Early to rise, I found myself sipping a cup of Joe, the fog enveloping the camp in a mystical embrace. This place is truly special. Heather, having slept in a bit, joined me with her own cup of Joe.

Time to get busy! Heather meticulously organized our receipts, and I meticulously plotted our route using my trusty road atlas. Ha ha! Before we knew it, our morning had slipped away, and a fantastic group of Camp Committee Volunteers arrived with snacks and drinks for our tour and special lunch. They were thrilled to see us and had numerous questions about camps and how we operated in Texas. Notably, most DOC camps are still owned and operated by their respective regions. Texas DOC camps, however, are self-sufficient and operate under their own 501C3’s.

We embarked on a history tour of the camp, where they reminisced about recent events and expressed their deep love for this place. It was truly inspiring to hear the incredible stories shared by some true disciples and one United Methodist who has great ties to this camp.

The camp spans over 100 acres, with a portion leased to a farmer who currently has a corn crop. The camper capacity is approximately 80, excluding the farmhouse that houses the staff during camp operations.

The three crosses placed here in 2015 were part of an Eagle Scout project and serves as a remarkable spiritual site. Calgary has been the venue for weddings and a gathering place for all campers.

I inquired about this old picture that hangs quite prominently in the dining hall. Lisa shared that this house was once an orphanage situated on the former Camp Indian Springs property. In 1961, the county government acquired the property. Subsequently, in 1963, the search team discovered this farm property, which is now known as Camp Laurelview. The picture captures a moment in time when so many children were housed here. One of the orphans managed to escape from the grounds and cross the country line. Lisa’s father, who was involved with the old camp, was contacted. As a Disciples of Christ minister, he took the child in at Camp Laurelview until they could find him a suitable new home. The picture is a reminder of children in need.

The Committee gifted us both t-shirts and a delightful Amish-made lunch! Lisa presented Heather with a book on Camp Ministry, while I received a Disciples Song Book. These are truly remarkable gifts that we will cherish and share with others.

We concluded our gathering with a better understanding of our different operational means, but we share more in common as the importance of camp. For instance, developing our youth into church leaders is crucial.

An adult member of Heather’s Regional Yoitj Counsel is Jordan. His parents met here at Camp Laurelview.

We made it to town and back after having dinner. The food was yuk. I think Heather and I are tired of road food and we have a long way to go. We pray for some better meals, more Amish prepared, and more crab. lol 🤪

Sam visited the nurse for a scratch on his finger. The nurse cleaned and dressed his finger and then asked, “When was your last bowel movement?” The next day, Beth went to the nurse for a scraped knee. After she was treated, the nurse asked the same question, “When was your last bowel movement?” The kids after their treatments returned to their cabins and shared the nurse’s question with the other kids. They realized that the nurse would ask this question to anyone she treated. This realization led the nurse a way out of treating any more campers. “When was your last bowl movement?” 😜🫪