The Off-Season at Camp | Camp Crossroads

“What do you do at Camp in the off-season?” We hear this question regularly from volunteers and campers who join us for the busy summer season.

Camp Crossroads has been running summer programs for youth and families for 40 years so it’s natural to assume that we wind down after August and prepare to hibernate until the next summer season. But what many people do not realize is that for the past 15 years we have been increasingly busy in the so-called “off-season” with hosting rental groups and running Camp sponsored retreats.

So what have we been up to since the last family camper left at the end of August?

Since September 8 we have seen over 1200 rental guests come and go...And while the numbers tell us part of the story, the real story comes from the work that God has been doing in the retreaters themselves...

Since September 8 we have seen over 1200 rental guests come and go (plus volunteers)! We have hosted high school students, church youth groups, young adult groups, a congregational church retreat, a prayer team, men’s and women’s retreats, and adults with special needs. We have been doing a lot of the things we do in summer – cleaning, cooking, running program – just with a smaller staff team! We are so grateful for the volunteers who helped make this significant time of ministry possible.

And while the numbers tell us part of the story, the real story comes from the work that God has been doing in the retreaters themselves who came to a place where they could encounter Christ in a community of His followers.

The real story is in this question from a teenage boy to his leaders after a chapel session, “I’ve grown up in a Christian home my whole life, but what does it mean to really follow Christ?”

The real story is in the church that came from the Toronto area where the retreaters were filled with joy and gratitude at the beauty of Muskoka in the fall. Many had recently made the decision to follow Christ so their leaders had been discipling them for months prior to the retreat about what it means to be baptized and follow Christ whole-heartedly. This church held 80 (eighty!) baptisms at Camp that weekend! Praise God!

The real story is in the group of adults with special needs who return each year to remind us to enjoy the gifts of each day. They remind us how much joy there is to be had in wide-open green spaces, and hot dog roasts, and a visit from the local volunteer fire department.

The real story is in all the personal encouragement that happened here at Camp between friends and leaders and staff and volunteers as we came together because of Christ. We are so thankful for what God has been doing these past few months of the “off-season”. Stay tuned for what He does next!