Please join us in celebrating with Jana Clack as she moves on to work within the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church as Director of Operations at a local church.
From Jana Clack:
“Camps and Retreat Ministries and Asbury Hills have been part of my life since 1998, and I don’t anticipate that our story is coming to a close any time soon! As a former summer camper, summer staffer, and camp pastor, I have grown to love this ministry in so many different ways. I met my husband Randy while serving on summer staff, and have enjoyed bringing our children up to camp for weekend adventures, Fall Festivals, Open House, and Family Camp! When I joined the full-time staff at SCCARM, I looked to God for guidance and relied on Him to direct my path and timeline within this ministry. Having done a decade of work in the local church prior to joining this full-time staff team, it is of no surprise to me that God has called me back into the life of the local church. It has truly been a pleasure to promote this camping ministry that I so love through our website, social media accounts, blog, and more over the past year. Though it is bittersweet to be leaving this role, I know that God is calling me to a new season and I look forward to the ways He will bless both my family and SC Camps and Retreats in the future! I am already anticipating sending my oldest daughter to Asbury Hills in Summer 2026 for her very first year of camp and hope to be back on Asbury Drive very soon as a member of our camp community!“
If you are interested or know someone who would be interested in the Director of Marketing & Communications role with SC Camps & Retreat Ministries, please visit our website for more details and to apply.
Happy 2024 from Camps and Retreat Ministries!! We are looking forward to another wonderful year of camping ministry throughout our great state! We have a lot to look forward to in our camping community this year including: alumni events, Asbury Hills Open House, Summer camp and retreat groups, Fall Festival, and much more! We hope you will be part of making 2024 an amazing year for SC Camps & Retreats.
Each month we’ll be featuring a short interview between Jana Clack, Our Director of Marketing and Communications and our Executive Director, Arthur Spriggs. In the Executive Corner, Arthur will give us an inside look at the camping world and updates that are relevant for our camp community!
Jana Clack: Tell us what you believe is the greatest issue youth summer camps faced in 2023?
Arthur Spriggs: As one could only imagine, mental health challenges amongst our youth was the most common issue we and most camps faced in 2023. Compounding the already digital effect is the requirement to walk through a pandemic for the past two years, which has further limited our capacity to physically engage with one another. As I have often said, camp used to be a nicety, but now has become a necessity for kids to be connected face to face in the out-of-doors, under the canopy of God’s incredible creation.
Jana Clack: As we hit the ground running in 2024, what words of thanks or wisdom do you want to share with our SCCARM community?
Arthur Spriggs: Thank you God for your love and grace! And thank you to all who continued to believe in the impact of a positive camp experience and to all who continue to support Camps and Retreat Ministries through your prayers, volunteerism, and financial gifts. There’s no doubt that this coming together as community to experience God in the out-of-doors is what creation formation is all about.
Calling all Raleigh-area Summer Staff Alumni! You are invited to join us at a coffee house for fellowship on 2/10/24 at 9am! Please note, SCCARM is creating a reservation for our group, but is not covering the cost. This gathering is hosted by Staff Alumni Emily McWhirter and Courtney Blum. Please email info@sccarm.org with any questions!
Jubala Coffee Shop 200 Park at N Hills St Suite 140, Raleigh, NC 27609
Summer Staff alumni are invited to join us for our a BBQ dinner and fellowship on 2/25/24 at 6:30pm! Please note, SCCARM is creating a reservation for our group, but is not covering the cost of the meal. This gathering is hosted by Staff Alumni Reagan Hiller and Brauer Dowd. Please email info@sccarm.org with any questions!
Creekside BBQ 1115 Salem Church Rd Anderson, SC 29625
Save the date! Join us in celebrating Camping Ministry here in South Carolina across our state on March 3rd! Congregations are invited to collect an offering for SC Camps & Retreats that will serve people in Christian Birth, Growth, and Renewal. If you’d like to have a staff member from SCCARM visit your church on March 3, 2024, please call our office today (864-298-0125)!
Summer Camp registration for Summer 2024 is OPEN! As of today, we have 575 campers registered for Summer 2024! Register for Summer 2024 by clicking HERE! The theme for this coming summer is “Two or More”:
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:12
Merry (almost) Christmas from Camps and Retreat Ministries!! It’s hard to believe that 2023 is coming to a close. We are so thankful for another year of ministry here in South Carolina. Just as a reminder, Asbury Hills is closed from December 18 – January 1 so that our wonderful camp staff can take a well deserved rest following a very busy fall season! The business office in Greenville will have limited hours following Christmas Day should you have questions about summer camp registration or wish to make a year-end donation!
Each month we’ll be featuring a short interview between Jana Clack, Our Director of Marketing and Communications and our Executive Director, Arthur Spriggs. In the Executive Corner, Arthur will give us an inside look at the camping world and updates that are relevant for our camp community!
Jana Clack: Good morning, Arthur! Tell us– what’s latest word in the camping world?
Arthur Spriggs: The need to be outdoors is more important now than ever before. I continue to be amazed at the simple things in life that we take for granted. Who would ever think a simple walk outside would be something that would turn into “stay home safe in your house” from the pandemic. The isolation over the past couple of years allowed us to recognize the need for community and the role that camp plays so well in building community. It’s what we do best. Where else can you take 200 people from different walks of life and come away 5 days later as lifelong friends never to be forgotten. CAMP!
Jana Clack: It seems like camping ministry has really evolved in the past few years because of the pandemic. How have our camps “pivoted” and changed to serve the ever-changing landscape in camping ministry?
Arthur Spriggs: The biggest challenge that the camping community has faced after the pandemic is helping kids overcome their fears and anxiety. Acute attention to the mental health of the today’s youth is paramount, and has been the key focus for most camps. Training our staff to recognize the needs of kids is and will continue to be a key focus in recruiting and training quality staff.
Jana Clack: What are you most excited about for 2024 at Asbury Hills, Camp Providence, and Sea Islands? What’s coming down the pipeline that you think our community should be praying over and supporting in the coming months?
Arthur Spriggs:I am most excited about how God has blessed SC Camps & Retreat Ministries with such diverse program opportunities for our guests. Just think, only six years ago Asbury Hills, as great as it is, was the only program option. Who would need more than the beautiful mountains and vast water falls, and high adventure options at Asbury Hills? And then, as only God could do, Camp Providence on the one the largest lakes in the southeast, Lake Hartwell, would be provided to take programing options to new heights. Motor boating, tubing, and exploring the shores of Lake Hartwell have been a blast for our guests. And then “BAM”, God does it again with the beautiful view of Sea Islands Camp & Retreat Center on John’s Island. The dolphins approaching the camp dock as they make their way back and forth to the ocean. Understanding the simple life of fiddler crab. Or just the afternoon hanging out on the beach. Knowing our guests can now tailor their experience with us from the mountains, to the lakes, to the sea…That Excites Me! Pray that God’s Spirit flow through these beautiful places set and apart, and that all will be touch and changed for the glory of God.
Jana Clack:You’ve been quite busy this month attending conferences around the country that relate to the camping world– what’s the best thing you’ve heard or learned from the camp community and its leadership in the last few weeks?
Arthur Spriggs: That a positive camp experience plays a significant part in the development and well-being of a child. And that the community that we build in camping is what today’s world needs and longs for. Camp is important and we are blessed to be called to Kingdom work through Christian Camping!
Beginning in January of 2024, we will be hosting quarterly Alumni Gatherings at Asbury Hills for Staff and Camper Alumni! We’re kicking things off with a “Walk in the Woods” on January 7th. RSVPs are not required, but if you’d like to let us know you’re attending, feel free to email our Director of Marketing and Communications, Jana Clack, at info@sccarm.org. We look forward to connecting with those we might not have seen in many years!
Your financial support allows us to serve people across our great state (and beyond!) for Christian Birth, Growth, and Renewal! We hope you will prayerfully consider supporting our ministries by giving the gift of camp to a child who might not be able to attend summer camp otherwise.
Summer Camp registration for Summer 2024 is OPEN! As of today, we have 411 campers registered for Summer 2024! Register for Summer 2024 by clicking HERE! The theme for this coming summer is “Two or More”:
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:12
Giving Tuesday 2023 is HERE! Join millions of people around the globe today, November 28th, 2023, and give back to SC Camps & Retreat Ministries. Your financial support allows us to serve people across our great state (and beyond!) for Christian Birth, Growth, and Renewal! We hope you will prayerfully consider supporting our ministries this Giving Tuesday.
We hope you’ll read these testimonies from Asbury Hills parents about the impact of camp on their child. Every child deserves the opportunity to attend summer camp– your gifts help us to make camp accessible for all children, regardless of their ability to pay!
“Asbury Hills has been a wonderful experience for our son. He is making memories there each summer that have had a positive impact on him as he grows and becomes a young man. We appreciate the balance of worship/church and fun/activities.”
“We heard great recommendations from friends. Both girls enjoyed their experience (and one cried when we left). I think there was good balance of teaching them independence, while also provided the adult support and love that elementary school kids need. They look forward to attending next year.”
Fall is in the air at Asbury Hills! Last month we hosted our Annual Fall Festival and welcomed 300 people through our gates to experience the autumn season and encounter God’s creation. Fresh apple cider was enjoyed, beignets and apple empanadas were eaten, and the campfire was crackling with good conversation.
Face and pumpkin painting, rock climbing, archery, canoeing, and hay rides were the talk of the Fall Festival! It was so good to be with our community on a lovely Saturday afternoon. If you were unable to attend this year, we hope you’ll join us next year! Between Alumni events, Summer Camp Registration for 2024, and Giving Tuesday, there is a lot to be thankful for this year. Read more below about what’s going on in our neck of the woods!
Beginning in January of 2024, we will be hosting quarterly Alumni Gatherings at Asbury Hills for Staff and Camper Alumni! We’re kicking things off with a “Walk in the Woods” on January 7th. RSVPs are not required, but if you’d like to let us know you’re attending, feel free to email our Director of Marketing and Communications, Jana Clack, at info@sccarm.org. We look forward to connecting with those we might not have seen in many years!
Giving Tuesday will be here before we know it! Join millions of people around the globe on November 28th, 2023 and give back to SC Camps & Retreat Ministries. Your financial support allows us to serve people across our great state (and beyond!) for Christian Birth, Growth, and Renewal! We hope you will prayerfully consider supporting our ministries this Giving Tuesday.
Summer Camp registration for Summer 2024 is OPEN! Right now, returning camper families and UMC members can register for sessions online prior to registration opening up to new campers on December 1st, 2023. As of today, we have 250 campers registered for Summer 2024! The theme for this coming summer is “Two or More”:
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:12
Register for Summer 2024 at Early-bird rates by clicking HERE! Rates will increase on December 1st.
We are excited to announce that Katie George has joined our full-time staff team as Reservations Specialist. When you call Asbury Hills you’ll hear Katie’s voice greeting you! She will be handling all of our Summer Camp registrations, payments, and questions regarding summer camp and booking retreats. Originally from Lake Orion, Michigan, she moved to Upstate South Carolina with her family during her high school years. Katie graduated from North Greenville University with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology. She also completed her Associates of Arts degree prior to going to NGU! In her free time, Katie loves to go hiking with friends and taking pictures on her camera. She also enjoys cozying up on the couch with a good book and a hot cup of coffee.
Here’s a message from Katie:
“I am so excited to be joining the Asbury Hills team! Though I was never a camper at Asbury Hills, I had been on a couple of retreats there and a member of my church suggested that I apply to be a counselor for the summer. After that first year I was absolutely hooked! I then worked two summers after that, one as a counselor and the other as a member of the leadership team and through God’s provision I am able to continue working at my favorite place in the world in a new way!I am so thankful that I get to serve a place that has served me so well, and I am excited for all the new experiences I will have working as the Reservations Specialist!”
Katie’s first day on the full-time staff is Tuesday, September 5th, 2023. She works on site at Asbury Hills Camp and Retreat Center. She can be reached via email at office@asburyhills.org or by phone at 864-836-3711. For retreat inquiries, you can now reach Trevor Brock at retreat@asburyhills.org.
We are excited to announce that Ann Marie White has joined our full-time staff team as Summer Camp Director of Asbury Hills! She is responsible for planning and implementing our incredible residential Summer Camp program. This includes program design, staff recruitment/hiring, staff training, and partnering with families to make sure their campers have an amazing AH experience! Ann Marie has been serving as Assistant Summer Camp Director since April 2023. She is a long-time member of the Asbury Hills family. Ann Marie served on Summer Staff for four summers. After graduating from Clemson University with a degree in Animal Sciences, she felt a calling to serve through Outdoor Ministry. Following her graduation, Ann Marie thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, which is over 2100 miles long and takes 5-7 months to complete. Prior to arriving back at Asbury Hills, she served as Program Intern at a sister-UMC Summer Camp in North Carolina.
Here’s a message from Ann Marie!:
“I am excited to be joining the team at Asbury Hills! I was first introduced to summer camp as a 9-year-old at a small Christian camp and instantly loved it. On my second day there, I asked my counselor at what age I could become a counselor. Nine years later, my dreams of being a camp counselor were fulfilled at Asbury Hills. That summer, and those following it, further grew my passion for camping ministry and gave me many wonderful people to learn from. When not working at camp, I love backpacking and rock climbing, and pretty much anything else outside with friends and family. I am the oldest of four children: I have two younger brothers and a younger sister (who is a long-time camper at Asbury). I also have a cat named Moose who loves going outside for walks on his leash. I am incredibly thankful that God has called me back here as the Summer Camp Director. I look forward to spending the year preparing to give your campers the best week of their summer at Asbury Hills.”
Ann Marie’s first day on the full-time staff is Monday, August 21st, 2023. She works and lives on site at Asbury Hills Camp and Retreat Center with her cat, Moose. She can be reached via email at summercamp@asburyhills.org or by phone at 864-836-3711.
After 7 years of service to Camps & Retreat Ministries as Summer Camp Director of Asbury Hills, Sarah Moseley begins a new adventure next month. Sarah– thank you for all of the ways you have served, loved, led, and supported the ministry of Asbury Hills for the last seven years. Your impact speaks for itself– you’ve made this one of the best summer camps in the country! Thank you will never be enough, we’re so blessed to have had you lead our Summer Camp ministry. You’ll always have a home in these Hills.
A message from Sarah Moseley:
Asbury Hills has been my second home since my first time as a camper over 20 years ago. I have had the privilege of seeing camp as a camper, CIT, summer staff and finally the last seven years as the Summer Camp Director. I have cherished every moment of my time at Asbury Hills. Building relationships with the staff members, staff training, connecting with campers, writing curriculum, visiting churches and sharing the joy of camp are memories I will forever hold dear, alongside countless other priceless memories.
Thank you doesn’t seem big enough to cover the gratitude I have to every camper, staff member, full time staff, camp pastor, nurse, and other volunteers who are so crucial in this ministry. Even though I am leaving the role of Summer Camp Director, I will always be supporting, cheering, and praying for everyone who enters the gates here. You will always have a huge piece of my heart and I cannot wait to see how God continues to move at Asbury Hills.
Thank you. I love you, always.
Sarah Moseley
(Marah Soseley, Smo, Smose, Mo)
Please enjoy this video of Sarah doing what she does best–(her job!)– serving and loving others!
It was a summer filled with fellowship, adventure and spiritual growth across the state through SC Camps and Retreat properties.
ASBURY HILLS CAMP & RETREAT CENTER
Asbury Hills celebrates serving over 1000 campers: the theme was “STRIVE”; where campers learned how to live out 1 Timothy 4:12. We are grateful to our volunteer Camp Pastors (Elders, Deacons, and Youth/Children’s Directors) who come from across the state and stay on-site for a session to serve during worship times throughout the summer. We added a new activity, corcles (water-top boats, similar to a kayak), at the lake and even more fun was had on the waterfront! This season of summer camp brought joyful moments and lifelong memories made for both campers and staff. A largely “new” summer staff in 2023 brought energy and excitement to the program, and grew tremendously as a team throughout the summer. As you may know, our summer staff are held to a very high standards: in their faith, character, and in their roles. This summer, we parted ways with a summer staff member who was not serving in the best interest of our campers and program. The wellbeing of our campers is always of highest priority. God created space this summer for powerful worship experiences, community growth amongst campers, and daily Bible study brought campers closer to God. Here’s what a few of our families had to say about their experience with Asbury Hills this summer:
“Asbury Hills offers a safe, fun environment for kids to enjoy being kids during the summer. They learn some independence, make new friends, and experience mountain-top moments with God that will shape their lives forever because of the intentionality you all put into planning the experience!”
“I attended Asbury Hills as a child in the 80s. I wanted my child to have the same experiences in a safe, Christ centered location. I couldn’t be happier with his experience!”
“He feels a part of something bigger and that he belongs. He has a sense of peace while here like the camp as a whole has a shield from the problems of the world. He feels more connected to God here than anywhere else. The staff and programming are amazing.”
SEA ISLANDS CAMP & RETREAT CENTER
Sea Islands opened to groups this spring and served close to 300 people on the coast. These groups came to Johns Island from various states around the country for spiritual retreats, service weekends, and fellowship. They enjoyed fishing, crabbing, the beach, worship, and quality time together on the coast.
CAMP PROVIDENCE
At Camp Providence, Providence Church held worship services from Memorial Day through Labor Day Weekend. Both our Executive Director, Arthur Spriggs, and Director of Marketing and Communications, Jana Clack, gave sermons for thier summer worship services. Campers and various Scout troops were out on the lake throughout the summer for waterfront programs and camping experiences! Camp Providence also unveiled a Donor Recognition Tree this summer at the Lakeside Pavilion- honoring the financial gifts given towards the property’s development.
SC UMC SUMMER PARTNERSHIP
SC Camps & Retreat Ministries partnered with the Florence District of the SC UMC to provide a neighborhood day camp program to local churches in Florence; connectional relationships were fostered and wonderful memories were made! It is our hope that the program will expand across the SC UMC districts in the coming years.
It has been a fruitful summer of growth, outreach and discipleship at SCCARM properties. SC Camps & Retreat Ministries strives to serve churches throughout the Conference with access to quality facilities and programs that serve all people for Christian birth, growth, and renewal. SCCARM properties are booking groups for Fall 2023 through Fall 2024– contact SCCARM at 864-298-0125 for more information.
We are excited to share that Paul Fish has joined the South Carolina Camps and Retreat Ministries team as the Asbury Hills Food Service Director!
Paul joined the SCCARM family as Asbury Hills Food Service Director on July 13th, 2023. He brings decades of experience to Asbury Hills in Food Service Operations and has served camps across the country! He has also received awards and has had amazing experiences in his career! Paul was a chef for the Haitan Peace Talks in 1993, where he received a medal of commendation from the US Coast Guard and a letter of appreciation from the United Nations. He has worked for summer camps in Colorado, Texas, Florida, Kentucky, and most recently in Pennsylvania in his forty years of Food Service for the Camping Industry.
His wife Deborah loves serving with him as a volunteer at the camps where he works, so you might see her around the Dining Hall as well! Paul and Deborah live on site at Asbury Hills with their beloved dogs and cat (who thinks it is a dog!).
Paul can be reached via email at foodservice@asburyhills.org or by phone at 864-836-3711.
Asbury Hills Camp 