Hearts & Hands at CAMP JOY

Christian Appalachian Service Project Joining Other Youth

CAMP JOY 2008

17 Years of Helping Others

                                             

Hearts and Hands, Inc. has been sponsoring a team of youth and adults for the week-long CAMP JOY work camp since 1991. 

CAMP JOY is an outreach youth program to help elderly or destitute homeowners in the Hancock, Maryland - Berkley Springs, West Virginia area to repair their homes and improve their quality of life. The youth and their leaders stay at a Methodist campground called Camp Harmison for a week in July. Local church groups donate their facilities to provide meals for the youth volunteers every night for up to two weeks.

In 2008, our team included several youth and adults who were participating for the first time, along with youth and adults with varying levels of skills and experience with this type of service project. Our team also included some adult leaders who became committed to the project as a result of participating in CAMP JOY as youth—a real testament to what the experience means to these individuals.

 

Our team’s 2008 projects were all located in the Berkeley Springs area and included the following, all of which were completed:

·        Site 1:  Installed new windows, replaced a front door, repaired window sills, and repaired the roof of a trailer home.

·        Site 2:  Installed a new exterior door, replaced gutters, and trimmed trees. 

·        Site 3:  Repaired a porch roof, house roof, deck, and gutters, and replaced broken windows.

 

Each year brings new and unexpected challenges, and 2008 was no exception.  One night, a severe thunderstorm hit the camp site, resulting in the loss of one tent to the high winds.  We gathered all the wet clothing and cots from the tent and made sure the youth and adults using that tent had shelter for the rest of the night. The next day dawned with the sun shining brightly, allowing us to secure all of the tents and dry out the wet clothes and bedding.  After a great breakfast we were back at work on our project sites. Luckily, it was the day that included only a half day of work followed by an afternoon of swimming and relaxing at the nearby state park, and then a cookout with all of the CAMP JOY teams and a trip to Dairy Queen for dessert.

 

It is difficult to describe the true experience we gained in completing these projects. It’s impossible to put a value on the interactions with homeowners and among the project team members.  Each individual will take away different specific memories, but we all have one thing in common--the feeling of accomplishment in helping someone who needed a helping hand. 

Click here to see pictures from 2005.
Click here to read about Camp Joy 2005.
Click here to see pictures from 2004.

For more information, please leave us a message at (301) 947-5770.

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