A community of Champions is moving Evans Creek’s Up Camp from Stability to Scalability-
Rising over the Walls, above the floods, out of the fire, through the “hoops”.

Partnerships in ministry are more than a network of people building organizational capacity.  The ripples of each act of service change lives for eternity. Camp heroes are those who find victory and fulfillment in conquering even in mundane, turning the ordinary to extraordinary, never giving up, capturing the vision.

Steve Bohrer, found often on his knees, has been one of those faithful champions. Two weeks following the 2020 Beachie Creek Fire, before anyone was even let in to see the damage, Steve telephoned. “I have been retired for two weeks, and I am already bored. Is there anything I can do to help?” Five years later he is still answering his call. Everyone who knows Steve recognizes that a chainsaw, a bonfire and an impossible project are Steve’s happy spots in life. Celebrating being part of the camp family, Steve serves as an advisor to the Board of Directors and acts as the Volunteer Coordinator. His passion is contagious as he rallies a crew to serve twice monthly to continue with clean-up, expand camp capacity through building projects and lifting prayers of praise and requests for resources. Due to the exceptional dedication of many volunteers like Steve, working both on site and off, Evans Creek Up Camp is rising out of the 2020 ashes and growing opportunities for campers.

In 2025, Cindy caught the biggest trout, 21”, 4 ½ lbs. Cindy Wilson is one thankful camper. Cindy has attended summer and Christmas Camps for over a decade. When the fire reduced to ashes the camp she loved, her first response was to show up to help clean-up. “It’s our camp. What else are we going to do? We got to get it cleaned up. We got to just do it. Get it ready for summer.” She brought her whole group home and later enlisted her big brother, Marvin, to help with the restoration. Camp is Cindy’s place to belong. Evans Creek Up Camp is her happy place. Cindy loves WWF and Disneyland almost as much as camp. Camp received a postcard from her once, mailed from Disneyland, the famous “happy place”.  The Magic Kingdom postcard read, “Disneyland is fun. It is okay. I miss you guys. Only problem with Disneyland is nobody knows my name. They just don’t remember you.” Walt Disney is known for saying, “It is kind of exciting doing the impossible”. Disneyland didn’t become the entertainment Kingdom sensation overnight due to a thought that it would be an exciting adventure.  It took years of people believing in the dream, investing time and resources. It began with a drawing of a mouse and a vision to expand the imagination, despite struggles with resources, and personal failures.

​God has much more eternal rewards in mind than the thrill of fast rides and animated pauper to prince stories. He builds His Kingdom, demonstrating His grace, joy and hope. With God all things are possible.

​For more info about volunteering on site, making the impossible happen,
​Contact Steve through email at [email protected]

We always measure a successful camp season in this way:
-No injuries. No illness. No lost camper. No damage to property or equipment.
-100% staff commitment. 100% Health Inspection. 100% Accreditation Standards.
-Prayer covering, volunteer service, funding to cover all expenses, new equipment.
-Smiles. Laughter. Stories. Art. Songs. Dance. Fish. Friends. Connections. Creation.

​This year’s numbers were down from the goal set (to double our numbers even with the lodge not yet completed). Government cutbacks to some of the programs that fund campers to attend were limited in both funds and staffing that managed placement. They just didn’t have the people needed to make connections with everyone that could benefit from camp. God already knew that would happen. At the same time camper recruitment fell short, VISAs were being denied to our foreign exchange program staff. The staff of twelve counselors was cut in half within two weeks of the beginning of camp. Six counselors, a nurse, two medics, and twelve Jesuit volunteers gave campers a fun, safe, and memorable experience keeping the ideal camp ratio of one staff to three campers. There was lots of personal attention available. The new Lodge is one third complete!
Many thanks to the volunteers that put in the fish gates, built the yurts, and answered the call to work in the background when their name was not renowned. Many thanks to the Board of Directors that encouraged and advised and advocated for strength, improvements and provisions. Many thanks to the faithful monthly donors partnering with this ministry to make sure services continue and grow. Many thanks to those who saw material needs and offered solutions in-kind. Thank you, Cabela’s Bass Pro Shop, for giving new bariatric life jackets and archery arm guards. Many thanks to the vendors like Sidekick Promotions discounts so all received a tee shirt, a cooler bag and water bottle.

Prayer and the Fair
Santa is always at the State Fair and is getting ready for the busy season ahead. He reminds everyone that he is a “praying Santa” and shares the real reason for Christmas. An essential tenant of Camp is modeling, offering and receiving prayer. At the State Fair booth, a sign reading “Free Prayer” gets daily attention. Some come with serious needs, deep felt burdens, others stop with wishes for things or events, and others come to pray for camp! There are even times when while praying in public, more come to join in the circle. Your prayer requests are important. Prayer is free and reaps huge rewards. Please keep camp and campers in your prayers and let us know yours so we may lift them together.
 
Finding Joy is in the Giving
It is celebrated that over two thirds of the camp budget is supported by private donations. The rest by camper fees. It is imperative to keep fees low enough that campers can attend without using government support such as Medicare or Brokerage funding.  The camper expectantly investing in their experience pays one third of the cost of providing service.
 
As the World becomes more volatile and uncertainty about tomorrow seeks to rob people of hope and joy, Camp continues to provide a place of community, connections with the Creator through creation, belonging, and a celebration of life.  Joy and hope abound.
 
Many people who are not residents for a camp week still find their inclusion in the camp community to be a vital part of their personal affirmation of purpose and model for living with abundant joy. To learn more about what makes Camp so special, come for a visit, volunteer for a project, or listen to the campers’ stories. There are a lot of ways to give and even more ways to receive.
 
Joyfully giving raises the spirit and refreshes the soul. One should be inspired to support the work that they believe makes a difference. It is a gift to the giver to know temporal resources are being converted into eternal treasures.
 
"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."  2 Corinthians 9:7

The Fish Fry is at Evans Creek Retreat
Saturday, October 25, 11AM-2PM.
Please RSVP to [email protected]

I watched our five-year-old grandson, full of the spirit of life, casting stones in the river. With each stone he would raise both his arms, give a little jump and say, “I hope this one is aerodynamic. Let’s see what it does.” He then tosses his rock into midstream, watching and screeching with delight as the ripples concentrically move. He repeats the ritual at least twenty times, then looks to me, satisfied and says, “Did you see that, grandma? Did you see how aerodynamic that was?”
It is what we hope for in life; to be aerodynamic. Well, at least we hope to have the qualities that allow us to easily fly through life, with minimal friction and create a few ripples of the good and meaningful kind.
When we witness ripples, it confirms our plop in the pond results in something more impactful than a stone simply sinking to the bottom. It is a relief and a joy when our life is “Aerodynamic”!
The quest of our lives is to find the treasure of knowing we have made a difference. We have extended, even by “coincidental” encounters, a unique series of waves that could be not initiated by anyone else. A “coincidence” that could not be orchestrated by anyone else but God. Einstein defined “coincidence” as God’s way of staying anonymous”. There is no such thing as coincidence. God always has the glory.
Our lives were designed to create ripples for a greater good, a greater God. We are, by design, searching to affirm purpose. Today, is when we need to know what we had in front of us to do (and did), continued bubbling out in significance. A reward waiting after this life is too remote; a crown we won’t wear anyway. When we are a memorial, we will not care. A living legacy is to plunk in the water now for God’s glory.
I meditate on how to be the visible manifestation of God’s character; the Living Water, moving, sustaining, creating, embracing.

Dear KFC,

We are excited to announce that today we have received the grant for the Garrett Stewart Memorial Training Center in the amount of $10,000.

In anticipation of the check's arrival, Up Camp has already purchased training mannequins for winter training and new manuals to replace those that burnt up in the fire. Additionally, an expert is coming in two weeks to bring a new computer system that will meet Up Camp's needs for data management and program training/development. This gift will help build future leaders in service to people with special needs.

Your gift is a huge boost to Up Camp's post fire recovery.

THANK YOU!!!

We will be visiting our new friends at the Eugene KFC soon and plan to post the news on our website asap.

Most appreciatively,

Jerry and Laura Pierce

Evans Creek Retreat Up Camp 2023

Thank you!
​The place is looking like a camp again.
We praise the Lord for His goodness in sending you and the
​resources needed to create anew His place of respite.

We are excited that we will be able to hold Easter Services beneath our new Pavilion!

Designed and orchestrated by Craig Eaton, Eaton Construction, and built with the labor of volunteers: Hannah Southard, Steve Bohrer, Jim Harvey, Jeff Castle, Troy Farwell, Pete Russell, Craig Hartman, Mike Hartman, Victor and Jose. Steve and Jeff also created places for quiet repose by the creek, and put in fence posts. Jim H cut some major size downed trees.

The Christ Mission College of San Antonio volunteers Monte, Reva, Natalie, Saulo, Sarah, Jeremy, Ray, Lynette, Yari, Elizer, John, Anna, and Jenifer cleaned all the foundations, filled the metal box, stacked wood, cleared debris and sorted thousands of dollars of lumber donated by Parr Lumber.

Tina Eveleth, camper, Cindy Wilson and Dana Gleanon worked on restoring the trails through the memorial garden. CMC students made memorial stones that will be added to other volunteers’ creations to form a wonderful wall of remembrance.

Also thanks to Liz Donnelly and Tina for supplying plenty of Gatorade, water and lunch supplies.
​Panera Breads supplied pastries and bagels.

Many thanks for log splitting, tractor work and general heavy lifting to Nate, and Forrest.

Architect and former staff, Noel (Sergio) spent four days measuring and drawing sketches that will create the final plans for rebuilding. And special thanks to David Freeman that arranged for volunteers Al Osterhoudt, and John Newberg to complete the survey.

It is a blessing to be surrounded by so many skilled people willing to share
​their time to recreate what the fire turned to ash.

David F. and his wife, Shelly, brought tables, chairs, and tools for the work crew.

James Dezellum, alumni staff, put his chainsaw to work with enthusiasm and
​John and Debbie V. returned to cut up more metal to haul away.

Bruce F. finished the bridge and Steve, Jeff, Troy and Pete put in the railroad ties for the fence line.

Thanks to generous donations we will be able to bring in our mobile kitchen unit and construction will begin on a small cabin that will be used this summer for our infirmary.

It is our gift from God that He would choose to raze all to ashes so
that He can bring glory to Himself through this great community of people.

​So much in one week!
Blessings,
Jerry and Laura