Welcome
to "Connection Spotlight" where every other month we spotlight a ministry in our network of churches and ministries. Check out each issue to hear stories of churches helping churches, pastors helping pastors, and ministries advancing the mission of sharing the Gospel in creative ways. You will be blessed and maybe even a little inspired.
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Huachuca Oaks Camp Forges Stronger Ties
 Hello and thank you for the opportunity to share a few minutes with you about Huachuca Oaks Christian Camp and also give a heartfelt thanks to the warm and supportive welcome from not only Jim Trail at Prescott Pines but from the SWCC Board and Steve Engram. We are excited to become an integral part of the SWCC offering a second camping experience to further support the ministry and outreach of the Conference churches throughout southern Arizona.
As I sit here in the office staring out the window across camp, I wonder just how to describe who and what we are in the short time that I'm given so you'll be able to somewhat visualize our ministry here at camp. We are also grateful to God and the SWCC for being willing to come alongside and take on the ownership of the camp to help us further strengthen our ministry and purpose of serving southern Arizona Conference churches, numerous independent churches and reaching out and touching lives so desperately needing stability and hope that a relationship with Christ offers.
Huachuca Oaks is situated 12 miles south of Sierra Vista in the foothills of the Huachuca Mountains in a mixed oak tree forest at an elevation of 5,100 feet. We cover 30 acres of sloping ground that is for the most part open and grassy with plenty of random shade provided by six varieties of live oak. The camp is able to accommodate up to 120 people in our sleeping quarters, if you like camping out under the stars we can accommodate up to 350 people.
We serve a variety of churches, organizations and independent groups throughout the year including Scouts, public and private schools for science camps, quilting groups, 4-H Leap Camp, family reunions and leadership conferences, even an Easter Sunrise weekend aimed at the biker community. With Fort Huachuca Army base close by, the Fort Chaplaincy puts on marriage seminars and retreats aimed at strengthening Army families and we continue to have a growing number of Air Force and Army bases participating in our annual spring Navigators weekend.
 Our summer youth programs reach a large number of both churched and non-churched area youth throughout southern Arizona that come to camp not only for fun and adventure but who hear very clearly the message that God loves them and wants them for His own. We are seeing an increase in area churches participating in our summer Angel Tree Camper program as they realize that a week of positive input makes huge differences in the lives of so many hurting kids. The summer camp programs offer something from grade 1 - 12 and we do all the fun summer stuff such as swimming, archery & bb guns, zip lines, caving, mountain bikes, hiking and lots of night adventures.
Are you looking for a place to serve? We thrive on having volunteers, work groups or random people showing up wanting to help here at camp. There's always room for one more cook, another hand to help with maintenance projects or even be a leader sharing Christ with a hurting youth or adult. We have an ongoing ministry with SOWER's and have greatly appreciated their skills and service these past two years.
Even though Cheryl and I have been here for 5 years in the Director position, my own history with Huachuca Oaks dates back to 1973 when I volunteered here as a youth for eight years, working up from dishwasher to counselor to staff and even stayed here a year and went to a local college while working full-time at camp. It was here at camp that the Lord impressed on me the desire to work full-time in the camp ministry. Did you know that a large number of Christian leaders, missionaries and workers can point specifically back to a decision made at a Christian camp that led to full time Christian ministry?
Please take some time to look at the camp's growing website at www.huachucaoaks.com, contact the camp at 520-378-2200 or email at Huachuca.oaks@gmail.com. We'll be glad to answer any questions you may have.
In the service of our Lord,
Dan & Cheryl Syson
Huachuca Oaks Camp
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