KINGSPORT — Camp in the Community, a ministry of Holston Conference Camp and Retreat Ministries, is gearing up for another year of providing summer camp experiences to children who come from low-income families. The Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church oversees five official camps: four traditional camps in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, and one nontraditional camp, Camp in the Community. As a week-long day camp for children in poverty, CITC partners with a host church in a low-income area and a sponsor church from the Holston Conference.
Adam Love, pastor at Mafair United Methodist Church, said the idea of CITC started around 2010 when church leaders saw the need to bring camp to children, who otherwise couldn’t afford it. "We saw just how expensive camp was for children, it can get very costly," said Love. "CITC is geared towards children and families who can’t afford traditional camp.
The host church covers all expenses and fees so the families don’t have to.” Mafair United Methodist Church, located at 14099 E. Center St.
, will host CITC from July 29 to Aug. 2. Love said that the camp welcomes all children, regardless of their financial capabilities.
Just like other traditional camps, CITC offers various activities for children throughout the week, including crafts, archery, outdoor games, devotional times and team-building exercises. "The camp also features a science trailer that visits once a week, allowing kids to use a 3D printer, experie.