The Official Blog of RYC
This year online registration for Rustic Youth Camp will open Saturday March 4, 2023 at 10:00 AM sharp. Click here to begin!
The 1st camp session is June 12-16, and the 2nd camp session is June 26-30.
Be sure to let your friends and family know about registration, especially those who may not use social media.
We’re looking forward to another wonderful year!
Mark your calendars! We will be hosting 3 workdays before camp starts this summer.
They will be:
Saturday, March 25
Saturday, April 29
Saturday, May 27
There is a lot of indoor work as well as a great deal of outdoor work. We have desperately needed general cleaning, leaves and limbs removal, fallen trees to be removed, shrubbery trimming, carpet to be torn out and painting after that. There is also carpentry and repair work — see Scott or Stefan about that.
Don’t worry, there is plenty of work for all skill levels and ages!
Please mark your calendars and join us if you can.
If there are other days you would like to work, please contact Vicki Russell or Brock Hester for a list of things to be done.
Due to Jackie’s health and the amount of work it takes to prepare the buildings and grounds, winter camp will be at Fall Creek Falls again this year. Go to vrwc.net to find the registration form.
Because of increasing Covid concerns, winter camp will be held at Fall Creek Falls instead of Rustic Youth Camp again this year.
Due to Covid concerns still existing, I have reserved the Newton lodge for Winter Camp this year at Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee. There is more room for spreading out for sleeping and other activities.
Dates are December 29 – January 1.
A special message from Jackie and Bunny:
“In spite of the pandemic, the enthusiasm is still good — even amazing — toward serving the young people of our day. We cannot find all the words to convey our appreciation for all that has been done in the background and on site in preparation for this year’s camps. Let us say it’s been wonderful, it’s been super, it’s been amazing to see the outpouring of dedicated people to help us get things ready. It’s truly wonderful to be a part of such a great group of people. We look forward to seeing many of you soon as we continue to go forth in service to our God and each other. We are forever grateful and love each and every one of you dearly. May God bless you. Love, the Richardsons.”
Dear friends of Rustic Youth Camp,
If we are going to to pass inspection in order for RYC to operate this year, we need your help! There is much work that must be done immediately. Mr. Jackie has a list from the local health inspector.
We plan to have weekly workshops every Saturday beginning March 20th.
Please contact Vicki Russell by email or text to let her know which day or days you can help.
We will supply the materials and tools, just bring your own food and drinks.
Plans will be finalized within the next couple of weeks as to what our capacity will be and how we will conduct the registration.
Thank you so much for your patience as we navigate through this crazy year!
— The RYC Board
A special message from Jackie:
It grieved me deeply that we were unable to have camp this past summer. They say that we are not out of the woods yet with this pandemic. It is our intention to have camp this summer but we do not know what restrictions or mandates will be placed upon us yet. We will be staying in constant contact with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and the Franklin County Health Department.
For those who say “there’s nothing to it, 95% don’t get very sick,” let me say that I have personally lost a number of good friends, some near kinsmen, and brothers and sisters in Christ. I can assure you that their suffering and the grief on the part of their families was very real. Based on the many reports that the greater part of the population have not yet received their 1st dose of vaccine and with the waiting period for the 2nd dose, that will put us over into April at the earliest before most could be vaccinated and have some immunity. We have been told that the necessity of masking will continue for some time. Whatever anyone’s thoughts may be, as a licensed camp, we must be guided by the mandates of ADPH and the Franklin County Health Department.
We will keep you posted. Our prayers are with you. We love each and everyone of you. We will look forward hopefully to seeing you in the Summer.
Love,
Jackie
Some difficult news from our dear friend and long-time counselor Joycelyn Manning that she’s asked us to share:
You may have already heard, but I wanted to let some of my special friends know, from me, that I’m needing your prayers, please.
I have been diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. This has come as a shock that I’m still trying to grasp.
My surgery is scheduled for Tuesday.
We’re trying to be positive and see the opportunities and blessings we encounter in this adventure.
— Joycelyn
A shirt to commemorate the camp we didn’t have is here. Visit the RYC General Store (generalstore.rusticyouthcamp.org) to find out how to buy one. Any profits from the shirts will help keep RYC running until 2021.
