CAPTION: The Devon camp for young people takes place annually at Blackpool Sands, South Devon.
Devon Christian Youth Camp Celebrates 50 Years of Serving Young People
This year Devon Christian Youth Camps (DCYC) has celebrated 50 years of Christian summer camps for children and young people.
Devon Christian Youth Camps is an annual summer camp, which sees children and young people from across Devon coming to enjoy camping with Bible teaching, worship, sports, day trips and fun on the beach.
Hundreds of Children, Young People and Families from across Devon visit the camps each year.
It is a registered charity, which gives young people the opportunity to explore Christian Faith.
Each year DCYC runs five camps over the summer holidays. These include boys and girls groups (both aged 10-14), Junior Mixed (aged 12-15), Senior Mixed (15-17), and Bliss (all-aged, 0-100).
This year Sharon Blyth, Diocesan Children and Families Mission Enabler, visited Devon Christian Youth Camps (DCYC) in Blackpool Sands, South Devon.
Sharon said, “Many campers talk of the generations that have been there, with one man speaking of attending camps for 50 years!”
“Many original campers send their children and grandchildren.”
This year Sharon was serving at the Boys Camp, where the focus was on the book of John. Together the group explored following Jesus and his disciples’ example in and beyond the camp.
Sharon Blyth led crafting sessions to help young people to explore their faith in creative ways
The group also enjoyed fun days out, including Woodlands theme park and Splash down water park. They took part in beach sleeps, and sporting competitions.
Sharon led some crafting sessions, encouraging campers that they can connect with God in many ways, and several enjoyed being able to play, draw and create freely.
The Boys Camp was followed by the Bliss Family Camp, with over 160 children and adults in the field, ranging from 1 years to 70.
At Bliss Camp, Sharon led the children’s work, using Godly Play techniques and creative responses, with children enjoying games and art materials on offer.
Lida, aged 12 who visited the Junior Mixed Camp, said, “DCYC was a lot of fun and brought me closer to Jesus in my faith.”
DCYC is fun for the whole family, with camps for children, young people and their families
Each year, DCYC is led by a large team of dedicated volunteers. This includes leaders, speakers, cooks, equipment team and the night security team.
Some of these volunteers are people who have attended the camps when they were younger.
Tessa said, “I first went to a DCYC camp at the age of 11 in 1971 and enjoyed the sport, singing and the general canvas-camp Christian ethos so much that I went for the next six years as a teenager.
“You make good friends for life and I’m still in contact with a dozen of my old camp-mates.
“Now living in Scotland, I returned as Site Crew for 3yrs in the 2000’s and then I’ve done a week of Night Security yearly since 2018, and I really love being a part of the whole Christian experience, and being part of the DCYC Praise Band (bass guitar) in 2023 was very special.
“Am I going next year ? Too right I am.”
If you would like to find out more about DCYC, there will be a celebration service held at Belmont Church, Exeter, on Saturday 7 September at 6pm. All are welcome to come along and celebrate the summer of DCYC.
DCYC sold out quickly this year. Watch this space on the DCYC website for when bookings open up for 2025.
