We are just weeks away from the start of the 2024 St. Sava Shadeland Camp season, and looking forward to seeing you all soon! 

Each summer, our children, volunteers, clergy, and camp staff gather to form friendships, participate in recreational activities, worship, and learn more about the Orthodox Christian life. Morning lessons often include religion, arts & crafts, and music & dance. Afternoons and evenings are filled with plenty of outdoor experiences, from swimming, boating & fishing, sports activities, and nightly themed-activities designed to foster community engagement. In addition to our clergy spending the week with each group, His Grace Bishop Irinej will also visit each week and talk with the campers. 

The St. Sava Camp – Shadeland is in Springboro, PA, a small community located 35 miles from Erie. Over the years, our camp staff and volunteers have built strong relationships with local business and community members that provide the resources needed to run successful and enjoyable summer camp seasons. 

This year, we are adding a philanthropic component to our programming that weaves our daily activities with acts of services to give back to this community. 

The Upper Room of Erie is a faith-based ministry which provides a safe and welcoming place for Erie’s poor and homeless year-round. Their mission is to provide hope, restore dignity, and give resources to help folks get back on their feet by offering a warm, comfortable safe space to spend time; restroom facilities, telephone privileges, daily newspapers, limited computer use, and an address for receiving essential correspondence. They also service daily hot coffee, occasional donated snacks, and regular Sunday meals. 

One of the arts & crafts activities this year will be blanket making. Each camper will have the opportunity to create a tie-blanket that will be donated to the Upper Room, who then distribute blankets free of charge to those people and agencies in need. 

In addition, each week the campers and volunteer staff can choose to participate in making and assembling (50) brown-bag lunches, to be delivered to the Upper Room and distributed to those as needed. 

Charity, the spirit of giving, is a foundational component to living an Orthodox Christian life. 

Saint John Chrysostom emphasized “A faithful person must do everything with an eye to the public benefit of all… I do not believe in the salvation of anyone who does not try to save others.”

St. Gregory the Theologian wrote how “everyone has the same Maker, the same law, and the same judgment” and thus, we need to help our brothers and sisters.“Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God if we have given what we could… Seek to distinguish yourself from others only in your generosity. Be like gods to the poor, imitating God’s mercy. Humanity has nothing so much in common with God as the ability to do good.” 

Our hope is to spark conversation, enlightenment, and a renewed effort for all participants in caring for one another while here at camp and when we return home. 

We will gladly accept the following donations to also submit to the Upper Room with our weekly deliveries. You can drop off in the A-building when completing your child’s registration on Sundays of each week. 

Small, unopened personal hygiene products 

Examples: Ibuprofen, Toothbrush & Toothpaste, Powdered laundry detergent, Feminine hygiene products, Lotion, Razors, Bar Soap or Body wash, Deodorant 

We will not be accepting any clothing donations at this time.