"Where the Fun Begins" is Camp Wagner's slogan, providing a glimpse into what campers can expect when they prepare for a week—or even two—of adventure there. Children and youth have boasted this to be truly what happens at junior camp, year after year, for more than thirty years.

Camp Wagner is the place where kids, between the ages of eight and 15, come to learn crafts and ceramics, swim, ride a horse, drive a go-cart, swing a golf club, play basketball, play drums for the Pathfinder drill team, and many other fun-filled hobbies and skills. When campers come to Camp Wagner, they also make life-long friends, go on hayrides, take turns rubber tubing on the lake, enjoy the elegant banquet, attend the mid-week carnival, go on treasure hunts, and sing around the campfire … and the list of great events goes on and on and on. Oh! I just have to mention the Hawaiian luau, too.

As great as all of this is, the highlights of the camp experience are the camp councils and worships where campers fall in love with Jesus Christ. Many take part in the great baptism at the end of the second and third weeks.

Dwayne Duncombe, assistant youth director, recalls life-changing experiences at Camp Wagner last summer.

"Perhaps the most dynamic services that come to mind were an early morning service (well-attended, in spite of the early hour and long walk across the dew-dampened fields) and the Friday evening anointing service. At both worship sessions, young hearts were convicted, tears were shed, and lives were committed to Jesus Christ. It was a great victory for the Kingdom of God, and a severe blow to the enemy of God's people. … I was overjoyed to see nine people baptized, including a number of young people, who made their decision to follow Christ during the course of the week."

This year we will host the "Over-the-Hill-Gang Retreat," a time for fun and Christian teen development. This four-day, power-packed weekend will allow teens between the ages of 16 and 18 (who may have a summer job) to get in on the summer fun at Camp Wagner. Teens will experience all of the above-mentioned exciting activities, plus gain skills in group dynamics and interpersonal communications.

There is so much more to Christianity than what you learn in church, and we will enjoy some of those aspects of Christian growth and development at Camp Wagner this summer. Oh! For your pleasure, we will have some mystery guests. You don't want to miss them!

Come and join us this summer at Camp Wagner … "Where the Fun Begins."

For registration and fee information, visit www.lrcministry.org or www.lakeregion.org, or call Josie Essex at (773) 846-2661 ext. 206.

Anthony Kelly is the Lake Region Conference youth director.

July 10–16 (Ages 8–11)

July 17–23 (Ages 8–15)

July 24–30 (Ages 12–15)

Individuals in each age group may stay two weeks if they choose to do so.

July 31–Aug. 6 (Ages 10–17)

August 4–7 (Ages 16–18)