Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center
Aldersgate News Archive
Aldersgate Chosen to Host Operation Purple for a 3rd Year
Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center Chosen to Host National Military Family Association’s Popular Operation Purple® Summer Camp
The National Military Family Association announced that Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center in Greig, NY, will host a popular Operation Purple® Summer Camp in 2010. This free summer camp program was developed in response to the need for increased support for military children, especially those whose parents are or will be deployed.
Aldersgate will be transformed during the week of August 1-6, 2010 to help kids ages 8 – 17 years old understand that “They, too, serve”. Campers will experience the key elements unique to the Operation Purple® program, and take part in many recreational activities. The campers will have an opportunity to experience an initial check-in line deployment style, team building experiences, eating MRE’s for lunch one day and taking part in a service project.
Registration for Operation Purple® Summer Camp begins March 15, 2010. Applications will only be accepted online. Sign up at http://www.operationpurple.org to receive email notices and camp updates. Each camp is “purple” and open to children of service members of any branch of Service, active duty, National Guard or Reserve, as well as children of members of the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.
Camps are free to all participants thanks to support from the Sierra Club and The Sierra Club Foundation.
About Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center
Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center, operated by the North Central NY Conference of The United Methodist Church, is comprised of over 200 acres just inside the western edge of the Adirondack Park, 50 miles north of Utica, NY, and 12 miles south of Lowville, NY. Within Aldersgate’s mission is a commitment to provide a place for kids to feel safe, accepted and loved.
About the National Military Family Association
Military families serve our country with pride, honor, and quiet dedication. The National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit organization committed to strengthening and protecting the families of the men and women currently serving, retired, wounded or fallen. We provide families of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Commissioned Corps of the USPHS and NOAA with information, work to get them the benefits they deserve, and offer programs that improve their lives. Our 40 years of service and accomplishments have made us a trusted resource for military families and the Nation’s leaders. To learn more, visit www.MilitaryFamily.org.
Questions? Contact David Riddell at 315-364-8756 or e-mail
Posted by Deb Townsend - on February 23rd, 2010 at 11:37am
Register Online for Summer Camp TODAY!
Aldersgate is excited to announce that the 2010 Aldersgate Summer Camp Brochure and Registration is available online beginning TODAY! You can access the brochure by clicking here. Registering online is EASY! Check out all of our new and exciting programs – this summer is going to be the best yet!
CHECK THIS OUT! Our printed version of the Summer Camp brochure is being mailed THIS weekend to campers that have attended our programs for the past two years.
Please share this information with your congregations, Sunday Schools, Youth Groups, and more.
Want to know more info? Call us at 315-348-8833 or e-mail with any questions or for more information.
Posted by Deb Townsend - on January 27th, 2010 at 9:00pm
Sign up for our Winter Events!
Sign up now for Camp Echo which is the most rockin’ New Year’s Eve celebration around! This is your chance to hang out with your camp friends and relax! Camp Echo offers all the great things you love about camp with SNOW! Summer staff returns to be with you at this cool event. Learn to play Jack Frost, rock out to your favorite songs, and see the combined Aldersgate and Casowasco slide show! Hosted this year at Casowasco. To register click here.
Attention Adults!!!! We have something just for YOU! Come enjoy the beautiful, historic Galilee Lodge on Owasco Lake for fireside fun, fellowship, and time of heart-warming worship. Ring in 2010 with joy while surrounded by old and new friends. Sign the kids up for Echo and have a stress-free ending to the holiday season. Relax and allow the beauty of Casowasco in the winter to rekindle your spirit!
Hurry! Space is limited for both of these events! To register click here.
For more information call 315-364-8756 or e-mail us at or . See you soon!
Posted by David Riddell - on October 20th, 2009 at 8:26am
Check Out Our Upcoming Fall Events!
Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center looks forward to hosting YOU at one (or both) of our fall events.
the smell of pine …
the crackle of leaves beneath your feet …
the quiet, crystal waters of a small Adirondack lake ….
Come experience fall at Aldersgate
Aldersgate Family Day
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Join in a day of fun for the entire family!
Activities will begin at 10:00 AM and will wrap up at 5:00 PM.
Hayrides, Pumpkin Carving, Boating, Hikes, Crafts
Lunch will be provided
Registration deadline is September 14th.
Fall Adirondack Getaway
(Adults 18 yrs & up)
September 25 – 27, 2009
A relaxing fall weekend in New York State’s beautiful Adirondack Mountains.
Hallie Bond from the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake will present an interactive talk on “Dog Days in the Adirondacks”
Singing and s’mores around a campfire will close out Friday evening.
There will be an option on Saturday afternoon to participate in boating, a wagon ride, hikes to the wilderness and bog, and crafts
Retreat Guests may also choose to play a round of golf at the Brantingham Golf Club*
*additional cost
Registration deadline is September 18th.
Click here to download a registration form OR call Shelley at 315-364-8756 for information
Posted by Deb Townsend - on August 17th, 2009 at 8:34am
E-camp Services (Photos & E-mails) down this evening
Dear Camper Families,
Access to the eCamp system (where you log into view photos and send e-mails) will be periodically unavailable from 11:00pm EST Wednesday 7/29 to 6:00am EST Thursday 7/30, because of performance on their hardware maintenance. Both eCamp Admin tools and eCamp Parent Site access will be affected during this time.
We will attempt to upload photos for the day prior to the website shutting down, however access will be limited. We ask that you be patient, and we will have everything up and running by morning. We are working with eCamp and their staff in making sure that this is as smooth as possible for all of our camper families.
Blessings,
Casowasco & Aldersgate Staff
Posted by David Riddell - on July 29th, 2009 at 1:56pm
Upcoming Event: Open House - Day at Camp Saturday June 20
Plan to attend our “Day at Camp” Open House this year, a perfect event for the whole family who want to learn about Aldersgate for the first time or you haven’t been there to visit in a while, this is the event for you. The staff lets out all the stops and welcomes all! Come for some swimming, boating, making a craft, tour the facilities or sit down by the quiet waters. Join us from 2 - 7pm or Sunday, June 21. Come for part or all of the time. The event is free! Hungry? Then sign up for our delicious homemade BBQ! Call 315-364-8756 to reserve your tickets (fees do apply for the BBQ).
Posted by David Riddell - on June 2nd, 2009 at 11:11am
Sign up for an Upcoming Event at Aldersgate: Family Life Weekend
Introduce your family to a Christian camping experience the weekend of July 17 – July 19 for Family Life Weekend held at Aldersgate. All ages and all kinds of families enjoy a weekend packed with fun. There are special sessions for adults that include a keynote guest speaker. Classes for children, youth, college ages, and nursery occur during adult sessions. Enjoy swimming, family square dancing, the annual softball game, teen times, and good fellowship with other Christian families. An adult choir and sacred dance make our Sunday worship a special experience. To request a Family Life Weekend Registration Form dowload it here or call (315) 364-8756. We hope to see you there.
+ July 17 – July 19 | All Ages | Adult: (ages 13+) $108; Ages: 4-12 $70; Ages: 3 and under Free; Family Max $375
Posted by David Riddell - on May 1st, 2009 at 12:31pm
Register for Summer Camp before May 1!
Don’t forget to register for summer before May 1st and receive a $30 discount for a full week program! Programs are beginning to fill up so you want to register soon. Tell your friends and neighbors about the fun life changing experience that camp brings! Click here 2009 Summer Camp Programs to find out more about this years awesome programs. Questions? contact us at 315-36-8756 or e-mail us at or . See you at camp soon!
Posted by David Riddell - on April 13th, 2009 at 5:15pm
Join us at Aldersgate for a Lay Speaking Retreat
Do you need to get away from the daily grind?
We have the program for you – take some time to get away, refresh, renew, and learn new skills to put in your Lay Speaking toolbox by visiting Aldersgate this Spring.
Join us for the Annual Northern Flow/Mohawk District Lay Speaking Retreat to be held at Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center Friday, April 24 (3pm) – Sunday, April 26 (2pm).
Come be a part of this refreshing time to hear keynote and workshops by Rev Beth Benham, District Superintendant of the Northern Flow District. Workshops will be on these topics: Storytelling, Radical Hospitality, Personal Reflection, and Authentic Worship.
The rate for the full weekend (including housing, 6 meals, and workshop materials) is $120.
This will be a time to enjoy warm days amid the blossoms of Lily of the Valley, a relaxing hike through the tall pines, quiet time in an Adirondack chair beside the lake, and fireside fellowship with new friends & old.
Attached you will find 2 registration forms. One for you and one to share with a friend/colleague so they can join in the fun and fellowship. Send in your registration soon as spaces are limited.
Make Checks Payable to: Northern Flow District
Please Mail Registration with Payment to: Northern Flow District, PO Box 272, Heuvelton, NY 13654
We hope to see you there.
If you have any questions, please contact Susie at the Northern Flow District Office at (315) 344-6493 or e-mail .
Posted by Betsy Schuessler - on March 18th, 2009 at 7:00pm
Operation Purple Registration Begins Today
Operation Purple Summer Camp registration begins today.
Applications will only be accepted online. To sign up go to http://www.operationpurple.org. To choose Aldersgate as your camp, go to NY and the town of “Greig”. Then follow the instructions given on the page. Each camp is “purple” and open to children of service members of any branch of Service, active duty, National Guard or Reserve, as well as children of members of the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.
Questions? Call David Riddell at 315-364-8756 or e-mail
Posted by David Riddell - on March 16th, 2009 at 12:00am
Aldersgate Chosen to Host NMFA’s Popular Operation Purple Camp for Second Year
The National Military Family Association announced recently that Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center has been chosen to host a popular Operation Purple® Summer Camp in 2009. The Association developed this free summer camp program in response to the need for increased support for military children, especially those whose parents are or will be deployed.
“The goal of Operation Purple® Summer Camp is to let these young heroes know that “Kids Serve Too!” Military children who attend camp will have the opportunity to learn the skills to cope the stress of a deployment and make friends with other kids who are also missing their mom or dad,” said Mary Scott, the Association’s Chairman of the Board. “The National Military Family Association is excited to work with Aldersgate on this very worthwhile program this very worthwhile program.”
“This is a wonderful opportunity for us to say ‘thank you’ to our military families for the sacrifice they are making on behalf of our country,” said Mike Huber, Executive Director of Aldersgate. “The staff of Aldersgate is excited and honored to have been chosen to host this program for a second year.”
Aldersgate will be transformed during the week of August 2 – 7, 2009 to help kids ages
8 – 15 years old understand “They, too, serve”. This year, Aldersgate will have 150 campers.
Registration for Operation Purple® Summer Camp begins March 16, 2009. Applications will only be accepted online. Sign up at Operation Purple to receive email notices and camp updates. Each camp is “purple” and open to children of service members of any branch of Service, active duty, National Guard or Reserve, as well as children of members of the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.
Camps are free to all participants thanks to support from the Sierra Club and The Sierra Club Foundation.
About the National Military Family Association
The National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of military families. Our 40 years of service and accomplishments have made us a trusted resource for families and the Nation’s leaders. As the only non profit organization that represents the families of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Association protects benefits vital to all families, including those of the deployed, wounded, and fallen. For more information, visit NMFA
Questions? Call David Riddell at 315-364-8756 or e-mail
Posted by David Riddell - on February 17th, 2009 at 11:52am
Online Registration Begins
CCRM is excited to announce that the 2009 CCRM Summer Camp Schedule, Brochure and Registration will be available online at http://www.aldersgateny.org and http://www.casowasco.org on Monday, January 12th. Find the link for the 2009 Summer Camp Brochure on either web-site (http://www.casowasco.org and http://www.aldersgateny.org), which will take you to see the program listings and descriptions of what will be offered at Aldersgate and Casowasco this summer. Once the desired program is found, online registration is set up and ready for campers to register for programs. We are excited and ready for campers to register to join us for our 2009 summer camp programming.
Our printed version of the Summer Camp brochure will be in mailboxes in 1-2 weeks.
Please share this information with friends, family, church congregations, Sunday Schools, Youth Groups, and more!
Posted by Betsy Schuessler - on January 12th, 2009 at 5:31pm
Upcoming Winter Events!
Aldersgate and Casowasco finished another amazing summer of ministry with over 1800 young people attending summer camp programs. The CCRM Team is busy working with volunteers, pastors and staff planning an exciting summer for 2009, BUT you don’t have to wait until next summer because we have some great programs coming up this winter. We have programs for youth and adults alike. To find out more about our awesome winter events and to get the most up-to-date information about Summer 2009, click here We hope you’ll join us for a spectacular time. If you have any questions feel free to contact us at ; ; or by calling 315-364-8756.
Posted by David Riddell - on October 2nd, 2008 at 5:35pm
Adirondack Fall Getaway Retreat - Sign Up Now!
Believe it or not, fall is just around the corner; and no spot is more beautiful during this vibrant season of the year than New York State’s Adirondack Mountains. The Camps, Conferences & Retreat Ministries Team is excited to announce our 2008 Fall Adirondack Getaway to be held October 3-5, 2008 at Aldersgate Camp & Retreat Center. We have a full weekend planned and hope you’ll take advantage of this exciting opportunity, and decide to spend some time with us!
Bill Smith, renowned Adirondack storyteller from Colton, NY will be on hand to spin some tales during our Saturday evening campfire time. Diamond Someday, popular Bluegrass band, will engage participants in a rousing performance of bluegrass, gospel and Adirondack tunes. Pearl and Jewell, a pair of Percheron horses, will take us on a leisurely wagon ride. Retreat guests will also have the option to enjoy an excursion on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. A guided nature hike, game and craft time, awesome fellowship and a unique time of worship will round out the weekend.
Checkout the brochure for this weekend and download the registration form.
We expect this weekend to fill up quickly, so plan on registering early! We look forward to spending some time with you.
Posted by Mike Huber - on July 25th, 2008 at 4:00am
Summer Camp Begins!
Summer Camp begins today at Aldersgate and Casowasco. Over 300 campers will begin a fun - filled week experiencing new friends, new activities, and new staff.
If you have a camper attending a program this week you can check out photos, news articles and send emails to your camper by logging onto the websites at Casowasco and Aldersgate.
Please be in prayer for all the campers and summer staff that are involved in making a life changing experience this week. We are blessed for having two of the most beautiful places that God has provided to us on earth. Casowasco and Aldersgate are “places where lives are changed.”
