Archery, swimming, fishing, sailing, gardening, kayaking, river trips, sports, improv and the teaching of Psalm 23 were just part of the activities in both our Youth and Adult camps this year. Some firsts for Greenwood include a petting farm complete with a little red barn, Adult Special Needs camping, band camps and Greenwood Day Camps held at Mason, Jackson and Portage. 

The petting farm consisted of two calves, two lambs (bringing home the Good Shepherd theme), two goats, two rabbits, two ducks and five chicks. Campers of all ages bottle fed the sheep, goats and calves while learning about husbandry. They learned to care for the animals with the end product being scattered on the garden as fertilizer. This summer we are enjoying green beans, tomatoes, corn and pickles. 

During SERVE Week youth served in Grand Rapids, Greenville and Rockford. Kids and their leaders painted buildings, sorted clothes, pulled weeds, met homeless and washed cars for FREE in the inner-city. On several afternoons we took loaves of bread, peanut butter and jelly and handed out sandwiches to people on the street. This gave us the opportunity to talk with them, befriend them and pray with them. That same afternoon we found a soup kitchen short on staff and the SERVE kids pitched in to help. The most exciting stories are the ones where kids and adults are drawn closer to Jesus,  gaining confidence to pray out loud, singing boldly during worship and just watching a child’s eyes light up when they can take a Bible home.

Greenwood has been given the opportunity to be self sufficient from Lake Michigan Presbytery with the exception of $14,000 used to offset resident camping fees. This enables us to keep the fee we charge campers one of the lowest around, while keeping the quality of the camping experience one of the best you will find.

I want to thank you for your prayers, time and financial gifts given to Greenwood. As the camp director I weigh the importance of each dollar spent here at camp with the goal of keeping the camp in the black. In closing, I would like to thank all who have sent their children this year, allowing us to share a week in your child’s life. They are truly God’s treasure and we thank you for the joy of getting to know them.

Greg Hokeman
Director, Camp Greenwood
www.campgreenwood.org