History

Camp of the Rising Son began in 1980 with 27 campers and a two-week program directed by Margie Newman.  The camping program began on the main French Camp Academy campus using two dormitories and the dining hall.  The name “Camp of the Rising Son” was based on our purpose of presenting Christ, our risen Lord, to campers.  The Indian theme of using Native American names for our buildings and addressing staff as “Chief” was an idea borrowed from Camp Sandy Cove in Maryland, where “Chief” Margie worked in the 1960s. It was there that she fell in love with camping as the best possible setting for connecting with the heart of a child and living out the love of Christ in God’s creation!

By 1985, the program spanned four weeks with a registration of 100 per week.  Seeing that more space was needed, the FCA Board of Directors moved to build a separate facility near Lake Anne, a half mile from center campus.  So in 1987, the Hall Lodge was built overlooking Lake Anne and became headquarters for Camp of the Rising Son.  In addition, 16 cabins, a large activities building known as the “Pow Wow,” a crafts and pottery cabin, two shower houses, and several small sheds for camp equipment were also built.   In the early 1990s, CRS was serving more than 200 children a week and added a white-water rafting program for 13- to 15-year-olds. We were hiring a total of 65 summer staff each year.   By the mid-1990s, it was a joy to have former campers beginning to returning as counselors!

The resident camping program, geared to ages 7-12, incorporated 15 to 18 activities, including canoeing, sailing, horseback riding, archery, crafts making, pottery, art, leather craft, basketry, swimming lessons, fishing, enjoying nature, learning camp skills, tackling the ropes course, and others.   Each camper chose five activities per week in which he/she specialized, with the option to work for awards in each area.  Our staff has always been trained to teach all the activities as professionally as possible.  We often send activity specialists to receive certification in the various activities.

Bible lessons were taught by counselors with the desire that campers would come to know Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior and grow in that relationship.   Each week ended with the Passion Play, presented by the staff in the outdoor chapel-in-the-woods. Another outstanding aspect of CRS has been that programs are designed to stimulate creativity in each camper.  , the absence of TV, electronic games, iPods, and CD players and a focus on wholesome fun!  

Chief Margie says, “Over the 20 years that I directed, it was my greatest joy to see children respond to the Gospel, inviting Jesus to be their own personal Savior!  Knowing that God created this earth to bear testimony to His greatness, we delighted in focusing on His handiwork around us. Even our cabins were designed to assure that campers could hear crickets and frogs as the lay in bed at night! Many parents sent their children for the high quality of training in various activities, but, at the end of the week our greatest joy is knowing that their lives had been changed by knowing Jesus personally!!”

From the late 1990s through 2008, directors Rusty McKnight, Larry Littlejohn, and Step Morgan made a lasting impact on the staff and campers at CRS.  A leadership training program for 15-year-olds was added, a new pool was built, the floating dock was put in the lake, and a ninth cabin was constructed in the Maiden Unit.  Repairs and rebuilding happened after several large storms came through the French Camp area.  Kayaking and Frisbee sports were added as activities.

Carrie Browning is CRS’s current director.  She began as a camper, returned as a counselor and program director, and assumed the director’s position in fall 2008.  Under her leadership, the program offerings for teens have expanded to include horse camp, astronomy camp, and an ultimate adventure rafting trip.   

Chief Carrie says, “Over the years though there have been new additions and updates to our activities and facilities, the core values of Camp of the Rising Son remain the same.  We are committed to providing a safe environment and Christ-centered setting for children and youth that intentionally focuses on experiencing creation, building relationships, encouraging creativity, learning new skills, and having lots of fun!”