Camp Wawona Reopens After Years-Long Hiatus, Welcomes 188 Campers

Divine providence and human effort combine to bring summer camp back to life

WAWONA, Calif. — After years of closure due to COVID-19, fires and facility challenges, Camp Wawona reopened this summer to 188 campers — far exceeding initial expectations of 40 participants.

The camp's comeback began in March when Delinda Hamilton, summer camp director, and Brian Simmons, Camp Wawona director, started their positions with just three months to prepare.

"We relied on God to bring staff to us," Hamilton said. "This conference is all about prayer, and that's what we went to our prayer team with. We missed the typical college recruitment season, so we were in a pinch."

Overcoming Infrastructure Obstacles

The camp faced significant challenges, including a pool losing thousands of gallons daily and kitchen facilities that hadn't operated in years.

"We were losing thousands of gallons of water a day from several leaks," Simmons said. "Previous operators told us maintaining the pool was a full-time nightmare."

Through prayer and what staff describe as divine intervention, solutions emerged. A professional donated thousands of dollars in time and expertise to repair the facility.

The 180,000-gallon pool — reportedly the largest in Mariposa County outside universities — now accommodates 168 swimmers simultaneously and offers 12-foot depth required for lifeguard certification training.

Staffing Solutions

When traditional college recruitment fell through, the prayer team intensified efforts. Staff arrived from Michigan, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Texas and California, including three student missionaries and two international staff from Mexico.

"One staff member found old camp records while cleaning and recognized names of former counselors," Hamilton said. "We called them, and both were available. They became some of our best boys' village staff."

The camp operated with 37 staff members — significantly fewer than comparable facilities that typically employ 100-115 camp staff.

Reduced Costs Increase Access

Administration reduced camp costs from $850 to $400 per week, with March registrations available for $375. The reduction made camp accessible to families who previously were unable to afford the experience.

"We had campers who in the past were not able to attend," Hamilton said. "Churches stepped up to sponsor campers, paying half or full costs. We believe we were the least expensive camp on the entire West Coast."

Safety and Accreditation

Despite the rushed timeline, Camp Wawona achieved American Camp Association accreditation — a voluntary certification covering 266 safety and operational categories. The camp had operated without this accreditation for five or six years.

Pastor Timmy Baze of Chowchilla Church, who had ACA experience, guided the process. County inspections for food service, pool operations, hazmat and organized camp activities all passed in two months — a miracle given the tight timeline.

During kitchen inspection, staff discovered counselor Lexi possessed the exact California food service certification required — credentials she had obtained three years earlier.

"Three years ago, God knew we would need that certification," Hamilton said.

Spiritual Impact

The camp's theme, "Holding on to Hope," addressed challenges young people face today. Three weekly sessions served cub campers, junior campers and combined tween-teen groups.

Camp pastors Andrew Uyeyama, Zac Page and Josh Thompson led weekly spiritual programs. The traditional Book of Life signing ceremony returned, with 150 campers dedicating their lives to Jesus.

One counselor reflected, "At other camps, fun comes first and God second. But at Camp Wawona, it was clear — God was first, and fun was second."

The summer's most memorable moment involved a camper who came full of energy and joy. By week's end, he decided to give his heart to Jesus and be baptized at Wawona.

"But God wasn't finished," Hamilton said. "His faith touched his family. His mother, who once worked at camp, felt God calling her to be baptized alongside her son. And then his grandfather said, 'I want to follow Jesus through baptism too.'"

Three generations were baptized together in one ceremony.

"It is a testimony to how God can use the faith of a child to bring whole families into His kingdom," Hamilton said.

Dedicated Service

Behind every story of joy was sacrifice. With only 37 staff members, each person carried multiple roles, working late and waking early to ensure camp's success.

Longtime camp food service director, Paulette Bair, who initially declined the role, later felt God calling her back. She prepared food from scratch — an uncommon effort in camp ministry. Campers said the meals were among their favorite parts of camp.

Looking Forward

Based on positive feedback, camp leadership expects increased enrollment next summer. Campers described the experience as "the most spiritual camp I have ever been to," "the best week of my life" and "the most peace I have felt."

Plans for next year include adding a family camp, increasing staff numbers and potentially reintroducing the horse program, which costs approximately $30,000 annually due to National Park Service feed requirements and leasing expenses.

"God truly did something special this summer at Camp Wawona," Hamilton said. "We're really grateful that we got to be part of it."

This year's Camp Wawona summer program demonstrated that with faith, prayer and dedicated effort, even challenging circumstances can transform into opportunities for ministry and spiritual growth.

Written by Justin Kim