As spring arrives at Hanging Rock, we will witness the awakening from the winter, Thank Goodness!!! Buds will start to appear on trees, flowers begin to bloom, and the air is filled with a renewed sense of hope and promise. 

I don't know why, but it seems that winter will not go away. As we approach Spring, we will be getting ready for camp. We are going to need help with all kinds of projects so that we are ready for camp. 

It is going to be exciting to see all the projects from the Lilly Foundation Grant come to reality. Footers were poured this week for Cabin # 1, remodeling the kitchen has already started, we are waiting for permits for the waste treatment plant and the new entrance/exit road onto 263. 

Just as the earth is transformed, we too can experience change and growth. As it says in Isaiah 43:19, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" May we open our hearts to God's work in our lives, embrace the changes ahead, and walk in faith, knowing that each new day brings fresh opportunities for grace and renewal.

garybaker@hangingrock.org

Summer 2026 camp registration has officially started! Registration started on March 1st & the early bird pricing will end on May 31st. We are so excited to see what the Lord will do this summer!

We Love Our Volunteers!

Hanging Rock is a volunteer driven organization; volunteers are essential to running a successful camp ministry here. We are looking for faculty (volunteer camp counselor) to help with our summer camp programs. As a faculty member, you’ll help with overseeing the dorm & leading small groups. Below is a link to fill out an application to be a faculty member for a camp session. You will have to fill out a background check to be a faculty member.

We thank you for considering volunteering for our summer camp programs! 

Over the past several years, Hanging Rock Christian Camp has experienced remarkable growth in its retreat season, transforming from a primarily summer-focused ministry into a year-round destination for churches, youth groups, and ministry teams. What was once a quieter fall, winter, and spring calendar has steadily filled with retreats, creating a consistent rhythm of activity that now occupies nearly every weekend of the year. This growth reflects both the increasing demand for intentional spiritual environments and Hanging Rock’s commitment to providing a space where individuals and groups can step away from daily distractions to focus on Christ, community, and renewal. One of the key factors behind this expansion has been Hanging Rock’s investment in creating an experience that meets

the needs of a wide variety of groups. Retreat guests are drawn to the camp’s balance of meaningful worship spaces, engaging recreational activities, and spiritual growth. Whether it’s youth groups seeking spiritual formation, leadership teams pursuing vision and unity, or church congregations desiring rest and connection, Hanging Rock has positioned itself as a trusted partner in ministry. Positive word-of-mouth, strong relationships with returning churches, and a consistent commitment to excellence have all contributed to steady growth in retreat bookings.

Additionally, Hanging Rock has embraced the opportunity to serve beyond the traditional camp season by adapting its facilities and programming to support retreats throughout the entire year. Improvements in lodging, dining, and activity offerings have allowed the camp to remain functional and inviting even during colder months. This intentional stewardship has enabled Hanging Rock to welcome groups in every season, ensuring that ministry continues long after the summer ends.

As a result of these efforts, Hanging Rock now finds itself in an exciting position: retreat weekends are consistently booked, and the camp is alive with ministry nearly every week. This growth is more than just a full calendar—it represents lives being changed, communities being strengthened, and the mission of Hanging Rock extending further than ever before. With continued faithfulness and vision, Hanging Rock is poised to remain a place where people come year-round to encounter Christ and be transformed.

We are continually looking for ways to book more of our supporting churches on our weekends. We believe that our supporting churches should have a priority in booking retreats before any other outside group.

We are creating a window for our churches to start booking with us in 2027. That window will be from now until April 2026. If you would like to book a retreat here at Hanging Rock, whether that's for pastors, students, or a mixture of both, we would love to be your host.

This invitation is simple:

To book a retreat, reach out to me at brettbaer@hangingrock.org and let me know your preferred weekend that you would like to book. Then, I will communicate with you to let you know if your requested weekend is available or not. If it is not, I can also refer you to different weekends around that time that may be available. From then, I will be your main point of contact, and we can go over details for your retreat.

Hanging Rock is beyond thankful for all of your support to this ministry. Your support helps us reach our mission to establish & strengthen relationships in Christ.

Summer camp is just around the corner, and we can't be more excited! Another summer with campers riding the zip line. Another summer with campers jumping off the diving board. Another summer of campers worshipping The Almighty. Another summer of campers giving their lives to Christ and being baptized! What a great time of year it is!

With all those things mentioned, there also comes another summer of feeding all those campers! Did you know most meals are cooked, served, and cleaned up with only 4 or 5 people doing all the work? That's 2 or 3 people cooking, serving, and cleaning the dining halls, and then 2 people doing all those dishes. It can be a lot and take a lot of time to get it all done. Maybe you want to serve at camp, but you aren't able to serve as faculty like Caitlin described. That is totally fine. We have other ways of serving during summer camp. One of those, is in the kitchen. I am looking for volunteers to come help in all capacities in the kitchen. From cooking, to serving, to clean up, and even dishes if you really like to do dishes! Maybe your Sunday School class or small group wants to come volunteer for a meal. Whether it's a one-time thing, or a weekly thing please reach out to me and let's talk about getting you at camp to help in the kitchen! We take all skill levels in the kitchen! There is a job for everyone. Maybe you just want to come help serve or come in after meals and help clean up. That's great too! Reach out and let's have a chat about it. Please contact me at toddblair@HangingRock.org.