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2022 Fall Youth Retreat
Nov. 18th - 20th
The weekend before Thanksgiving, over seventy youth and chaperones gathered at Pyoca for our 7th annual Fall Youth Retreat. This year's theme centered on the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s Matthew 25 initiative. At the retreat, keynote speaker Rev. Denise Anderson challenged youth to think about and pray upon how God calls them to change the world. We are thankful to Rev. Dr. David Gambrell for his wonderful worship leadership and to Mark Hinds, Ed.D. for his thoughtful curriculum.
We were floored by the thoughtfulness and passion of the youth in attendance. As they walked through the Matthew 25 passage, considering who are the least among us in society and how Jesus calls us to serve the world, we began to see youth ask tough questions around topics of racism, poverty, hunger, imprisonment, and more, answering one another's questions with maturity beyond their years.
Many of these youth have grown up coming to summer camp and retreats at Pyoca their entire lives, and as they grow, we know that their faith will only continue to be challenged in our world that is so in need of Christ's justice and righteousness. At Pyoca, we seek to equip our youth in partnership with their churches to explore where God is calling them in their lives, enabling them to grow in faith. Here they find rest, they find purpose, and they find a community where they truly belong.
At camp, our youth learn to exude Christ-like welcome, serving the least among us, because in doing so, they serve Christ. When they depart, they are equipped to go out into the world to build Jesus's kingdom: a realm of hope, justice, mercy, and peace.
Many thanks go to First Pres. Columbus, First Pres. Bloomington, and Fairlawn Pres. for their financial support of this retreat through the Myrtle Collaboration, the Innovation Hub of the Called to Lives of Meaning and Purpose Initiative at Louisville Seminary. Their contributions provided over $2,500.00 in support and we are so grateful for their partnership.
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Wishing you as much joy this holiday season as we had this summer with Christmas at Camp! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
The Pyoca office will be closed for the Christmas and New Year's holidays from Dec. 23rd - Jan. 2nd. Regular office hours will recommence on Tuesday, January 3rd.
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We have a lot of exciting things to look forward to in the new year and you can join in the fun! The 2023 program calendar is now out. Check out all that 2023 has to offer, including a few new programs.
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Summer Camp Registration: Going Live on January 8th!
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We can hardly wait for another summer of exploring God's call for our lives, growing in faith, resting in Creation, and playing with a purpose. Check out all of our 2023 summer programs here.*
Summer camp registration will officially open at 12:00PM (noon) EST on Sunday, January 8, 2023.
*Partner camp program registration dates may vary. Check in with your church or non-profit organization to determine when your registration is launching.
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Confirmation Retreat: March 3rd - 5th
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We're kicking off our 2023 program season with our annual Confirmation Retreat, open to youth in grades 6 - 12 and their mentors. This retreat focuses on building strong bonds between youth and their mentors, as well as helping confirmands learn the tools they will need on a lifelong journey of faith. This year's retreat keynote speaker is Rev. Carrie Winebrenner, Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Registration is now open! Learn more today.
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20th Annual Mystery Quilt Retreat: March 22nd - 26th
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For twenty years quilters have joined us at Pyoca each spring to sew their own "Mystery Quilt." Before arrival, each participant receives fabric measurements and cutting instructions for the Mystery Quilt, but will not see the full quilt pattern until they arrive. Learn more today.
Registration will open Monday, January 9th, 2023 at 8:00AM.*
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*We are very excited for this year's 20th anniversary retreat, and with this being an anniversary year, we are anticipating a high volume of registrations. 45 spots are available for this year's retreat. If you need assistance registering, please do not hesitate contacting our office to ensure your spot!
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We would love to connect with your congregation to share all that is going on at camp and see how we can partner further in ministry. Interested in scheduling an overnight or day church retreat for 2023? We'd love to assist!
After so much time apart over the past two years, church retreats are a great way to reconnect and deepen the fellowship of your congregation. Both weekend and weekday stays are available. Learn more about booking your retreat or event at Pyoca.
If your session or mission committee would like to schedule an in-person or virtual meeting, call us at (812) 358-3413 or email mike@pyoca.org.
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ICYMI: Jackson Co. 50/50 Ultramarathon
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We had another fantastic race held at Pyoca on Saturday, Dec. 3rd. Approximately 250 runners ran this year, including a number of Pyoca alumni! Check out our latest TikTok to learn how we are able to put on this race each year, in partnership with Do Indiana Off-road.
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How You Can Support Camp: Pass It On
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Pass It On. Like the beloved campfire song, we know that in order to pass on the magic of camp to the next generation, we need the support of friends of camp and previous generations who have been transformed by this ministry.
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There are a number of ways to support our ministry, including: donations to our Scholarship and Annual Funds, volunteer opportunities, in-kind gifts through our Amazon Wish List, and more.
You can also join our brand new Alumni Association! All annual dues go to support camp and year round program scholarships. Learn more and join today.
Want to learn more about what is happening at Pyoca? We encourage you to follow, like, and subscribe to our Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok pages where you can keep up with the latest information on all things camp.
NEW: Follow our LinkedIn page to see all that's going on at camp and connect with other camper and staff alumni.
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Rev. Molly DeWitt
Program Director
If you have any questions regarding Pyoca programs or booking your next retreat, please email program@pyoca.org or call (812) 358-3413.
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