From the Archives: “The More Things Change…”

This series will cover stories related to celebrating 60 years of camp in 2025. Maredeth “Shazam” Sims is a Lakeview alumni who is helping to collect and share different pieces of camp history for all to enjoy.

Some things never change: the smell of the first warm breeze of spring; the consistently inconsistent Indiana weather; taxes coming due; the stillness of the water on a cool lake morning; and even the way I always seem to forget to start my car on frigid mornings, where I have already noted the thick frost on the windows. While we are creatures that crave new experiences and knowledge, there is something comforting and unifying about a reliable expectation.

While I have worn several different hats at camp during my life, camp has always been a place where I felt at peace and connected. As a camper, I was able to enjoy new things, while still generally knowing what to expect from my week: New friends, stories my parents would hear on repeat for the following month, silliness, fun, and a chance to leave the world behind for a bit to grow my relationship with God in His creation.

“New friends, stories my parents would hear on repeat for the following month, silliness, fun, and a chance to leave the world behind for a bit to grow my relationship with God in His creation.”

When I became a counselor, I was afraid would lose that feeling. That the “magic” of camp would be spoiled for me in some way by being behind the scenes. Instead, I found myself not only experiencing those same feelings I had as a camper, but new rewarding expectations joined them. I was able to support campers and fellow staff members in their faith journeys, standing with them through trials and victories. I became more practiced in spending time alone with God, rather than just in a group. Each of my three years on Summer Staff brought something new, but the same wonderful wave of relief and anticipation still washed over me as I took the turn down the hill into Camp.

Now as part of the Lakeview Alumni family, I’ve been blessed to be able to help out at camp in different capacities, including recently starting to document and archive some of Camp’s history. As I looked through old staff photos, notes, and memory books, it all seemed shockingly familiar. In going through all these documents, memories, and artifacts, I couldn’t shake the old adage from my head: “Some things never change.”

A report on the very first summer of camp. Many things have changed…but many more have remained exactly the same.

While camp itself has changed drastically over the past 60 years, you can still see the freedom found in silliness, campers and staff forging lifelong friendships, and voices raised in worship around a smokey campfire. In the original documents made to pitch the idea of a camp to local churches the guiding principles we would all come to know and love were obvious and present: to create a dedicated space to grow closer to God, both personally and in community with one another, in a place where His fingerprints are most undeniable. These campers, staff, guests and all who have engaged with camp throughout the years have not only found refreshment and recreation in its grounds, but have left stronger and better than when they came, restored from their Sabbath rest.

“In the original documents made to pitch the idea of a camp to local churches the guiding principles we would all come to know and love were obvious and present.”

The devotion to our mission and ministry at the center of camp is exactly why it holds such precious memories for all of us. It will always be a home to all those who seek it, a place to be grounded and remember the enduring love and faithfulness first shown to us by our Father, and a place to pour out that love to all those surrounding us.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. -John 15:5

-Maredeth “Shazam” Sims, 60th Anniversary Committee Member

Add your camp memory to our collection! We’re seeking to collect stories from campers through the years to display at camp this summer. Short or long, deep or silly, we want your memory:

Share Your Memory