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By Melissa Lauber
UMConnection Staff

For 60 years, West River has stood as a Methodist campground on 45 acres along the Chesapeake Bay, just 20 miles south of Annapolis. While the facility is important, it is the stories, lived year-in and year-out, in this sacred spot that have given West River its identity and created “a legacy of lives changed.” 

On Jan. 5, many of the people whose lives were affected by experiences at the camp gathered to share their stories.

There were tales of camp pranks, colorful chefs who prepared the food and the “hoppers” who served it; accounts of sailing adventures, camp songs, bonfires, nets put up to keep out the sea nettles and much more. But all agreed, West River is a place where limits and boundaries are put aside, so that one week at a time each summer, God can be present in amazing ways.

One woman remembered teaching deaf-blind campers to do archery and to celebrate the Fourth of July with sparklers. Andy Thornton reflected on a girl who came to a camp designed for children whose parents were incarcerated. That experience cracked a hard façade she had built to protect herself and it began a process that reshaped the girl’s life. Ray Jenkins told about how leading sailing at West River affected him in such powerful ways that he and his wife have felt compelled to return each year for 32 years; and Tom Lain, who once served as director of the camp, found himself in tears as he reflected on the camp’s impact. 

The stories poured forth. “West River is a treasure,” said Sandy Ferguson the director of connectional ministries for the Baltimore-Washington Conference. It is a very special sanctuary for all of our churches, where people – especially children and youth – can get away for fun, learning and mountaintop spiritual experiences. While we celebrate its history tonight, I’m more excited about its future. Great things unfold here.”

West River is one of the Baltimore-Washington Conferences’ three campgrounds, along with Camp Harmison in Berkeley Springs and Camp Manidokan near Harper’s Ferry. Each year, more than 350 volunteer leaders, a thousand summer campers and a thousand people who attend retreats make use of the facilities.

But like most local churches, West River is also facing challenges competing for people’s time and attention. A decreasing number of campers brings increasing financial challenges, said Thornton, the BWC’s director of camping and retreat ministries. 

In celebrating the past and anticipating the future, Thornton challenged the people of the Baltimore-Washington Conference to give money that might provide camperships to needy children.

Building on Bishop Matthew’s challenge that each person bring one person to Christ and to the church, Thornton suggested each United Methodist bring one person to camp. 

“This is a place filled with stories,” Bishop Marcus Matthews told those gathered at the 60th anniversary banquet. He thanked Thornton for his 26 years of ministry nurturing and equipping young people to be ministers of Christ. The bishop promised to support the camps and to send his three grandchildren this coming summer. 

In another gesture to support the camp’s future, the Rev. Karin Walker, superintendent of the Baltimore Suburban District, presented West River and the other conference camps with automated external defibrillators (AEDs), lifesaving equipment bought by funds collected from the district’s churches.

Hunts Memorial UMC was a significant donor, giving a large gift in memory of Mickey Lippy, a Maryland State Police officer who died in a Medevac helicopter crash four years ago. His mother Wilma joined Walker in expressing her hope that this gift would be an appropriate legacy for her son, saving the lives of others.

At the banquet Cliff Hubbard of Hiss UMC was presented with the Dick Lord Sailing Award.