Two hundred campers and fifty counselors gathered on June 30, 2002, at East Bay Camp on Lake Bloomington, Illinois for the annual Episcopal Church Camp of Illinois. This Camp is a shared ministry between the Diocese of Quincy and the Diocese of Springfield. The camp's theme this year was "Raise Up An Army, O God." The camp was divided into three sessions: Juniors (completed grades 1 to 4), Middlers (completed grades 5 through 7) and Seniors (completed grades 8 through 11). Each session had a Director, a Spiritual Director, a craft person and several cabin counselors.

Mary Lattan of St. Paul's, Carlinville was the Camp's Co-ordinator for the first time. Session Directors - Dennis Brown (Juniors), Jamie Herrmann (Middlers) and Don Monty (Seniors), ably assisted her. Spiritual Directors for the Juniors, Middlers and Seniors were Canon Sandy Herrmann, Fr. Ed den Blaauwen and Fr. Tony Holder respectively.

Each day, campers were involved in a number of activities. On a daily basis the Spiritual Directors conducted religious teaching sessions relating to the camp theme and celebrated the Eucharist. Throughout the week, the campers were involved in such activities as swimming, picnics, beach parties, hay rides, canoeing and Healing Services. On Wednesday, July 3, there was a camp cookout called the Bish-B-Q hosted by the Bishop of Quincy, the Rt. Rev. Keith Ackerman. He and members of the Diocese of Quincy were there to assist with the food and to mingle with the campers. Bishop Ackerman was dressed in a cowboy outfit depicting his native Texas. This event is rotated each year between Bishop Ackerman and Bishop Beckwith. Bishop Beckwith visited the camp on Monday, July1 and interacted with the campers.

There was certainly evidence of the power of the Spirit working within the camp bringing campers closer to each other and to Jesus Christ. One incredible sight was to see the high school kids in the Senior Session praying together as groups in cabins and spontaneously forming a prayer circle on the camp grounds each night as they prayed for each other, their counselors, parents, friends and life in general.

The camp ended on Saturday, July 6 with a Closing Eucharist in the morning. Campers, counselors, parents and friends of the camp were in attendance at this worship service.

Click here for the 2002 Church Camp Photo Gallery