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The Tar Hollow Camp of Sidney First United Methodist
Church is God's Camp. The idea was first presented by Him. Each
thought that was incorporated in the camp was His thought. We, who
instituted the camp, simply followed the ideas He presented, and they yielded
the results that have taken place in the lives of those who have experienced
the life of the camp.
Some who have come to the camp have been
skeptical, but before the week was over they had become firm believers.
Something had taken place in their lives.
Those of us who were responsible for putting
God's ideas into the life of the camp simply tried to live the camp
motto: "God first, Others second, Self third;" and it was very
contagious.
The idea grew into realities; each one it
seemed was just supposed to be a part of the camp. The camp personnel,
the teachers, the supervisors, the kitchen staff, the representatives from
other nations and various sections of this nation, all seemed to automatically
catch the idea and spirit of the camp and join in promoting that spirit in
camp, carrying it away with them to share it with others wherever they went.
The first Christian Adventure Camp of Sidney
First United Methodist Church was founded by Dr. Ross Wilhide in 1952, and held
at Camp Evergreen, close to Sidney, August 19 through 23, with approximately
150 campers and faculty. The age was fifth grade through twelfth
grade. Then in 1953 the camp was moved
to Tar Hollow State Park Group Facility and “Tar Hollow Christian Adventure
Camp” has remained there ever since.
Always a part of the camp
has been the practice of signing the camp plaque by all in attendance, The very
meaningful Consecration Service in the open-air Chapel in the woods, the
individual camp book, and a
communion service.
A great many members of the faculty of Ohio
Northern University, including Dr. Oscar Darlingtron, Dean of the Liberal Arts
College, have served as teachers, as well as many of our foreign
representatives that have come to us from the University. The practice of inviting a number of
representatives of foreign nations was also begun that year.
In the summer of 1965, for the 13th
Christian Adventure Camp in our church, Sidney returned to the idea of having
its own camp, inviting in addition to the foreign students, young people from
the Shelby County Children's Home, the Worthington Methodist Children's Home,
several young people from the Ada, Ohio community (some of whom later returned
to camp as counselors), and two young people sent to us by the Shelby County
Juvenile Court. The camp personnel numbered 160.
The founder of the camp, Dr. Wilhide,
conducted and directed the camp from its institution in 1952 until his
retirement in 1966. After that time, the camp was promoted and carried
on, for the most part, by former campers and staff members who had their
training under Dr. Wilhide's leadership.
Several changes have transpired in these recent years, including the
method of voting for Camp Representative, taking the group photo, and many
variations in the scheduling.
In 1977, we celebrated
our 25th Anniversary. In 1981, we took on additional responsibilities by
opening the camp to any eligible youth in the Dayton North District of the
United Methodist Church. Also in 1981, the Tar Hollow Committee funded the
refurbishing of the Green Cathedral, which had fallen in disrepair. In 2002, we
celebrated our 50th Anniversary. In 2017 the tradition of Tar
Hollow, and making Christ known to campers continues as we celebrate our 65th
year!!
But regardless of the changes in staff,
schedules, rules and regulations, we of the Tar Hollow Committee and staff look
forward to future camps, steadfastly believing that there is a . . .
"Sweet, Sweet Spirit in this place, and we know that it's the Spirit of
the Lord!"
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