Camp gets new life with name change, zip line

Posted Online: May 28, 2010, 12:00 am   

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By Leon Lagerstam, leon@qconline.com

NEW WINDSOR -- A Christian Friendliness camp here has a new name and ''zip'' code. '"We try to add something new for the kids every year,'' said Kevin Perrine, director of the recently renamed Camp YouthHope, formerly known as Camp Summit. Students from youth centers operated by Christian Friendliness, sports teams, church groups and other groups going to the camp will find a new zip line waiting for them, designed to enhance codes of friendship and character development, and be fun. ''This zip line gives us another tool we can use to help kids deal with some issues in a different way,'' Mr. Perrine said. Campers can use it as a team-building exercise and a way to build each other's confidence, he said. Support they'll get from others as they face the zip-line challenge hopefully will show them how friends, family and God can be trusted and relied on when facing other intimidating challenges, Mr. Perrine said. ''It's like standing there facing a choice in life that you're not sure of, but knowing at some point that you have to make a decision to go for it or not,'' he said. ''We hope when kids make that decision to go off that platform of life, that the experience will bring them closer to God, and help them make the right decisions for Christ.'' Mr. Perrine was the first one to try the zip line during a test run earlier this month.''They let me down slowly at first,'' he said. His next 15 trips were far more exhilarating, he said. ''The tether has a spin on it, so when you're about halfway down, it spins you around and gives you a great view of the creek and everything.'' Seven others tried out the new zip line, he said. The first group of campers is expected Monday, June 7. ''This is the 10th official summer for us here, and we decided to change the name to Camp YouthHope to make it more identifiable with our other programs,'' Mr. Perrine said. Other projects include a YouthHope Coffee Shop and YouthHope Car Detailing Center at its 3928 12th Ave., Moline, site. The zip line was Mr. Perrine's idea, and included visiting other camps in the Peoria area for research, he said. Most of the supplies, including the large telephone poles and platform, and the labor were donated, Mr. Perrine said. He estimated donations totaled $6,000 to $8,000 to install everything. Christian Friendliness also recently received a $5,000 gift from Faith Lutheran Church, just up the block from the YouthHope center in Moline. That money will be used for programming for kids from nearby Springbrook Courts and the community.