Camp Galilee, a camp in Preston County, West Virginia, resembles a Habitat for Humanity-type construction atmosphere and fellowship.
Camp Galilee usually occurs around the last week of June, and the money spent on this trip is put into the supplies needed for the campsite so that the family in need does not have to spend a single penny.
Architecture Teacher Lisa Collins is the sponsor of this trip. Going into this camp, people should be open-minded to the experience; it will be life-changing. During the day, the students worked on their assigned worksites, and in the evening, they enjoyed food and fellowship.
These campsites involve working for families who have no running water and tarps for roofs, and they need something done to their homes so they can live safely in their homes.
Students and adults learn how to run power tools or connect a deck or ramp at the campsites.
This year was dedicated to Anna Deaver, a recent 2023 JC graduate who continues to recover from a tragic car accident last March.
Anna had attended the camp last year and had written, “This has been one of the best weeks of my life.” She had planned to return to camp this year. Anna’s unique cross was integrated into the designs of camp t-shirts, mugs, and programs. She was a large part of the prayer services as well.
Mrs. Collins said, “I have many favorite memories, but they all focus on making a difference, whether for a student or a homeowner. One of my favorite experiences was working for an elderly couple to reconstruct a worn deck and build a set of stairs to replace a pile of concrete blocks they had built to get into their home. At the end of the week, this poor little older man was so emotionally overcome that he could barely speak through his tears. Holding our hands, he finally managed to say, ‘I didn’t know there were people in this world who would reach out and help a stranger just out of the kindness of their heart.’”
She continuously comes back because it is her way to give back and share the gifts and talents God has graciously given her. Next summer, Mrs. Collins would love to see more students attend.
The numbers have been down since COVID. This year, JC had the largest group of students at the camp.
It was a dynamic combination of students and alumni. Mrs. Collins is hopeful that with their help and the addition of faculty members such as Ms. Shannon Olsen and Ms. Katie Smith, they will have an even larger group this upcoming year.
This trip has been a constant in Mrs. Collins’ life for the past decade, and she looks forward to it every year. She has taken her children and many students over the years, and its impact on them is profound. What is interesting is the unique impact it has on each person who attends – and for her, it changes every time.
It is her way to become immersed in a completely different world, which helps her to reset and focus on what is essential in life.
Junior Claire Colon participated in this trip. She believes that this experience did have a positive effect on her. She learned a lot of things, not only about architecture and building stuff in general, but also about how fortunate she is to have and do everything.
Her favorite memory from the trip was laughing and singing songs in the car with fellow site members and then eating dinner with everyone at the end of the day.
“I learned how important it is, to many of the people in the town, that we go out and help them and their families. Although it may seem like a hassle to some to go and build something for another group of people, it impacts both the families and your lives for the better.”
Claire added, “You should have an open mindset when going through it. Even though you may be doing it for service hours, take time to step away from that and focus on your work and how grateful people are to have you making these life-changing improvements for them.”
Senior Zachary Thames believes this camp positively affected him as he got to try something out of his comfort zone and properly enjoyed interacting with the family his group was siding for.
Zachary said, “Be ready to learn and be thrown a few curveballs. Nothing will be perfect, but that is the beauty of the whole situation because, regardless of the problem, we as a group will be working to help a person or family in need.”
His favorite memory was running away from a skunk because he had never seen one in person before and ran in pure terror.
Zachary would go back as it was something we could do to positively affect the Preston County community.