Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church - Planned Giving at FAPC

Operation Campfire's Buttefly Nets Need $21,000

The sight is now a familiar one: FAPC deacons roaming the aisles after spring services collecting money in butterfly nets for Operation Campfire. Each year, FAPC aims to raise enough to send about 40 underprivileged children to Holmes Presbyterian Camp in Holmes, New York. At a cost of $525 for a week of camp, this means FAPC deacons need to snag more than $21,000 in their mesh nets to make the dream of camp a reality for these children.

The 540-acre camp boasts four lakes, ropes courses, and miles of hiking trails. Its mission statement describes Holmes as "a welcoming Christian community responding to God's call, where lives change and faith grows in a natural setting." After speaking to several children who have attended Holmes, it's clear the camp fulfills its mission and then some.

"It's a good way to learn about Jesus, and you have fun," says 13-year-old Kai Reynolds, who lives in Brooklyn and has attended Camp Holmes several times. Kai says in addition to the archery, horseback riding and swimming, he also enjoys spending time in a rural environment. "[I like] seeing how different the air is-and it actually rains harder in upstate New York." Each summer Camp Holmes bases its activities and Bible studies around a theme, and Kai says last
summer's theme, "On the Way," helped him learn more about Christ's journey to the cross. "I'd say I'm closer to Jesus now that I went to the camp. All of our activities were based around Him."

Eleven-year-old camper William Smith, who also lives in New York City, agrees, saying he "can't wait to go back… We learned about Noah, Jesus, and Moses. I would like to learn more about God and do more fun things like row a boat or ride a horse." William's
mother Carolina Barrow says that she intends to sign her sons up for camp again "if the funding is
available." She adds, "It was a wonderful experience for them to get out of the city."

Older children can also sign up for Holmes' Leadership Camps", which focus on personal faith
development, listening and communication skills. Jackie Miller, 15, lives in Newburgh, N.Y., and has attended the camp three times. She plans to sign up for the leadership program this summer.

"It'll help me be able to relate more to how other people are thinking. I like to help people, so it'll teach me how to do that," she says. One of her favorite things about Camp Holmes is the inclusive atmosphere. "Well, there's people from all over the country and from different areas and there's different colors and races and we all get together, and we all have separate problems and yet they're all the same, and we can relate to each other." Plus, she says, kids get to learn about the Bible "without being bored. They'll teach you in a fun way."

Operation Campfire, April 20-May 11
To donate, write a check payable to FAPC marked "Operation Campfire" and put it in the offering plate, or you drop your cash or check off with a deacon carrying a butterfly net. Thank you!