We had a very special group here last summer from Hope House in Washington, DC. We have been telling everyone about this group ever since. We call it our “surprise” camp. An hour after we heard about them and their dilema, they were here, settling into camp. They had a reservation with another camp but they were stood up. There was no room in the inn. They stopped at another camp on the same road looking for a place for 25. That camp was also full but they knew about us and called to see if we had any availability. Originally we were also booked that week but that church changed their reservation to a later week in August. Each of the 15 children have fathers in the federal prison in nearby Cumberland, MD. This was a father-child camp held during the day at the prison. They did crafts, skits, songs and ate lunch together. Then after swimming at Rocky Gap, they came back to CV for dinner, star gazing, more crafts and camp fires. These were extremely well behaved and respectful children, whom we loved and enjoyed being with. The children’s ages were 9-14. One girl who was 10 had met her father for the first time last summer at camp. Carolyn and I were impressed with the quality of the staff that came with the group and their level of commitment to be a part of these children’s lives and to bring them to spend time with their dads. It was our joy to provide not only a place for them but our warm hospitality. Hope House will be back next year for two weeks of camp when we will also be cooking some of their meals so that their staff can focus even more on the children.