history : friendship : growth : faith : fellowship : creation

Mike Henson, our Camp Properties Manager, has resigned and is moving to Kansas. Our new properties manager begining May 1 will be Rev. Bruce Rose, member of First Baptist Church of Marengo, IL. Bruce has been active in camping at Blackhawk for many years serving  as a Director, counselor and volunteer.

Our summer camp manager will be Matt DeBall, a student at Judson University. Matt has been Assistent Manager of the Camp for the last two years and has also served as a Counselor and lifeguard. He is well accquinted with the camp and its ministries.

The 2010 year will be the final year for Blackhawk Baptist Camp to be a subsidary of Great Rivers Region. During 2010 the camp will be incorporated as a non-profit and a Camp Board appointed to self direct the camping ministries. We covet your prayers for this transition which will be an exciting time of change and growth. We are eager to see how God will enlarge our territories and give us even more opportunties to help children, youth and adults step closer to Christ.

Please consider putting Blackhawk Baptist Camp in your 2011 budget for an increased amount since we will be a fledgling non-profit learning to fly from the nest on our own. With God's help and the faithfulness of your support we will soar just like the hawks we see around the campground.

Blackhawk Camp's 50th Anniversary was held June 20, 2009. It was a great celebration with over 300 people present. All ages attended from 8 weeks old to 80 years +. Some in attendance remembered the very first Vesper Service on June 21, 1959.

The day began with a variety of musical groups including, the Men's Chorus from Frist Baptist of Marengo, the Worship Team of First Baptist DeKalb, Hymn Sing with Ruth Peterson, Special music by Mardi Huffstutler from Dixon and Tim Peltz from Aurora. The afternoon featured a carnival complete with games from Janet Waychoff, Bev Davis, Jef Morris, and others, crafts with Suzanne and Jeff Smith, a dunk tank with Bob Edwards, a bounce house, the youth band, "One September" and much much more. The evening sevice featured a Reader's Theater of the history of Blackhawk Camp titled, "I Want to Make a Diference" with readers, Dr. Ruth Peterson, Rev.Tim Baltz, Melissa Vivian and Austin Conrod. We honored former camp managers, directors and board members. The day was capped off with a campfire service and the roasting of smores. One note received after the event stated, "It was the best day of my life so far this year!" One of the older ladies commented, "The campfire was the highlight of the day. I could just feel the Holy Spirit. What a moving experience!"

c. 2009, American Baptist Churches, Great Rivers Region