I took a group of dads and granddads with their kids and grandkids to camp out (and grill out!) for one night on the Camp Jubilee property in Beaufort. Even without a single building constructed, it’s a beautiful property and an ideal place for a simple retreat.
I have done these types of campouts before. They present many opportunities to strengthen generational bonds within families and deepen parishioners’ relationships with one another and with God through simply taking time to enjoy him and his creation together. Finding a flexible, budget-friendly location is often the hardest part. Local parks usually have restrictions on group sizes and remain open to the public while you are there. Private property offers more flexibility but is often in a remote location or lacking in necessary facilities, like bathrooms and water.
I found the Jubilee property to be the perfect balance. It’s close enough to town to make it very easy to get groceries and water, and have portable bathroom facilities delivered; the property is big enough to hold any size group; and you have the entire place to yourselves! I asked a small amount from each family to cover costs, and we even had enough leftover to make a small donation to Camp Jubilee.
So with our plan laid out, I invited fathers and grandfathers to pack their tents (or campers!) and bring their kids and grandkids for a one-night campout at the Camp Jubilee property. We began with lunch on Saturday and ended with lunch on Sunday. We had a large, flattop griddle we used to cook dinner, breakfast, and our final lunch. The group was invited to bring something delicious to throw on the grill, and they delivered! Along with some hotdogs and burgers for the kids were some of the biggest steaks I’ve ever cooked! The large griddle made it easy to prepare everything at once, along with some grilled veggies. It also easily handled breakfast, boiling water for coffee and cooking up eggs, pancakes, and bacon for everyone. Our final lunch on Sunday was tacos, with the option of cheese quesadillas for any picky eaters.
When we weren’t feasting, we spent time praying, working, and enjoying the land together. Justin Johnson had some small projects we could work on to improve the property, and after that we had some organized free time. Some went fishing while others hung around the campsite playing card games or yard games, and others ventured down to see the bald eagles flying around their nest. At night after dinner we made s’mores, talked about what we learned about God through his creation and through each other, and then finished with Compline. Sunday morning after breakfast we gathered for church. One of the boys made a processional cross, and our lessons were read by one of the kids and one of the granddads. Instead of the typical prayers of the people, I had families go off together to find a quiet place and pray together. The dads and granddads were encouraged to pray for the things that had happened in the lives of their children and grandchildren for the past year, and for what is to come in the year ahead. The kids were encouraged to offer up their own prayers too. After 30 minutes we gathered back together and prayed for the Jubilee property and all who would come to know of God’s gracious love through the ministry that would take place there. We ended with communion, and then prepped for lunch and our departure.
It’s amazing what happens when kids are allowed freedom to play and explore within defined boundaries. Sticks become magical instruments, trees become bases and hiding places, even bugs become objects of wonder—or disgust! One dad was reflecting on the camp-out afterwards: “I was amazed that my kids never said ‘I’m bored’ the entire time. When we went to Disney I heard them say ‘I’m bored’ all the time! We weren’t on phones, we didn’t need distractions. They were just running around in the woods!”
How to Have a Campout at Camp Jubilee
I’m happy to provide the detailed plans I put together for our trip, and I would encourage you to reach out to Justin Johnson for specific ways you might make use of the property for your church. Here are some helpful tips as you begin to make your plans:
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- Pick the right time! The Jubilee property is a great three-season camping site. Fall and spring are ideal, and though you’ll need to plan for colder temperatures, winter would be a beautiful time to spend a night outdoors. As we move into the summer, the nights will get hotter, bugs more abundant, and the summer storms more frequent. Lightning is not something you want to endure in a tent!
- Make a safety plan. Currently there are no docks on the property, and the land is on a high bluff, so accessing the water for swimming or boating is not possible. For us with some small children in the group, this was perfectly fine! The group was told that for the duration of our time on the property, kids under 18 will not be allowed on, in, or in close proximity to the water without adult supervision. We were prepared with lifejackets, and I asked all adults to help ensure the safety of all, first with the kids or grandkids in their own party and second with the others around them at any given time. Likewise, plans need to be made for adverse weather. We deemed the wind too strong for a campfire (a welcome trade off for perfect temperatures and no bugs!). We also enacted our safety plan when my lightning tracking app alarmed me to a small thunderstorm within 10 miles of us. After about 30 minutes in the cars, we got back in our tents and finished out a good night’s sleep.
- Provide the essentials. For our group our church provided a portable bathroom, water coolers, the griddle and all necessary cooking supplies, food for breakfast and lunch and some sides for dinner. Other than fresh food, most of what we needed I raided from the church kitchen! It may also be possible to coordinate with Justin to provide some of these things for your group.
- Prepare the group for success. I communicated clearly what each family would need to provide for themselves, like sleeping accommodations, clothes and personal items, personal food that their kids would enjoy, as well as their Bibles and recreation equipment for fishing, playing, or lounging. I also made sure there was a designated group leader when we split up for work tasks or recreation tasks, and I had basic radios if we needed to communicate while spread out. Finally, I gave the dads and granddads a heads up Saturday night that the next day they would have time for intentional and personal prayers for each of the kids and grandkids. Words don’t always come easily for many men, so I didn’t want anyone caught off guard!
I hope you can enjoy the blessing this wonderful property already is to our diocese. Throughout the campout I often thought how special it was that I could share this time on this land with my kids, while the grounds remained undisturbed. I dreamed about them coming to drop off their own kids for summer camp, telling them stories of the times they got to roam and romp out here before the camp was built. What a joy it is to share in the blessing not just of God’s promises to come, but in what he has already provided for us.
By the Rev. Corey Prescott, St. John’s Church, Florence.
This article first appeared in the Summer 2025 edition of the Jubilate Deo. View the Jubilate Deo.
