A group of Royal Ambassadors participate in the soapbox derby during Camp-O-Ree at Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center.
LINDEN — In the early 1980s, Brian Holt became a Christian as a boy at Royal Ambassador Camp-O-Ree.
Now, Holt is the RA state coordinator and he brings his son Sam to the same weekend camp that changed his life.
“I love this weekend because it’s an opportunity for me to get closer to God, and there’s no better place to get closer to God than through His nature,” said Sam. “To see kids come to Christ this weekend and getting to have all this fun, it’s just awesome.”
Camp-O-Ree is held the third weekend in October every year at the Linden Valley Conference Center.
Boys in first through 12th grade, their fathers and godly mentors participate in a packed weekend filled with activities in the great outdoors.
“The weather’s always gorgeous,” said Dan Storms from Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett. “We’re in this valley here. You have fog coming over the hill sometimes. It’s just the most beautiful spot I can think of to have RA camp every year.”
From fire building competitions to carpentry lessons to RA Racers, every boy has something to look forward to at Camp-O-Ree.
At the Mission Hall, campers get to meet missionaries face-to-face.
“Mission education is how the next generation of missionaries is on the field, and that’s why Linden Valley is important to us,” said Gaye Coleman, who was a missionary to West Africa with her husband Dave.
“That’s why we come back to share our missions stories with these boys,” he said.
While campers are taught that they can be missionaries wherever they are, some boys at Camp-O-Ree are also called to full-time ministry.
In the 50 years Camp-O-Ree has been in existence, it’s ministered to over 22,000 men and boys.
“Many of the men that we have here today were kids (here) themselves that have now made this part of their ministry and life,” said Mike Freeman, Camp-O-Ree director.
Brian said he’s seen dozens of boys find their calling to be a missionary or pastor or just serve in their local church at Camp-O-Ree.
“This place has played a huge role in that over the years,” he said.
Storms has seen other impacts from the camp.
“I’ve seen boys get saved in that fellowship hall right there. I’ve seen boys get closer to their dads. I’ve seen boys just have a ton of fun out here and connect with each other,” he said.
The Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions makes activities like Camp-O-Ree possible.
“It gives us the opportunity to have facilities like this where we can reach young people for Christ in ways we wouldn’t have otherwise,” said Brian. B&R
