Caraway Conference Center and Camp
The Caraway Conference Center and Camp (also known as Camp Caraway) is a camp and retreat center owned and operated by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Located seven miles west of Asheboro, NC, Caraway sits on 1,100 acres of the Uwharrie Mountains in the center of North Carolina.[1] Caraway's mission is to provide each guest with comfortable facilities, gracious hospitality, and friendly service in a Christian environment.
| Retreat Center and Camp | |
| Founded | 1963 |
| Headquarters | 4756 Caraway Mtn. Rd. Sophia, NC 27350 |
Key people | Jimmy Huffman, Director |
| Website | www |
History
Through the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and North Carolina Baptist Men, Caraway's original tract of land was purchased in 1961 to host the summer camp program for Royal Ambassadors (RA's). Five additional pieces of land were purchased since then, bringing the property to almost eleven hundred acres in total.[2]
Camp Caraway's first camps were held in 1963 across the road from the current site of the camp. Since the first camp, Caraway has added numerous programs and facilities. Lodges, cabins, lakes, gyms, swimming facilities, trails, and other opportunities help to broaden their ministry of hospitality.
In 1974, the first phases of the conference center were completed for the purposes of providing North Carolina Baptists a site for meeting, conferencing, education, and fellowship.
Both the camp and conference center serve retreat and conferencing groups year-round.
Conference Center
The Caraway Conference Center is a self-contained building consisting of 78 bedrooms (74 with 2 double beds and private bath; 4 single bedrooms with 1 double bed and private bath) amenities provided: linens, hairdryer, iron, ironing board, flashlight, and am/fm clock radios. It also houses 12 conference rooms, a 250-seat capacity auditorium, lobby areas, and dining rooms. The center is suited for groups of 150, however larger groups can be accommodated, and smaller groups of 20 or less are as welcomed as larger groups.[3]
The Conference Center opens its facilities to baptist and non-baptist churches along with other non profit organizations. Its ministry is to host adult conferences, training events, and retreats in a relaxed setting where learning, planning, communication, and relationship building can take place on a natural level.
The Caraway staff also provides free wireless internet and well equipped meeting spaces for each group and full meals along with lodging.
In 2011, the Conference Center had 10,640 guests from 130 different groups.
Camp Caraway
The Camp portion of Caraway surrounds the conference center. The Camp is a site for children, youth, and adult group retreats, school programs, businesses, church camps, picnics, and day trips. Camp Caraway guests are provided accommodations in cabins and meeting areas along with full meals in the dining hall.
Recreational activities at Camp Caraway include:
- Athletic Fields
- Hiking Trails
- Campgrounds
- ZipLines
- Canoeing
- Swimming
- Game Room
- High and Low Ropes Course
- Fishing
- Gymnasium
- Paintball
- The Blob
- Volleyball
In 2011, the youth camp had 8,874 guests with 85 different groups and 13 individuals were baptized in Caraway's back lake throughout the year. The camp is accredited by the American Camp Association.[4]
Programs
Caraway specializes in offering experiential education and adventure recreation to day and overnight groups.
A.C.O.R.N.S.
A.C.O.R.N.S. stand for "Awesome Children's Outdoor Recreation and Nature Study." It is a program designed specifically for students in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. ACORNS blends NC recognized science curriculum with outdoor recreation to give students an exciting and memorable learning experience.[5]
Teachers choose from a class menu, which includes recreation options, to form an outdoor learning experience that is exciting, engaging, and memorable. ACORNS is available most weekdays during the school year to public and private schools and to homeschool cooperatives.
In 2011, 2,800 public school children participated in ACORNS.
Camp Caraway for Boys
Camp Caraway for Boys is a summer camp program sponsored by the North Carolina Baptist Men. This camp program is for all boys, ages 9–17, and includes all the aspects or a traditional summer camp, with an emphasis on the Christian faith, mission's education, and outdoor living skills.
Since 1963, 60,000 boys have been involved in the summer camp. In 2011, the camp for boys had 850 campers..
Christian High Adventure
The Christian High Adventure program is offered to summer campers and co-ed youth groups. This program takes participants high into the mountains of western North Carolina and south-western Virginia for backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, and other activities that challenge individual and group to grow.
"New Beginnings" Capital Campaign
The "New Beginnings" campaign is a 7.5 Million dollar capital campaign to fund a master plan to grow Caraway's facilities and future ministries. The master plan is based on suggestions from staff, guests, and churches over the past 20 years.[6]
The Powell/Warren Mountain House: A Retreat for Ministers
The purpose of the recently finished mountain house is to provide a clean, comfortable respite for ministers of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina to use for prayer, Bible study, sermon preparation, and rest.
The mountain house is a one bedroom, one bath facility that rest high along the side of Long Arm Ridge with distant views of the rolling hills of central North Carolina. While a spouse is welcome to accompany a minister, the house is not designed with families in mind. The house has a small kitchen and a living room along with wireless interned and a Bose Corporation music system.
Ministers are allowed to stay three nights which includes meals at the Conference Center when they are being served. Reservations can be made up to a year in advance and two additional nights can be added for a small cost, for a maximum stay of five nights.
The house is a gift from the NC Baptists from Don and Mary Ann Warren in honor of their parents Bluford and Madie Powell and Curtis and Grace Warren.
Conference Center Expansion
This expansion would include 40 hotel rooms, a 250-seat dining room, and a 300-seat auditorium as well as additional conference space. Also major renovations will occur to the existing facility.
Youth Camp Expansion
This will consist of building a new indoor multi-purpose recreational building, a new 50 bed youth lodge with meeting space, and a new outpost camping area.
Infrastructure Expansion and Renovations to Existing Facilities
This will consist of additional parking and paving, new septic fields and water lines and electrical service. Renovations to the existing auditorium and conference space will be made as well.
Area Attractions around Caraway
- North Carolina Zoo
- Over 100 Area Seagrove, NC Potteries
- N.C. Pottery Center
- 5 Public Golf Courses
- Richard Petty Museum
- Bob Timberlake Gallery
- High Point Furniture Market
References
- Huffman, Jimmy (2012). About Caraway. Cary, NC: NC Baptists. p. 2.
- Huffman, Jimmy. "About Caraway". NC Baptists. Archived from the original on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- Huffman, Jimmy. "Caraway Conference Center". NC Baptists. Archived from the original on 22 June 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- "Camp Caraway". Charlotte Parent. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
- Jackson, Jeremy. "A.C.O.R.N.S." NC Baptists. Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
- "New Beginnings". NC Baptists. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 8 June 2012.