Dear Camp Ch-Yo-Ca Supporter,

Why do hundreds of young people look forward to going back to Camp Ch-Yo-Ca each year? And why do thousands of adults look back on their years at camp with such positive memories?  For over 40 years Camp Ch-Yo-Ca has been a place to encounter God.  For many of us that encounter was life changing and far reaching, shaping us into the men and women we are today.

As most of you are aware, Camp Ch-Yo-Ca was owned by World Wide Youth Foundation until 2006 when the facility was sold to Dr. Ray Armstrong.  Dr. Armstrong’s plan was to purchase the facility for the Catholic Church to build a retreat center.  Ultimately, this did not happen, which left Dr. Armstrong with the facility.  Those of us who love camp were heartbroken that Ch-Yo-Ca had seemingly been lost.  God had other plans, though.

Beginning in 2008, Dr. Armstrong became willing to rent the facility to White’s Ferry Road Church who in turn was able to host a week-long camp in 2008 and a full month of camp in 2010.  This fulfilled many prayers.  However, it was apparent that camp’s future was not secure.  Dr. Armstrong, unable to convert the facility to a Catholic retreat center, was actively seeking to sell Ch-Yo-Ca.

In the summer of 2010 a group of Ch-Yo-Ca alums and other individuals with history at camp formed a new non-profit with the express goal of purchasing camp back from Dr. Armstrong.  Our dream was to secure the future of camp forever as a place where individuals would encounter God.  In September of 2010, that dream became a reality as Dr. Armstrong sold the camp to our new non-profit, “Ch-Yo-Ca Spiritual Retreat Center” for approximately $900,000.  Our new non-profit does not afford Camp Ch-Yo-Ca the same financial backing that Worldwide Foundation once did.  We are merely an independent group who love camp and believe in God’s work at this place.  As you might imagine this has been quite a leap of faith-- but we know God will provide.

In the first half of 2011, God blessed us tremendously by providing through the Pepsi Grant and other donations almost $200,000 in much needed improvements to our facility. You’ve probably noticed some rather significant improvements already.  As a board we recognize and are committed to updating our facilities, but we also know that the facilities of Ch-Yo-Ca are not what make it special; it is the people like you who believe in the mission of this place.

We desperately need your help—we cannot do this alone.  We need your prayers. We need more campers.  We need groups to rent the facility at other times of the year.  We need your financial support.  If just 300 people will commit to giving $1,000 a year for 3 years we can pay off our mortgage.  Will you consider becoming one of these 300 people by either writing a check for $1,000 or giving $84 a month via bank draft?  We need you.  And we want you involved.  Here are specific things you can do to benefit camp:

-                Commit to donate $1,000 per year for 3 years (or any other amount)

-                Join our “Leadership Team” by committing to raise an additional $5,000, $10,000 or $20,000 per year

-                Work to get churches in your area to commit to sending children to camp and/or supporting us with a monthly                  donation.

-                Work to get churches / Christian groups in your area to consider renting our facilities for retreats

-                Pray for Camp Ch-Yo-Ca

 We appreciate your support and believe that with your help Camp Ch-Yo-Ca can be a place where individuals encounter God for generations to come.

Sincerely,

The Ch-Yo-Ca Board of Directors

Cindy Murray

David Bromley

Phil Giger

Gary Osborne

Toby Frost

Shane Ware

Howard Karbo

Chrys Howard

Arlene Mayes

Download Letter from the Board

Download Bank Draft Form