteria for accreditation in the American Camping Association. ACA membership gives parents and campers assurance that the Fort Hill environment is safe, healthy and professional.

Fort Hill board members are committed to meeting and exceeding the requirements of the American Camping Association while giving utmost priority to the spiritual development of its campers and staff.

The regular camping season at Fort Hill Christian Youth Camp runs from June through August and is intended for campers aged 7-18 years old. The fee is $150 per camper, per week and camps are scheduled Sundays through Saturdays.

The camp's theme for 2013 is: "Making Wise Choices: Christian Ethics."

All camp weeks are for ages 7-18, except Mike Grose's, which is for 7-12 years of age.

For more information, visit http://www.forthillcamp.org or call (937) 588-2266. For fund-raising information, call Eric Snider at (859) 801-2585.