APRIL 2023

As I walked around the Camp this morning, I realized how much "new" is happening right now. We are in the process of installing new shrines for St. Raphael, St. Thekla, and St. Artemius, we are remodeling several buildings and spaces with new materials so they can last for generations to come, all of our cabins and buildings have new names, we have a new season of spring and summer upon us, we are blessed with a new baby at camp (Cade and Maria's baby Nina Lucia), we have new programs coming up, we are in a new Liturgical season of Pascha, and to top it all off, our Archdiocese is blessed to welcome our new Metropolitan SABA (May God grant him many years!). All this "new" brings such a sense of excitement and anticipation!

Yet, during my walk this morning as I embraced all the "new", I also pondered on how much is still the same. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Our programs which are centered on Christ are still the same, our beautiful facility still looks the same, our mission is still the same, and most importantly, our Faith is still the same. While we embrace the "new", whether it be new program ideas, new siding and roofing, or new people, let us remember that Christ is still the same. We celebrate the same Resurrection of Christ as we did last year and the year before...the same Resurrection that the Myrrh Bearing Women themselves witnessed over 2,000 years ago!

As Christians we are called to continually renew ourselves in Jesus Christ through prayer, receiving the Eucharist, confession, the liturgical services, and all the sacraments. Yet we are called to participate in Him every day, with every moment of our lives. We are called to renew ourselves again and again, in a seemingly paradoxical way. Every breath we breathe is an opportunity to be renewed. As we rejoice in the Resurrection, let us embrace the new and rejoice in what is constant: Jesus Christ.

We are so excited to welcome you all home this year. And though you will see many new things, remember that the essence of the Village - a community centered on Jesus Christ - remains the same...yesterday, today, and forever!

-Father Chris Shadid

Adult Camp is a wonderful opportunity for newcomers to camp who have never had the chance to experience it as a youngster, or for those of us who have grown up at camp to come back and experience it again.

Winter Camp speaker Karen Hanna will be returning to The Village to speak to us about "Overcoming Struggles Through Faith."

It's never too late to become a Villager! Join us this September 15-18! Registration is open to anyone from the ages of ages 21to infinity, starting this Bright Wednesday @ 9am EST April 19th.

Register by May 31st for an early bird discount!

The first ever AV Golf Open has a full course! While registration is closed to play, we encourage those still interested in this program to consider being a sponsor, and to keep an eye out next year for a larger tournament that can accommodate the abundance of interest you've all shown in this event.

Work is continuing on facility improvements throughout the Antiochian Village! The health center has gained a new, sturdier roof, some of our aging icon shrines that are falling apart more than the others are being upgraded, and the St. Ignatius Chapel basement is being fully renovated.

That's not to mention the finished pavilion and the upgrades to the old infirmary.

Check back with us next time to see some of the finished products!

Hi AV! Nurse Deena (or Aunt Dee) here! So looking forward to being back at camp for the entire summer! It’s been 20 years since my husband Dean & I were on staff and now we are coming with our mini crew – Simeon (11), Adrian (9), Ephrem (8), Photini (4), and Maggie (our 3 year old lab mix). We’ll be so excited to meet & greet you all throughout the summer!

I graduated from JMU (Go Dukes!) with a nursing degree in 2006 and have worked in a variety of health care settings, NICU, women’s health, PACU, college health, and most recently as a substitute nurse at my boys’ school. I love to run, swim, bake, eat!, bike, sing in church, and be my kids’ mom. We live in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and attend St Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church. We can’t wait to see you all this summer! It will be my joy this summer to have your campers in our care.

We only have a couple of spots open now in our Summer Camp Sessions, but we still have room in Chanting Camp and Arch Week! Make sure to nab a spot in one of our open programs now and finalize your Summer plans!

If you’re a graduating high school senior, Arch Week is just for you! Arch Week is a one-week program that seeks to provide resources for graduating high school seniors who are preparing to face spiritual, mental, and vocational growth. Arch Week helps students “bridge the gap” between life after high school and their beginning of young adulthood by helping “Archers” grow in their faith together through worship, fellowship, service, reflection, and education. All this takes place within the fun environment of camp, with classic camp activities like evening program, sports events, and cabin times.

The program is guided by clergy who lead the various church services throughout the week, teach lessons, and promote discussion. Arch Week also provides guest speakers who offer help with topics like mental health, serving Christ in the secular world, and transitioning to new environments. In terms of hands-on experience, Archers will get the chance to go off-camp to explore Pittsburgh and work with Neighborhood Resilience Project and Orthodox Volunteer Corps as their capstone. And, of course, it wouldn’t be camp without a fun group of counselors who take a week out of their Summer to help prepare this engaging and fulfilling program.

Arch Week has 11 spots left, so register now! All 2023 High School Graduates are welcome

to join us July 2^nd-9^th, 2023, at the Antiochian Village Camp. If you have questions, learn more at the lick below, or contact us by phone or email at office@avcamp.org, (724) 238-9565

Volunteer Staff applications are still open for this Summer. If you're interested in spending a week or two at The Village, contact volunteer@avcamp.org.

We're currently searching for Nurses who are available to help Nurse Deena take care of our campers and staff for some or all of the Summer. If you're a medical professional seeking to perform this essential and ever under-appreciated ministry (because no matter our appreciation we will never truly be able to thank you for all our nurses have done), please get in touch with Fr. Chris at frchris@avcamp.org.

We just want to remind everyone that all deadlines this year (medical forms, payment, etc.) are the end of April! Please make sure to abide by the April 30th deadline to make preparation for Summer Camp smoother, and also to make sure to get back the medical fee.

We are still looking for interns for all or part of the 2023-2024 year. If you or someone you know has ever wanted to spend a year at camp, spread the word that we're looking for someone interested in any of the following:

• Program Intern
• Development Intern
• Operations Intern
• Communications Intern
• Professional Best Friend to Belle and Louie... but really that's everyone's responsibility
• Your big idea! Maybe there's a position here for you that we don't know needs to be filled yet!

Family Camp

May 27-May 29, 2023

Guest Speaker: Fr. James and Kh. Gigi Shadid

Registration Full - Waitlist Spots Available

Summer Camp

June 18-August 11, 2023

Registration Now Open! CAMP IS ALMOST FULL!

Adult Camp

September 15-18, 2023

Guest Speaker: Karen Hanna

Registration Opens April 19th, 9am EST