The next stop on the road brought me to the radiant energy of CAMP HUGG, hosted at Camp Kinard! For 50+ incredible years, Camp Hugg has been a place for teens and adults with intellectual disabilities across Lexington County. It’s more than just a camp; it’s a space where lifelong friendships are forged and every camper gets to experience the true joy and transformative power of community. Director Bill Newmeyer stated “Words can’t fully capture the impact this camp has had on our youth and young adults over the years. Camp HUGG is a wonderful opportunity to grow together alongside our special friends. As a sign I recently saw beautifully puts it: ‘A child with special needs will inspire you to be a special person.'”
Read all about the impact of this special place through the eyes of Shiloh, one of our amazing first-time counselors!
“As a new staff member at camp HUGG, it was the BEST experience ever. Literally. All of the staff members there are now my best friends! I loved being with my buddy for the first time, Anna Neal. She was so lively and so intelligent. Camp HUGG truly shows me how to have relationships with so many people. Before camp, I prayed to be able to have healthy relationships with new people. I love Camp HUGG for so many different reasons. During that week, there were so many different emotions that I went through. From being excited to nervous to feeling so loved, I truly felt the Camp HUGG experience. I cannot WAIT to go back💗.”
Read this day-by-day account from Caedyn
Camp HUGG is a ministry in which people from all over SC come to participate in a special week hosted for young adults with disabilities. Throughout the week, they participate in activities, faith-based crafts, songs, and bible stories. For four days, camp is filled with laughter, joy, friendships, and teamwork. Each camper is paired with one youth staff member to better accommodate specific needs as well as build a long-lasting relationship.
Our team gathers two days before campers arrive to decorate, get to know each other, team build, and work on the planning for the week to come. Here are some specific highlights of the activities done on a day-to-day basis:
Monday: Once campers arrived, we dove right into singing camp songs. During this time, our staff members also incorporated skits. These are mini plays that are silly and really get the campers involved. Later, we tie-dyed shirts, took buddy pictures, and did a fun tic tac toe craft. We ended the day with swimming, songs, skits, and endless fun.
Tuesday: The second day of camp is our zoo day. Campers and staff are loaded on buses and taken to the zoo where a group picture is taken at the front. From there, we split campers and staff into three smaller groups to go around the zoo. This is typically most campers’ favorite day. They love getting to be with their friends and see all the animals at the zoo. After half the day is spent at the zoo, we end our day at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Columbia to do crafts, coloring, lunch, and activities.
Wednesday: The day starts off with songs and skits. A little later on there are firefighters that come and bring a firetruck for the campers to enjoy. They came in and gave everyone a demonstration of how the gear is used and put on. They then go over fire safety and let the campers sit in the firetruck as well as spray the hose. The day is finished with games, swimming, crafts, and lots of smiling faces.
Thursday: Campers arrive in their bathing suits ready to go as our friends from Canoeing for Kids await us down at the lake. Buses are loaded with all campers and staff and are taken down to the lake. We then spend time canoeing around the lake for a little while and once finished, we head to the pool. Later on, we hold a talent show for the campers to show off their skills whether it’s singing or making animal noises. We end the day with a parent show showcasing everything we have down throughout the week. There are lots of hard goodbyes but so much joy and excitement for the next year to come!
Overall, a week at Camp HUGG is a week that will never be forgotten. Getting to bond with individuals others often overlook is truly something special and holds a special place in all our hearts. God truly works at this camp and changes lives each year. We cannot wait for next year!
My journey continued at GRACEWORKS, where I had the incredible opportunity to serve alongside one of their teams at Mission Lexington! I also joined them for lunch on Wednesday, where they hosted 45+ children from LSC—the energy was truly contagious.
To get a better sense of why this work is so impactful, please read this powerful reflection from Abbi!
“This past week, I volunteered with Graceworks for my 3rd year. Graceworks is a youth-led service group for middle- and high-schoolers made up of different Lutheran churches in the Midlands. We go to different service sites, like businesses and non-profits, and help them with whatever they need. For example, one of my favorite sites from this year was Still Hopes, a retirement community in downtown Columbia. When I went there with Graceworks, we played games with and sang for the residents there, along with checking in on them and letting them know that they’re loved. It’s extremely heartwarming to see the positive impact we made on the people in that community and how happy they were to have us there.
One of my favorite things about Graceworks is how close you get to the people in the group and how accepting everyone is. As a bisexual and trans man, it can be difficult to find other Christians that support the LGBTQ+ community, especially in a world where many are actively fighting against people like me. Graceworks is somewhere that you know you can be your authentic self, free of judgment. Along with that, you can be certain that you’ll make at least 1 friend while you’re there.
Another thing I love about Graceworks is how fun and engaging it is. From the yearly themes and entertaining songs to the trip to Saluda Shoals at the end of the week. No matter how bad of a day I may be having, I always end up having a good time. I tend to struggle with my faith and I often have doubts about whether I truly believe in God, and being in Graceworks always helps me realign myself with my beliefs. To sum everything up, Graceworks is an amazing blend of community, service, and entertainment during the summer, and I hope even more people join us next year.”
GET READY! THE 2026-2027 EVENTS CALENDAR IS HERE!
We are happy to unveil a lineup packed with learning, connection, and growth. We are keeping our favorite retreats while introducing fresh experiences designed just for you!
- Bridge Building is Back! We are excited to bring back this foundational program with renewed energy to help us connect and grow together with senior adults.
- New Horizons for Young Adults: We are launching brand-new opportunities specifically tailored for young adults (ages 18–25). It’s time to find your voice, build your community, and make an impact.
- Favorite Retreats Return: All your most loved retreats are back on the calendar, ready to provide the space you need to recharge and refocus.
Stay tuned for more details—you won’t want to miss what’s in store!
Which of these new opportunities are you most excited to share with your community first?
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Recent events in Pawley’s Island have once again highlighted the critical importance of child protection policies. Does your congregation currently have a child protection policy in place? If you would like assistance in developing or reviewing one, please feel free to reach out.
Here are several resources:
Safe Gatherings – Search (the synod has a partnership)
SELECTION.COM Background Checks
Deacon Lexanne Graves at Lgraves910@gmail.com or Pinnacle Leadership Associates
Home – Darkness to Light
On June 27, the CYFM team had the pleasure of sitting down with Aaron Schopa, Director of Youth Ministry for the ELCA. It was a wonderful exchange of ideas, packed with invaluable resources and insights for our ministry. Watch the full video!
Going to college? Or returning?
Campus Ministry provides opportunities for faith formation, service and leadership. If you would like to connect with one of our campus pastors, click here.
ELCA YOUTH GATHERING KEY DATES
August 2026 Getting Ready Materials launch
August 17, 2026 Webinar | What is SERVE?
August 19, 2026 Gathering Volunteer Corps applications close
September 24, 2026 Webinar | Registration 101
October 1, 2026 Financial assistance opens
BACK TO SCHOOL BALANCE
“Back to school balance” is about creating a smooth, structured transition from the relaxed summer schedule to the demands of the school year. For students, this includes adjusting to early mornings, homework, extracurricular activities, and maintaining physical health. For parents and caregivers, it involves balancing work responsibilities, home life, and supporting children.
Routine and Time Management – Resetting daily routines helps families manage mornings, homework, and after-school activities. Planning meals, preparing clothes and backpacks the night before, and mapping out weekly schedules can reduce stress and create consistency.
Household Organization – Organizing spaces, decluttering, and creating centers for schedules and school materials help families stay on top of tasks. A well-stocked lunch station and clear chore assignments can save time and reduce frustration.
Mental and Emotional Balance – Allowing short decompression periods for both children and adults, such as quiet time after school or brief walks, helps manage stress. Sharing responsibilities can distribute the mental load fairly among family members.
Realistic Expectations – Accepting that perfection is not achievable and prioritizing consistency over execution helps families maintain resilience and avoid burnout.
Practical Tips
- Prep meals and school items the night before.
- Encourage children to take short breaks after school before starting homework.
- Use lists for lunches, chores, and weekly schedules.
- Share household and school responsibilities among family members.
- Focus on small, manageable adjustments rather than overhauling everything at once.
By integrating these strategies, “back to school balance” helps families navigate the school year with less stress, better health, and more organized routines, benefiting both students and parents alike.
RESOURCES
Church Together – Traci Smith and David Csinos
Church Together Webinar, August 26 from 10am – 11am CST, with Dave Csinos Register for a Zoom Conversation with Traci Smith and Dave Csinos about Church Together:. Note: please do not register for the conversation unless you’re planning to attend live. If you are interested in the recording only, we will post it online publicly within a couple days, so just wait for that. If you do want to attend live. Meeting Registration – Zoom
Articles and Research – Youth
Research on young people’s vocation and sense of purpose – Springtide Research Institute
Good news about today’s faith-centered Gen Alpha teens
The-FYI-on-Gen-Alpha-and-Faith.pdf
Small Church Youth Ministry: Lead from Your Strengths
Small-church youth ministry is deeply relational, faithful, and full of possibility. Join Stephanie Caro and Stephen Ingram on August 13 at 1 p.m. CT for a free practical webinar created for leaders serving in smaller ministry contexts. Small Church Youth Ministry Webinar – Ministry Leadership Center
2026-2027 Events
Theme: What About…
Dates
October 10-11, 2026 — Elementary Retreat
TBD — Leader Webinar
January 8-10, 2027 — High School Retreat
February 5-7, 2027 — Middle School Retreat
June 12-18, 2027 — Camp Hugg
June 28-July 2, 2027 — Youth and Young Adult Gathering
July 7-10, 2027 — Bridge Building
July 11-16, 2027 — Graceworks
