Hyattstown Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) held its 4th Annual Camp Starfish Aug. 3-6 at the Christian Church Capital Area "Camp Mary Mac" facility in Sharpsburg, Md. Camp Starfish is a four-day, overnight camp for children who have parents incarcerated in a correctional facility.
As a little history, the idea for Camp Starfish was born after a new county correctional facility was constructed in a community near our church in Hyattstown, Md. Knowing that the children of the inmates are perhaps the most innocent and vulnerable victims, W.F. Terry Reister, the recently retired pastor of Hyattstown Christian Church, developed the idea of Camp Starfish. Statistics indicate that over 70 percent of the children of inmates end up incarcerated themselves. This is a very high-risk youth group.
Twenty children attended this year’s camp: 14 boys and six girls, ages 9-11. Camp Starfish hopes to make a difference in the lives of these young children by offering them a summer camp experience that includes wholesome activities and good fellowship in a safe setting. The camp combines nature and camping with outdoor recreation, music, motivational speakers, science labs, Spanish and sign language activities, nature walks, horse-back riding, gardening, hayrides, camp fires, talent shows, and arts and crafts. For two afternoons we visited the nearby Greenbrier State Park for swimming and boating.
About half of our children were "repeats," who participated in last year’s camp. Working with the repeats campers really lets you see the positive impact that we are making on these children. They showed great leadership in helping the first-timers get acclimated to the camp and our activities. For most of these kids, Camp Starfish is their first summer camp experience. Many have never been in a row boat, touched a horse, or sang at a campfire. They come to us street-smart and tough, but they leave with big smiles, strong hugs, and good memories – looking forward to coming back next year. Seeing the children open up and share some of their experiences with one another helps them realize that they are not alone in their challenges. And the positive impact of Camp Starfish is spreading – with news that at least three other churches have started similar programs. If you would like more information about Camp Starfish, please feel free to contact Hyattstown Christian Church at 301-831-8184.
By Pierrette McIntire, Camp Director
