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  CAMP NAZARENE - Who We Are 

Camp Nazarene is a ministry of the Nazarene Baptist Church dedicated to the social, emotional, physical, and spiritual development of children, youth, and families. Our proud home, once a stop on the historic Underground Railroad, is 93 acres of undeveloped land in the beautiful mountains.

We purchased the sprawling farmland, originally owned by Pennsylvania Quakers, in 1926. From 1926 until 1951 the property was maintained by the selling of crops grown, and animals raised, thereon.  These included corn, wheat, oat, and rye crops, and chickens, pigs, and cows. In the 1950’s we moved away from farming as industry and toward the use of the land for youth and family services. A committee was formed to oversee this new venture and thus Camp Nazarene was born.

We are members of both Christian Camping International (CCI) and the American Camping Association (ACA). Our well-trained staff and highly structured program assist children in their pursuits of developmental goals, and we are known for welcoming youngsters of all backgrounds into our home away from home. Camp Nazarene is Christian camping at its best in God’s great outdoors. It’s the place to which children come to relax and experience peace. It’s “the Natural Place to Grow in Christ.” 

In 1958 Camp Nazarene opened its doors as a one-day Bible Camp. Our evolution from that one-day camp included overnight camping, weekend camping, weekly camping, bi-weekly camping, and eventually a full season of residential summer camping.  

In the early years our sole focus was biblical instruction. We believed then, as we still do today, that a firm Christian foundation is paramount to quality living. We gathered busloads of children, took them off to the countryside, and taught them the word of God. Admittedly, we were limited in our understanding of the total needs of the child, but God was not. Even in the midst of our limitations God showed himself to be powerful, and many lives were change by the work of the camping ministry.

With barely sufficient financial and human resources a handful of Nazarenians committed themselves (time, talent and treasure) to the furtherance of the camping program, and before long dedication to the ministry increased and its outreach expanded.

Over forty years after its inception, the rolling green hills and picturesque sunset that surrounds the wide, open spaces of Camp Nazarene still provide the perfect place for campers to grow. Having come to a better understanding of the comprehensive needs of the child our focus is no longer just spiritual. Rather, we now attend to the social, emotional, and physical development of children as well.

We continue to believe that biblical instruction is essential, but we have expanded our curriculum to also address other areas of child development. Our core curriculum is comprised of Physical Education and Instructional Swim whereby children can learn to maintain their bodies and further stimulate their minds. We teach Nature and Environmental Science.  From this the children come to know about sound nutrition and how it factors into healthy living. Moreover, they learn that the power of God is not only manifested in humankind but in all of creation. They learn that the earth has been entrusted to us as caretakers and it is our responsibility to maintain and develop it, and that its maintenance and development is crucial to the survival of all creation.

We also teach Arts and Crafts. Many children consider themselves to be without artistic talent and are consequently resistant to this undertaking. Once exposed however, they soon discover that art is highly personal and is intended to reflect the unique manifestation of God in the individual. Through this medium they acquire the discipline necessary to see things through to completion, and the ability to appreciate individuality.

Lastly, in an effort to promote interpersonal development we teach sportsmanship through athletics. Good athletic competition will undoubtedly bring out the best and the worst in its competitors, but we use each sporting event as an opportunity to teach the children endurance, perseverance, reaching beyond personal limitations, and the regrettably lost art of celebrating the victories of others.

Camp Nazarene allows children to enjoy the invigoration of rustic living: there are sleepovers in the great outdoors; hiking up a natural mountain path; recreational (as well as instructional) swimming; sports of every sort; field trips and campfires; and the highlight of our day – the evening program. Evening programs allow campers to showcase their theatric abilities (and acquire a sense of confidence) as they perform before an audience of their peers.

Today, at full encampment, we accommodate 65 campers and a compliment of staff at each session.  The Camp Nazarene experience renders children better able to manage their time and behavior and renders them more appropriate in their interactions with peers and authority figures as well. Generally speaking they are better able to self-monitor.

Each summer we encounter the ever-growing needs of children and families. Single parents need respite from the demands of raising children alone. Parental drug addictions, incarcerations, and sometimes death leave many children to be raised by grandparents. These grandparents often need assistance with keeping up with the many demands of raising children in our fast-paced, technologically advanced society.  Attempts to educate children are often lost to the effects of drug related violence, and other threats to survival, that keep our children distracted and fearful. Meanwhile, the looming effects of poverty and despair are allowed to grow with reckless abandon.

We see the needs. We feel the pain. But the demands of today’s families far exceed our capacity for service. If we are to rise to the challenge we must broaden our horizons. We can no longer limit our services to summer encampments and periodic retreats. Camp Nazarene must operate year round. We are looking to implement programs that address issues of teenage sexual activity; reunification of families after the release of the parent(s) from prison, education to career services that promote college enrollment and/or job retention among high school graduates; addictions counseling; literacy; parenting; domestic violence and so much more.

Toward this end, we have established an annual giving campaign to solicit donations from concerned citizens, profit-bearing organizations with a social conscience, and other conscientious benefactors. We are in the midst of capital improvement efforts that are designed to expand camping services via the building of a year round retreat and conference center. We look to offer cultural and artistic youth development activities; full-scale educational enhancement services; and comprehensive family services.

Camp Nazarene collaborates with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Public/Private Ventures, the School District of Philadelphia, Prison Fellowship, the American Camping Association, Christian Camping International and many other social service providers to identify and better serve at risk children and youth.

We are always looking for innovative servants and innovative ways to serve our constituency. If you, or someone you know, can assist us in our efforts to grow this ministry please contact the Nazarene Church Office at 215 – 223 – 9821.

Known to our campers as “the big house,” this structure now sleeps over 25 youngsters and is the main lodge and hub of Camp Nazarene. We proudly tell the children of its part in the system of cooperation between fugitive slaves and the abolitionists who secretly aided the slaves in their quests for freedom.  The children get to embrace real American history as they explore the many intricacies of the house, including its secret passageways; and they get to tell others of their stay on the Railroad.

Clearly it was by divine design that our inheritance should include such a marvelous tradition  . . .  “Joys are flowing like a river since the Comforter has come. He abides with us forever: makes the trusting heart His home. Bringing life and health and gladness all around, this heavenly Guest banished unbelief and sadness: changed our weariness to rest. See, a fruitful field is growing: blessed fruit of righteousness; and the streams of life are flowing in the lonely wilderness. What a wonderful salvation where we always see His face! What a perfect habitation! What a quiet resting place.” and we fully intend to continue the tradition: the legacy of being a safe harbor, of providing refuge from bondage.