Three Area Camps Make Summer Sensational in Tyler
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Summer is the favorite season for many young people in Tyler, because it holds promises of s’mores, sleeping bags, swimming and stargazing, thanks to the popularity of three area camps.
Sky Ranch Camps have been in existence since 1955 and comprise locations in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado. The East Texas location is nestled in the piney woods of Van. The Christian facility offers standard camp activities like sailing, swimming and canoeing, but since church groups use the camps primarily, the focus is kept on worship.
“We emphasize the importance of communicating with summer campers about Christ and are very particular about our counselors because they serve as this model,” says John Barker, senior director of operations at Sky Ranch.
Sky Ranch offers nine youth programs for ages 5-18, a family camp, group programs, and outdoor overnight and day retreats for businesses and church groups nine months out of the year. With 11 meeting rooms and 33 cabins, the Van campus can accommodate business and church groups as large as 900 to 1,200 people.
Rockin’ C Ranch is another Christian camp in the area, and was founded in Lindale in 1997. A working ranch, Rockin’ C offers summer camp programs for ages 5–16 and outdoor education programs for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders.
Summer campers’ responsibilities each day include caring for a baby calf, as well as the 15-20 chickens that are assigned to each cabin. This hands-on experience teaches campers about responsibility in a beautiful and serene setting.
The 150-acre camp is filled with pines, pastures, rolling hills, creeks and a 10-acre lake, all perfect amenities for horseback riding, swimming and taking on a challenging high ropes course.
Rockin’ C Ranch also provides a scholarship program for campers who wish to attend camp but do not have the means to do so.
“We have always wanted for our camp to be available to all kids,” says Matt Clapp, camp owner, “not just those with big bank accounts.”
At Rockin’ C, there also are three air-conditioned cabins and meeting room facilities to accommodate retreat groups as large as 180–200 people, nine months out of the year.
Campers and event planners have even more options in the area, with Pine Cove Christian Camps’ six Tyler sites and two Columbus sites. Pine Cove hosted its first group of campers in 1968 at its Pine Cove Woods Camp in Tyler and has grown by leaps and bounds in the four decades since. Programs include weeklong overnight summer camp programs for grades 2 through 12, as well as family camps and two-day camp programs. All of the sites offer swimming, paint ball and elaborate ropes courses.
“We are a relationship-based camp,” says Phil Baker, senior director of marketing and development. “People come back because of the relationships they build with God, one another and the camp staff while they are here.”
From August to May, Pine Cove teams up with churches and other Christian organizations to create retreats at the camps for all ages and price ranges.
Story by Sarah Ward
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