Celebrating 60 Years of Camping Ministry!!

The camping ministry of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church has a long tradition of Christ centered camping experiences that transform the lives of young people. This ministry has centered around the Warren W. Willis Camp facilities in Fruitland Park.

Through the vision and dreams of Warren W. Willis, R. Ira Barnett, and many other lay people, money was raised throughout Florida to begin construction of the camp in the mid 1940’s. Young people were encouraged to contribute as well, and helped purchase the path of silence, the craft store, the chapel organ, and the illuminated cross on the lake. In 1948, the first summer camp session was held. Since that time the numbers of campers and the number of buildings have increased. Last summer approximately 3,600 youth participated in the summer camp ministry. The ministry has experienced much growth and change over the years, but many traditions remain the same. Now the Warren W. Willis Camp is used year round for many kinds of groups and individuals to come and experience a time or rest and rejuvination on these Holy grounds.

The camp is a special place for thousands of Florida United Methodists. Dr. R. Ira Barnett once wrote, “Every acre of this camp is sacred ground. Here, young people by the hundreds come and meet Christ and accept Him as Savior and Lord of their lives. Through many generations, we trust, these beautiful and substantial buildings and these lovely grounds on the shores of this glorious lake will be saying to all who pass this way that Florida Methodists believe that the gospel of Christ is exactly suited to mingle with the warm rush of youth’s healthy blood and to keep time with youth’s bounding heart.”

(The above information adapted from Florida Flame: A History of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. Temple, Robert M. Jr., copyright 1987 by the Commission on Archives and History, Florida Conference, United Methodist Church).