The barn at Strath an De’ Farm was once the sanctuary for farm critters and fresh cut hay. But when Jim and Barb Butler hosted their first Father Son Camp East in October 2012 the lofty old structure was happily repurposed as a church, with a mission to “strengthen the earthly bond between father and son, while pointing families towards our perfect Heavenly Father.”
That first year, 60 or 70 campers pitched their tents in the field below the barn, shared picnic tables and fire rings and met fellow dads and sons. It was a chance to share stories, worries and lessons learned as they camped and played, then prayed together in the barn, surrounded by nature.
Many families have made this camp a family tradition and some of the kids are back with sons and daughters of their own, camp coordinator Andy Shaner said. “Our number never go down, every year there’s a few more. We had 256 campers for Father Daughter Camp in July. Campsites are set up so two families share a picnic table and fire ring. That way they can share their stories with new friends like they might not do at home or with members of their own churches.”
Everything is ready for Father Son Camp East 2022, held on September 29 to October 2, and Shaner and the Butlers are hoping a new generation of fathers and sons from local churches will sign up for this year’s event. “We still have room for more. You pay what you can. No one has ever been turned away for what they do-nate.”
Echoing the simplicity of the earliest Christian meeting places, a wooden fish icon hangs from a beam in the barn, carved by the Butlers’ son Aaron. Aaron came to camp from Chicago with his own son six years ago and experienced the power of his parents’ woodsy Christian vision. He returned two years later and now leads Youth Night. His well-planned adventures take kids out on the trails to play games find treasures that add up to Christian teachings for them to take home as happy memories to share with Dad.
Pastor John Mormon is a long-time camper from Maryland who brings his sons and daughters with him to the yearly camps and combines his love of God’s Great Out-doors with his Christian mission to pastor. He leads morning and evening prayers in the barn and is available to talk, listen and share one on one. There are fires lit to commiserate around on Thursday and Friday nights and a bonfire on Saturday where campers can hang out, eat desserts and reflect on lessons learned.
The Sunday morning Communion at 9:30 a.m. is lead by Chaplin Paul Carmean of the Civil Air Patrol, Morgantown and marks the end of another great season of Father Son and Father Daughter Camp East.
FMI or to register go online: fathersoncampeast.org.