Faith-based sports camps scheduled

When young people ages 8 to 12 who attend Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Power Camp asked for more sports to be offered at camp, area representatives Diana Roth, Kyle Martin, and Emily Johnson responded. This year, the New Holland camp will offer baseball and track and field in addition to five other sports, and the Manheim camp will offer lacrosse, in addition to six other sports.

The New Holland Power Camp will be held at Petra Church, 565 Airport Road, New Holland, from Monday, June 16, to Thursday, June 19. The Manheim Power Camp will be held at Manheim Brethren in Christ Church, 54 N. Penryn Road, Manheim, from Monday, July 14, through Thursday, July 17.

Roth said that the theme for this year's camps is "Glory," based on II Corinthians 3:18. The faith-based curriculum will focus on the question "What are you chasing?" by examining the quest for individual glory versus reflecting God's glory. In addition to baseball and track and field, the New Holland camp will offer basketball, field hockey, flag football, lacrosse, and soccer. Roth and Martin are the camp directors. The Manheim camp, which is directed by Johnson, will offer baseball, basketball, field hockey, soccer, volleyball, and wrestling, in addition to lacrosse.

Camps begin at 9 a.m. each day and run until 3:30 p.m. Lunch is provided. Each day has a different dress-up theme. Although the themes for this year's camps have not been chosen, Roth noted that Wacky Wednesday is always a favorite. Each day begins with worship featuring a worship band and a speaker, usually a local pastor, who speaks on the camp theme. "The speaker at the New Holland camp will be Petra pastor Brian Coles," reported Martin. The campers enjoy some Dance Dance Revolution time before heading outside for up to 90 minutes of skill work in their chosen sport. Following lunch, a testimony is given by a high school student or college intern. Afterward, campers practice and have more huddle time before taking part in a group competition, enjoying a snack, and joining in a closing assembly.

Volunteer coaches who work with the children are often high school, college, or club coaches, and many serve for both weeks. Interns assist the directors and coaches. According to Roth, interns who have helped out at camp previously "know the drill," so they will be given more leadership responsibility. "They will lead debrief time at the end of each day and be in charge of group competitions and games," explained Martin. Huddles, groups of five to seven students, are overseen by a huddle leader. Huddle leaders are high school students who lead, guide, and encourage campers. About 50 huddle leaders are needed for a camp of 120 to 150 students, which is the number expected at both camps this year.

Student participants are also given the chance to take part in Coins for Campers, a competition between boys and girls to raise funds for similar camps in the Philippines and Myanmar. Martin stated that in 2024, the goal was to raise $5,000 for the other camps and that the goal was surpassed.

There is a cost to attend camps. A sibling discount is applied when more than one child from a family attends. Some financial assistance is available. Readers who wish to register a child for camp may visit http://www.lancasterfca.org/camps. Questions about financial assistance may be emailed to droth@fca.org. Specific questions about the Manheim camp may be sent to emilyjohnson@fca.org.