Summer camp plays an important part in the American summer vacation tradition. Many people have fond memories of roasting marshmallows over campfires, making new friends and being in the great outdoors.
Since 1987, Camp Happy Days has given children in contact with the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) a chance to experience that summertime tradition.
Camp Happy Days began as a way to fulfill the last wishes of Clarence Horn. Horn and his wife, Myrtice, left their estate to The Baptist Foundation of Alabama (TBFA) to establish a camp for abused, abandoned and neglected children, similar to Boys Town.
Funds from their estate, however, were not enough to establish the camp. To carry out Horn’s wishes to help children in need, TBFA formed a partnership with Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega.
U.A. McManus, former president of TBFA, and George Ricker, former executive director of Shocco Springs, came up with the idea to work with DHR to start a Christian camp for children who could not otherwise afford summer camp.
“The camp was started to share biblical teachings of salvation with the underprivileged children,” Ricker said.
During the camp’s first year, 82 children, ages 9 to 12, attended, and 40 of them made professions of faith. This year, 77 campers attended, ranging in age from 9 to 14. Thirty-one made professions of faith, and nine rededicated their lives to Christ.
The theme for this year’s camp was Live, Love and Serve. “We want to teach these children exactly what the theme says: to live for God, love God and to serve others,” said James McLendon, recreation supervisor and director of Camp Happy Days.
Campers learned biblical teachings through worship, Bible studies and missions projects to help homeless children in Venezuela.
Like other summer camps, workers behind the scenes are what make the camp a success enjoyed by campers.
This year, several Shocco employees and summer staff, along with volunteers from South Louisville Baptist Church, Louisville, Miss., worked to make the camp happen.
Becca Edwards, a former camper at Camp Happy Days, is working at Shocco as a member of the summer staff in the laundry department.
Edwards made her profession of faith as a Camp Happy Days camper, so she identified with the children and shared her testimony with them.
She felt God’s call to work with Camp Happy Days when reading James 1:27, which provides the instruction “to look after orphans.” This made it clear to her that God wanted her to reach out to these children in need as she had once been reached.
“This camp gives these children hope and offers them tangible ways to change the outlook on the life they have experienced thus far,” said Wendy Horton, Camp Happy Days administrative assistant.
Camp Happy Days will expand its mission this winter as it offers a Christmas camp.
Children who would not otherwise have a Christmas morning will spend three days and two nights at camp. On their last morning, they will get to wake up and find gifts under the tree.
If you would like to make a donation to assist with the Christmas camp or would like to become involved with Camp Happy Days in any way, please contact McLendon at Shocco Springs at 256-761-1100.
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