by Nancy Wheeler
It’s a tradition that never grows old—because it’s built on mission. For 34 summers, CAMP JOY has brought together the spirited energy of nearly 100 teens and seasoned adults to repair homes, renew hope, and strengthen community ties throughout the tri-state region.
During the week of July 14, six Maryland church teams braved summer storms, heat, and humidity to complete 27 home repair projects—each one an act of service and transformation.
Among the dedicated teams was from Hollywood United Methodist Church (UMC), traveling 126 miles from southern Maryland to Camp Harmison near Berkeley Springs. Their commitment dates back to the late 1990s when former pastor Rev. Sheldon Reese—also one of CAMP JOY’s founders—led them into this mission field. This team has never looked back.
Leader Candy Cain, now in her 14th year of service, has watched nearly 200 of her church’s youth grow through this experience, including her eldest son, now a 24-year-old camp leader.
For Cain, the impact goes beyond the projects. “Teens get so much out of this. The joy of giving back to somebody is huge!” she says. “They’re pulled out of their comfort zones and given what they need—not necessarily what they want.”
Among Hollywood’s standout contributions this year was a 63-foot accessibility ramp constructed in just four days by four teens and two adults for a homeowner in Great Cacapon—an effort as bold as it was compassionate.
Not every project demands such intensity, but each task fosters growth, humility, and connection.
Rev. Becki Wessinger of Hancock UMC, who also serves as the camp’s director, reflects: “More than just repairing homes, this mission provides an immersive transformative service experience for youth and their leaders.”
Led by Hancock UMC, the CAMP JOY ministry thrives due to the support of local churches who prepare and serve home-cooked dinners, nourishing body and spirit at the end of a hard day’s work.
This year’s providers included Mt. Zion UMC, First UMC of Berkeley Springs, Orchard Ridge Church of God, Union Chapel UMC, St. Thomas Episcopal, Warfordsburg Presbyterian, and Trinity-Asbury UMC.
For CAMP JOY, the numbers tell only part of the story. It’s the community shared through struggles and hard work, while building life-long bonds and memories formed in service that continue to define this mission’s heartbeat.
