St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, in Roscommon, Michigan has been an overachiever for years but last year they set a new record.  They sent a record number of campers to camp, (14!), from a single congregation.

How did they do it?

Most of the young people who attend camp from St. Elizabeth’s participate in Sunday School. Bob Southworth and Marilyn Ferguson lead a weekly, multiage, (the youngest is two, the oldest is seventeen), class involving a Bible Story and crafts. Marilyn shares the Bible Story for the day. Bob is “the craft guy”. Also, despite the broad age range, Bob takes the group on a hayride each year and on an occasional canoe trip.

Bob also comes up for a week or two of camp and leads crafts. In fact, many of the items that hang from the ceiling or decorate the walls in Fletcher Hall have come from Bob’s craft shop.

St. Elizabeth’s has had multiple adults participating in Youth Camps as volunteers and campers tend to follow staff.

The other reason St. Elizabeth’s is successful in getting campers to camp is that parishioners help them to come. Members of the congregation provide funds to help cover registration fees.

Bob reports that generous donations roll in once he announces a need. People even stop by Sunday School class to drop off checks. Parishioners have also provided transportation to and from camp and even a meal on the way home.

Additional camp funds are raised through a pancake breakfast and sale of items made by the young people during Sunday School. Examples of items the group has made include bird houses and wind chimes.

Congratulations to St. Elizabeth’s! Anyone care to challenge their record?