GLORIETA, N.M.(BP)--Expanding on the success of Ridgecrest Summer Camps near Asheville, N.C., which are running at nearly 100 percent capacity, LifeWay Glorieta Conference Center is preparing to hold its first summer camps in New Mexico's Rocky Mountains.

As with the Ridgecrest camps, Glorieta Summer Camps are made up of two separate camps, Camp Glorieta for Boys and Camp Glorieta for Girls, for youth ages 7-16. Both the Ridgecrest and Glorieta facilities are owned and operated by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.

"Our focus is to develop boys and girls physically, mentally, socially and spiritually while honoring Christ in all that we do, having a great time while doing it and providing a camp program of excellence," said Hal Hill, director of LifeWay Summer Camps and Glorieta Conference Center.

Activities will be designed with each specific age group in mind. As is the case at Ridgecrest, staffers go the extra mile by taking time with campers when they need a friend, patiently teaching new skills and calling or e-mailing them during the school year just to check in, Hill said.

"The staff's goal is for each camper who comes through our gates to know that he or she is loved unconditionally. We want our campers to know that God has created each of them as individuals, with different gifts and traits that only they possess," he said.

Camp Ridgecrest, which dates back to an era of hardship in the Great Depression, has been a haven of healthy fun, growth, shelter and encouragement for thousands of young boys.

"Camp Ridgecrest impacted my life like no other experience," said Steve NeSmith, a businessman in Nashville, Tenn. "Over 20 years later, I still keep in touch with the friends God gave me during those summers, and I've passed along vivid camp memories to my children."

The camps are founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ, and Glorieta camp staffers will seek to show the love, grace and truth of Him in all that they do, Hill said.

"The lives of our staff are called to reflect God in such a way that the lives of their campers will be transformed. That's why love for Jesus Christ and young people is our primary criteria for hiring our carefully selected staff," Hill said.

"Our goal is to help campers build their relationships with God in a safe, fun-filled environment and build memories that will last a lifetime."

Starter camp, introduced two summers ago at Ridgecrest, will kick off the Glorieta camps June 15-20. A second session runs from July 20-25.

Starter camp is designed to accommodate those who would like a "taste" of camp but who may not be ready for a full two-week experience. Each day of starter camp gives a child an opportunity to enjoy many great aspects of camp, but to do so with more intensive supervision and instruction.

The biggest difference between starter camp and a normal two-week camp is that campers will rotate through skill areas each day with both their counselor and cabin. In starter camp, participants sample each camp activity in rotations as a cabin group, while regular session campers attend the activities they select.

Two-week camp sessions will take place June 22-July 4 and July 6-18. A four-week session will take place June 22-July 18.

Comment on this Story