Allendale Summer Recap

This month, we just wrapped up our 13th summer of partnership with local churches in Allendale County. It was our 6th summer of helping to run Camp Impact, a summer camp for local kids, and it was a season of hard work and fruitfulness as we saw God’s faithfulness in the lives of participants, volunteers, and staff members. Here are some highlights from the summer!

• 97 campers registered this summer, and approximately 50-60 kids attended camp each day.
• About 200 volunteers from Forge came to serve at Camp Impact—132 students and 68 leaders.
• Our Junior Staff (paid high school students who work at Camp Impact) took classes on topics such as nutrition, money management, conflict resolution, how to build a resume, and future career planning.
• Our Impact Student volunteers (teens who have aged out of camp but volunteer their time) were able to participate in some of these classes as well as Bible studies.
• This summer, we had our first graduating senior finish the Junior Staff program. She was previously a camper and she has been volunteering and working at Camp Impact for the last several years.
• Six college students worked as Camp Staff, working and living in Allendale county over the summer. Some of them had this to say about their experience:

"Camp Impact was meaningful to me because I got to better understand the Lord’s heart for all people and watch the church work together to care for others." -Emma Scott, Assistant Director

"I think camp was meaningful to me this summer because I was able to see the Lord’s faithfulness and protection in a whole new light. I was not only learning how to trust God but growing in my trust in him! Everyday at camp was a new opportunity for me to put into action what I was learning." -Kacky Haswell, Activities & Junior Staff Counselor

It has been such a blessing to see our partnerships in Allendale County grow and flourish, and we are privileged to be part of discipling these young people to follow Jesus. Will you join us in celebrating everything God has done this summer, both in Allendale County and in the hearts of our students and volunteers? To learn about the history of our partnership in Allendale, click below.