Any amount donated makes a difference and will be put to good use towards the general operating expenses of HCRC. We encourage you to consider giving monthly to support the sustainability of Holston Camp & Retreat Center’s mission.
Dear Friends of Holston Camp & Retreat Center,
2024 has certainly been one for the books. I am so excited to share all of the incredible successes, growth, and new connections that have been made at Holston Camp & Retreat Center (HCRC) over the past year. Through a very generous grant, we were able to purchase a new inflatable trampoline for Lake Lyons. Every age group of day camp gets to hike to Lake Lyons once a week. Overnight campers that are staying at Rustic use Lake Lyons almost daily. The addition of our new water trampoline provided campers with a fun new activity to try while still enjoying their old favorites, like our tube slides into the water.
We implemented our new registration software this year, and were able to make the registration process much simpler for our camper families. The new software was made possible through a generous donor. This year we saw a 25% growth in our overnight camper registrations, with a total of 237 overnight campers. This past summer, we formed a new partnership with Myer’s Park Presbyterian Church from Charlotte, NC. We hosted their first week long confirmation class at camp, and look forward to welcoming another group of confirmation students next Summer. We have also partnered with Cycle 4 Life, and hosted our first Mountain Bike Skills Camp for 2 sessions. This is a great “next step” for campers who have already participated in our Bike Week session. We also brought back our improved 2 week CIT (Counselor in Training) program, with a weekend trip that the CITs planned. CITs were able to complete many new certifications during their course as well.
While Summer was filled with sunshine, laughter, singing, and more joy than you could possibly imagine, our Fall season looked a bit different this year. As many of you already know, WNC (Western North Carolina) was hit hard by Hurricane Helene. Instead of a fall filled with the vibrant colors of changing leaves, and weeks filled with guests and retreat groups enjoying the beauty, we were faced with torrential downpours, falling trees, and cancelled retreat groups. However, that is not all we saw. We saw God’s people on the ground, HERE, at “your camp.” Without any power or ability to coordinate groups, we were still blessed. Day after day, groups of hard working people showed up with big smiles, chainsaws, and determination. Volunteers worked to clear trails from Lake Lyons to Main Camp, removed trees off of our buildings, cut a path through the trees to access the team building area, donated and sorted supplies, and helped us clean debris out of the Dining Hall. The volunteers have been such a bright light to our community, and we are incredibly thankful to have been blessed with so many helpful hearts.
As Holston Camp & Retreat Center looks to rebuild after the storm, we are reminded that we have a community of friends and family that continue to love on our camp in a variety of ways. Through volunteers, prayers, letters, gifts, and donations, we are able to keep growing our ministry and keep sharing our beautiful place with campers, friends, and guests all year long. As you look back on your year, I encourage you to think of the ways that Holston Camp & Retreat Center has impacted your family and your community. As you plan your giving, consider the following:
In closing, I want you to know that I am thankful for the connections that Holston Camp and Retreat Center has made and am excited for the continued growth planned for 2025. I encourage all of you to visit us in 2025 and see all the good happening in this special place. Whether it be through a retreat group, Summer Camp, Holston Helpers in May, or stopping by to say hello, we look forward to welcoming you home.
See you soon!
Madeline Horne
Program Director
