Boys & Girls Camp: Generations of Faith, Fun, and Lifelong Memories
By Sharon Mager
JARRETTSVILLE, Md. — Summer camps create lifelong memories for many children, and Camp Wo-Me-To, owned by the Maryland/Delaware Women’s Missionary Union, has been providing those memories for generations. But the camp offers more than just memories—it has inspired a lifelong commitment to missions, both near and far.
Bible Translator Morgan Davis served as a missionary for the Girls Camp at Camp Wo-Me-To. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
Camp Wo-Me-To, in Jarrettsville, has the nostalgic feel of an old-time retreat, with rustic cabins, lodges, and tent sites. Campers enjoy swimming, fishing, canoeing, hiking, campfires, and a host of other activities. Each summer, WMU offers camps for mothers and daughters for girls in grades one through three, as well as boys and girls camps with an emphasis on missions.
Girls Camp
Camp Director Spring Lee, wife of John Lee, pastor of Mars Hill Baptist Church in Essex, reflected, “Everyone involved was blessed this year to be at camp. We grew together as sisters in Christ and worked to relay this to the girls.”
Girls head to the historic chapel at Camp Wo-Me-To. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
Morgan Davis served as the camp missionary. A Bible translator who works with different people groups, Davis helps indigenous communities learn how to translate Scripture. Girls were captivated as she shared about her ministry. Meeting in the historic chapel at the camp—a small white church on a hill, Davis shared about her ministry. She brought items to show the girls, including money from different countries, a globe, pictures, and a translated Bible in Telugu (a language spoken in India). Davis answered questions about the currency she passed around, how many Bibles she has, and how many languages she speaks. She also explained her travels throughout Africa and Southwest Asia and how she provides tools to indigenous people groups to translate the Bible into their languages. “The people who are still waiting want the Bible in what we call their ‘mother tongue.’ It was the tongue—the language—that their mom spoke to them when they were in the womb,” Davis said. “All of us in Bible translation are working towards one famous day that is coming … when people of all languages all over the world, will be standing before the throne of God singing the praises of our Lord and Savior. And so, we can’t get to Revelation 7:9-12 until people have access to Jesus in His word, through their heart language.” She also encouraged the girls to be “local missionaries,” in line with the camp’s theme, Live Out Loud.
Girls enjoy a joke shared by Morgan Davis during a chapel service. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
Along with swimming, bonfires, and creek walking, the girls celebrated the 200th birthday of the Cooperative Program (CP). They watched a video explaining the CP and why giving is important so missionaries can share Jesus with others. Afterwards, the girls enjoyed decorating and eating cupcakes, singing “Happy Birthday,” and playing games.
Lee said the gospel was presented every evening. On Friday night, the question was ‘what do you need to take off’ and ‘what you need to put on’ to start or strengthen your relationship with Jesus. On Saturday, the lesson was about the woman who was bleeding for 12 years, and all she needed to do was reach out to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment to be healed. The question was ‘What are you not trusting Jesus to heal in you.’ Girls shared an assortment of answers such as taking off — gossiping, lying, bad attitudes, and insecurity, and putting on — Bible reading, prayer, and telling people about God.” Lee said there were many gospel conversations between counselors and campers in the evenings.
Boys made bird houses, and learned to use power tools, at Boys Camp at Camp Wo-Me-To.
Several women shared how they attended camp as children and later brought their daughters. Chaperone Michelle Bell, wife of Andrew Bell, the pastor of Hampstead Baptist Church, fondly reminisced about her days as a camper. “The camp was a big part of making my spiritual walk my own, and not my parents’. We were told to go and spend time alone with God, and that wasn’t something I had practiced prior to camp,” said Michelle.
Boys Camp
Boys Camp Director Tim Arnette, a member of Riva Trace Baptist Church, Davidsonville, summed up the weekend saying, “God was all over Boys Camp.” He reported, “Fifteen boys accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.” Each new believer received a New Christian Handbook at checkout and was referred to their churches for follow-up and discipleship
Tim Arnette, boys camp director, gives instructions before dinner. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
The camp was filled to capacity this year, with activities from sunup to sundown, including archery, swimming, woodworking, Bible study, campfires, hiking, and missions projects around the grounds.
The boys’ camp boasts a remarkable generational legacy. One family, the Graftons, attended with three generations: Norman Grafton, a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church, Bel Air, attended as a child (as did his parents, Doris and Jack Grafton); Norman’s son, Webster; and Webster’s sons, Thomas, 10, and Adam, 8.
Norman said, “We’re very blessed to pass this down through the generations, and for us to be able to enjoy the time together and get to know Jesus more and more.”
Ellicott City, Member Bill Sanders attended with his adult son, John, also a counselor, who was a camper over three decades ago. Bill led Bible study under the trees. He guided the boys in praying the Lord’s Prayer: “We acknowledge who God is, that He is holy. Even His name is Holy,” he told the boys. Bill shared lessons from King David, including the temptations David faced, and explained that we, too, face temptation in our lives. The boys followed along in their Bibles.
Norman Grafton (right), a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church, Bel Air, attended as a child (as did his parents, Doris and Jack Grafton); with Norman’s son, Webster; and Webster’s sons, Thomas, 10, and Adam, 8. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
As boys age out of being campers, they transition into junior counselor roles, helping provide transportation with golf carts, overseeing crafts, and guiding activities. Arnette noted that young counselors develop important Christian leadership skills. Boys‘ highlights varied among campers—some loved swimming, others the campfire, hiking, making birdhouses, and eating.
For more information about the Women’s Missionary Union or missions education for your church, please contact Melody Knox, BCM/D Women on Mission Executive Director and women’s ministry consultant, at [email protected]. For information about Camp Wo-Mo-To, visit their website. In addition to the camps, the camp is available for retreats, meetings, and other events.
Feature photo: Bill Sanders shares the story of King David with campers. (Photo by Sharon Mager)
Sharon Mager serves as BCM/D News Editor and Communications Specialist
Summer Intern Alethia Brown contributed to this story.