Camps begin on Monday at 2:00 p.m. and end at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday unless otherwise stated. All participants should bring closed toe and closed heel shoes. Tennis shoes are recommended for all participants.

-Participants have the option to bring money for the camp store and for special offerings taken up during the worship at the end of the week (offering money collected will go toward providing camp scholarships). Daily canteen snacks are provided at no additional cost, so participants are not required to bring extra money. Elementary camps will collect all money at check-in for safe keeping until it is needed. Please leave cell phones, iPods, radios, computers, and all other electronic devices at home. If brought to camp these items may be confiscated and returned at departure. Blue Lake is not responsible for the loss or damage of any item brought to camp.

-Participants should leave all food and candy at home. There is plenty of food provided each day. If brought to camp these items may be confiscated. Parents please do not send food or candy in care packages you send to your child.

-We love to hand out mail at camp and your child will love to receive it. Please mail letters and cards early in the week and please write your child's name and which camp they are attending on each piece of mail.

-All child and youth participants are required to turn in a completed registration form, health form, and hold harmless agreement. (All forms can be found on this site or can be requested by contacting our office)

-Volunteers are required to turn in a completed registration form, adult health form, and must have a background check or affidavit of background check on file before they can attend camp. Our staff will gladly run a background checks at a cost of $9 per person. (All forms including background checks and affidavits can be found on this site or can be requested by contacting our office)

What do I need to bring with me to camp?

Items to Bring:

Your completed Health Form if not on file

Your signed Hold Harmless Agreement if not on file

Bedding/sleeping bag and pillow

Towels and washcloths

Toiletries: toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, sunscreen, deodorant, etc.

Clothing: please remember that we will be outside in the sun a lot

Rain jacket/umbrella

Flashlight

Closed Toed Shoes: no sandals or slip-ons, please!

Swimsuit

Bible

Camera (optional)

Money for offering and store (optional)



Items Not to Bring:

Cell Phones

Video Games (Gameboys, PSPs, etc)

MP3 Players (iPods, etc)

Laptops

CD Players Radios

Food/Candy/Beverages



What will we do during our week of camp?

Each camp has it's own unique identity and activities, but here is a list of activities that could potentially happen during your week of camp. For a more specific list please contact the Dean of your camp (contact info found under the description of your camp) for more information.

A week at Blue Lake could include any number of the following activities and events: Swimming (both in the lake and in a pool), paddle boats, canoes, hiking, archery, challenge course, games, sports, crafts, concerts, worship, talent shows, skits, bonfires, dancing, singing, devotions, and more. Specialized camps such as JesusJAM, Youth Choir, and C.A.T will also include instructional and performance time in their schedules.



Who is in charge during my week of camp?

Each camp that takes place at Blue Lake has one or more Deans that are the directors for that week of camp. These individuals volunteer their time to plan, schedule, and coordinate their week of camp. They also lead their week of camp by overseeing the counselors at their camps and coordinating with the Blue Lake staff to ensure that everything is running as smoothly as possible.

Each week of camp also has a large number of volunteer counselors or group leaders that attend. These individuals are children's directors, pastors, and parents from around the Conference that are placed in cabin groups to oversee the participants that attend camp for the summer. These individuals oversee the safety of each camper, stay in cabins with the participants, help their group stay on schedule, lead activities, and more. We are always in need of volunteers, so if you are interested in being a volunteer this summer please see the volunteer page on this site.

There are also a large number of Blue Lake staff that work to do everything from preparing meals to counseling. Our full time counselors provide activity leadership and also stay in cabins as group leaders. The Program Director in cooperation with the Executive Director and other area managers works to coordinate and oversee all the camps that happen during our summer.

Blue Lake United Methodist Assembly is a conference, retreat and outdoor camp ministry located near Andalusia,

Alabama in the center of the Conecuh National Forest. Founded in 1951 by the Alabama – West

Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, almost 500,000 participants have attended more

than 4200 events; more souls have had a significant faith-shaping experience on its three hundred acre

campus than any other venue in the area. But, its finest years are ahead.

A new day is dawning at Blue Lake. The vision for the future includes a pristine setting, the exemplary modeling

of Christian hospitality by a professional staff and well-trained volunteers; and, most importantly, the

ministry’s unique capacity to present the transforming elements of a Christian life to children, youth, families,

and older adults. Blue Lake’s leaders realize that they must proactively partner with the conference, districts,

local churches and ministers to provide significant defining experiences for campers and guests. Having just

raised $2.6 million in its capital campaign, Blue Lake’s Board of Trustees recently adopted a new governance

model, completed its first strategic plan, and hired its first professional executive director, program director

and staff.

We are now looking for a resource development professional to join our team to help create and implement a

long-term strategy to take us to the next level in terms of development and fundraising. This individual must

be dedicated to our mission, and direct a plan that not only allows us to strengthen our commitment to the

United Methodist Annual Conference we currently serve, but to expand that commitment to many others who

truly need and could benefit from our growing programs and services. Ideally, residency of the director would

be near Blue Lake, but living in another part of the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference area is

possible.

GENERAL FUNCTION:

The Director of Development works with the Executive Director and the governing board to plan and execute resource

development and marketing strategies and monitor progress against goals; supports the ED in positioning the Board to

cultivate and solicit gifts and grants from individuals, corporations, foundations, and others; and is responsible for

managing the administrative functions relating to resource development. Plays a role in identifying potential board

members.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT - Creates, manages and implements all aspects of annual fund-raising campaigns,

recruiting, training, organizing and recognizing volunteers, making "asks", writing, mailing and monitoring campaigns.

Develops campaign volunteer bases to build overall capacity of organization.

2. DONOR RELATIONS - Creates and implements major gifts program. Maintains stewardship program, and "moves

management" of select donors. Creates individual and corporate recognition opportunities. Develops files for individual,

corporate and foundation donors detailing and updating relationship status. Ensures timely and appropriate acknowledgement

of all donors through written thanks and donor recognition events and opportunities.