Youth Retreat Cancelled
Sorry for any inconvenience. We are cancelling the youth retreat for this fall. We plan to have a retreat next year. Hope to see you there!
Fall Newsletter Published
Read the latest from camp! What are your favorite camp personalities saying about the summer?
New Courier Posted
Get the news on what has been happening at camp since the summer, read about what we are planning for this summer, and join the 20/20 Club!
Let us know what you think of the new courier format.
Have you heard?
Have you heard about the 20/20 Club? When you join, you commit to participating in the future of Camp Cherith of WNY. We need YOU to keep the vision alive! Be a part of God's great story to bring people to Himself and make disciples that follow him.
Seven Reasons You Should Work at a Christian Camp
We here at Camp Cherith believe that every kid should get the chance to spend a week at camp once a summer. They deserve to be out in nature, away from screens, enjoying independence, and getting a little (or a lot) dirty. They are made for it and deserve it.
But, we also believe that every young adult owes it to themselves to work at a camp. If someone approaches you about working at a camp and your response is, "No... I'm going to get an internship this summer." Remember that working at a camp is just as valuable as an internship, possibly more valuable. Here are seven reasons why:
1) When you work at a Christian camp, you are investing in eternity
You're helping kids grow in their faith. That is so incredibly important and an awesome experience to have.
2) You're making lifelong friends with coworkers
One summer can gain you friends who will challenge you, love you unconditionally (because they've probably seen you at your worst at camp... But they've also seen you at your best), and they will support you through anything.
3) Employers love it
Many interviewers will bring up your camp experience if it is listed on your resume. They're impressed with the responsibility and wide range of skills that you gain. For example, at CCWNY, we always need media and publicity assistants, office organizers, lifeguards, kitchen workers, site maintenance mechanics or carpenters, and more. The possibilities are endless. The people skills and practical knowledge gained over the summer are used in jobs other than "camp counselor".
4) Money
It may be odd to mention because camps are known to have a lower pay scale, but when you think about the money you'd earn working an unpaid internship... Money.
5) You can spend your summer outside
You will spend your summer in nature, not stuffed up in an office. Get splinters instead of papercuts while learning to build a fire that lights with one match. Get fit and loose some of those extra pounds walking everywhere. Take a look at the Milky Way in the night sky.
6) Skills
There are so many competencies that can only be learned through living, working, and teaching with the same people for an entire summer. The proficiency attained when working with difficult personalities, problem solving, and organizing will remain with you the rest of your life. These lessons will become a part of you to use in any situation you encounter.
7) This is only a limited time offer
College years go by quickly, and soon you will have to adult it full time. You have the rest of your life to work in an office. You will only have these four summers to work at camp before school loans start coming due. Take advantage of this time in your life of lower financial responsibility to gain experience that lasts a lifetime.
8) Bonus Reason
You can wear crazy outfits to work every day, and no one blinks an eye.
Taste of Camp
Get a taste of camp at our Spring Spree Weekend. Come Friday, May 12 to Saturday, May 13 to experience some of your favorite camp past times: hiking, fishing, crafts, gaga ball, wacky games and contests, singing, free time, and campfire!
Everyone is invited: girls, boys, women, men, old, young, families, clubs, and groups. Ask your friend who is unsure if they will like a full week of summer camp.
For more information or to register, click here! Hurry, space is limited. May 7 is the last day to tell us you are coming.
Summer is Coming!
Happy 2017 from your friends at Camp Cherith of Western New York!
We hope that during these winter months you are looking forward to the warm, sunny days of summer and all the great things you can do like spending a week (or sending your kids for a week) at Camp Cherith! We know many of you are probably planning to do so, and we wanted to update you on a few changes that we are making for this summer.
Because of our growing Day Camp program and our commitment to reaching out to our immediate community, we decided to switch things up and offer a full week dedicated just to day camp! In the past, we ran day camp during the first week of resident camp. But in 2016 we had such a large day camp that we want to dedicate more of our staff, resources, and activity time, just to them.
What does this mean for resident camp? We’ve moved to having four weeks (from five weeks) of resident camp, not only to accommodate the growth in day camp, but also to maximize resident camp opportunities. Our goal is to make all of our programs an even better experience for both day campers and overnight campers. As you can see the calendar weeks are similar with the exception of starting resident camp a week later. We will have two girls only weeks, and two parallel camp (boys and girls) weeks. The dates are as follows:
July 3-7 - day camp
July 9-15 - girls only resident camp
July 16-22 - girls only resident camp
July 23 -29 - parallel boys and girls resident camp
July 30-August-5 - parallel boys and girls resident camp
Check out the specials for each week here. You can register NOW to be sure to get the week you'd like!
Another new thing we’d like to announce is that we will be renting our site for a few days in August (after our regularly scheduled camp ends) to Celiac Strong Camp. This camp is devoted to providing a camp experience to campers with Celiac Disease. Their website states “This camp is worry-free place for boys and girls with Celiac or gluten intolerance between 7-16 years old.” Celiac Strong Camp will be happening at Camp Cherith of WNY from August 9th-August 12th. We’re excited to host them!
Click here to rent our beautiful site for your organization's next event!
Adventure Tree Climbing in front of the the dining hall
Looking for Someone Like You
Would you like to work at Camp Cherith of Western New York this summer? Applications are being accepted for Summer 2017 now! Apply today to secure your spot on this summer's staff. We look forward to hearing from you!
A Special Announcement from the Director and her Assistant
Hi Everyone! Roo (Alana Matteson, Assistant Director) here!
Happy New Year!
I hope that you are all doing well and having a great January. I just wanted to write a note and let you know about some changes that are happening at camp and my life. On January 9th, I started a new position at University Hospitals (a hospital system in Cleveland, OH). I will be working full time in the transplant unit as an Intake Coordinator. I'm very excited about this opportunity! It will allow me many other opportunities for professional and personal growth as well as the opportunity to continue my education and pursue my masters degree. Unfortunately, this means that my work at camp is going to come to an end. I will be working with Rufous throughout the spring to transition out of my position as Assistant Director.
As a child, camp was the highlight of my year. As a teenager and adult, camp became my home. If anybody knows the power of God through CCWNY, it's me. Many people have worked to make Camp Cherith a place where one can truly be themselves... where people know the love of God, and where they can eat delicious food cooked over a fire. My years working at Camp Cherith have been so valuable, and it's truly been bittersweet to make this decision, but I am so excited to see the way that God will orchestrate a new group of people into leadership.
I can't wait to hear how leaders are trained, disciples are cultivated and lives are transformed at CCWNY this summer!
Hi Everyone! Rufous (Evelyn White, Director) here!
I just want to take a moment to say how thankful I am for the opportunity I've had do the ministry of camp with Roo. Over the years we have been able to make so many great memories together as we served campers, parents and staff at CCWNY. I know I have grown through the time we've had together and I am so grateful for the things God has allowed us to accomplish. We serve a great God who cares so deeply about us and has a unique plan for each of us. It has been wonderful to see God's plan unfold for Roo through this very exciting, new opportunity she has. I know that likewise God will show us His plan for CCWNY.
We don't always know what the future holds but we do know who holds the future. I am glad that even when we are uncertain of the path ahead we can trust God to lead us and be with us. I am looking to God to show us His way, through His word, just as we need our flashlights at camp to find our way on a dark path.
Psalm 119:105, Your word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path.
Please join me in sending Roo off to her next adventure with our blessings and our prayers! So, this is not good-bye, just so long for now.
Fall Courier Newsletter
Get an update of the state of Camp Cherith since the summer season ended. Prayerfully consider how you could be involved with this special place in the coming year.