Dear Friends of Holston Camp & Retreat Center,

It’s hard to put into words just how extraordinary this past year has been at Holston Center. 2025 has truly been a season of renewal, excitement, and hope. For the first time in recent memory, Holston not only met—but exceeded—our goals for both overnight and day camp registrations! The laughter echoing through the mountains all summer long was a reminder that God is at work here—changing lives through community, creation, and joy.

Thanks to your prayers and support, we’ve been able to make incredible improvements across camp. Four cabins received new flooring, fresh paint, and added cubbies and shelving—transforming them into warm, welcoming spaces for campers and retreat guests. Small changes can make a big difference when they reflect the love and care of a community like ours.

We also celebrated new beginnings this year: our first-ever Holston Oyster Roast brought friends and supporters together for an evening of great food, laughter, and generosity—and we’re thrilled to host it again on March 14, 2026.

In October, we launched JOY Camp (Just Older Youth), welcoming back alumni and adults for a weekend of fun and fellowship that left everyone asking, “When can we come back?” The answer: October 9–12, 2026!

And our Holston Helpers Work Day saw the biggest turnout yet—volunteers young and old joined forces to refresh, repair, and rejuvenate our beautiful mountain home. It’s amazing what can happen when so many hands work together for a place they love. We’ll gather again April 17–18, 2026, and hope to see you there.

This year has also been one of resilience and gratitude. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, our community showed what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ. Volunteers cleared trails, repaired roofs, and helped us recover faster than we imagined possible. The immediate repairs are done—but now we’re moving from rebuilding to reimagining.

Holston is ready to grow again. We’re in a strong position with a dedicated staff, board, and community all united by one goal: to make this ministry thrive for generations to come. Our 2026 projects are all about enhancing the spaces where transformation happens—updating facilities, adding beauty, and strengthening our ability to serve.

We’ll be replacing the flooring in Guenther Lodge, repairing retaining walls around the cabins and Wildcat Lake, restoring the Rose Garden Bridge, brightening the Dining Hall with new floors and warmth, and refreshing our camp signage so every visitor feels the pride and love that make Holston Center shine. And yes, we’re finally preparing to open our second zip line—so campers can soar through the trees on a full circuit once again!

Amid all this excitement, one of our deepest callings remains the same: making sure that every child who wants to come to camp, can. This year, many families in our region are still rebuilding after Hurricane Helene, and as a result, we’ve received more scholarship requests than ever before.

Each scholarship tells a story.
A child who’s never spent a night away from home discovers courage on a mountain trail.
A teenager, weighed down by worry, finds laughter and faith around a campfire.
A family who’s lost so much sees their child come home from camp smiling again.

That’s what your gift makes possible. You’re not just giving to a place—you’re investing in lives, faith, and a future.

This is a turning point in Holston’s story. We are stepping boldly into a new era—one filled with vision, energy, and community. By giving today, you’re helping us take Holston to the next level: strengthening programs, restoring beauty, and reinviting alumni, churches, and neighbors to reconnect with “your camp.”

There has never been a more exciting time to get involved. Bring your friends to a fundraiser or event, come see the progress, and know that your gift is part of something lasting. Together, we’re not just maintaining a camp—we’re reviving a ministry.

The 2025 Holston Wishlist

Your generosity keeps the momentum going. Each project on our wishlist brings new life to Holston and helps us serve campers, families, and guests with excellence.

$249 — Provide a Day Camp Scholarship

Many of our Day Camp families live right here in Avery County and are still recovering from the lasting impact of Hurricane Helene. Day Camp is not only a safe and meaningful summer experience for their children — it is essential childcare for working parents. A gift of $249 provides one full week of Day Camp for a child who otherwise may not be able to attend, giving both the camper and their family support, stability, and joy.

$759 — Provide an Overnight Camp Scholarship

This year, we expanded our scholarship program to include partial scholarships of 15%, 50%, 75%, or 100%. This allows families who need just a little help – and those who need full support – to access a transformative week of camp. A gift of $749 fully covers one camper’s overnight experience and helps ensure that every child who wants to come to camp can.

$1,499 — Sponsor a Counselor in Training (CIT)

Our revitalized two-week CIT program helps 11th and 12th graders grow into confident, capable leaders. CITs learn to belay at the climbing wall, facilitate zip line and team-building activities, and earn certifications in First Aid, CPR, and AED – credentials they carry with them for two years. They also plan and complete their own camping trip and spend a week assisting with Day Camp under staff supervision. A gift of $1,499 equips a young leader with skills, confidence, and the experience needed to serve on staff at Holston in the future.

$2,500 — Expand Our Zip Line Capacity with 20 New Harnesses

With only 10 child and 10 adult harnesses, we often have to split camper and retreat groups into small groups of 10, which doubles or triples the time needed to run the activity. Adding 20 harnesses will allow groups of up to 30 to participate together – saving hours of staff time and giving campers and guests more opportunities to enjoy other activities around camp. A gift of $2,500 helps make our zip lines more efficient, safe, and accessible for all.

$5,000 — Build a New Team-Building Element

Hurricane Helene damaged nearly every element on our team-building course. While we repaired several and added a few creative challenges for Summer 2025, this is our moment to reimagine the course for the future. Team-building is more than play – it is intentional play. It teaches communication, problem-solving, empathy, leadership, and collaboration. A gift of $5,000 allows us to design and build a new element that will challenge, inspire, and unite campers for years to come.

$10,000 — Repair the Retaining Wall at Wildcat Lake

Wildcat Lake is one of the most beloved and heavily used spaces at Holston. Overnight campers, Day Campers, and retreat groups spend countless hours swimming, paddling, and enjoying its beautiful mountain views. Hurricane Helene weakened the retaining wall, causing sand to wash into the lake during heavy rains. Repairing the wall is essential to preserving this space for safe, long-term use. A gift of $10,000 helps protect one of Holston’s most iconic and meaningful locations.

Every gift – large or small – helps build this next chapter in the life of Holston Camp & Retreat Center. Thank you for believing in our mission, for cheering us on, and for being part of this journey of faith, growth, and renewal.

With heartfelt gratitude and hope,
Madeline Chandler
Executive Director
Holston Camp & Retreat Center