Asbury Hills Summer Camps

I first went to Asbury Hills about 50 years ago. It was Camp Cleveland at that time. We had lots of fun. I especially loved the hiking and singing. I remember having KP duty. I remember carrying my stuff to my cabin and not realizing I dropped a blanket but about froze that night. (in April) We hiked to a beautiful waterfall and had a bag lunch and hiked back. Not many people back then had the right clothes or shoes for hiking. I didn’t even have a sleeping bag! There were a few cabins and a lodge. We still had fun and fellowship and talked about Jesus. The group I was in was the sub-district of our MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship). This group really kept me grounded during my teenage years. I encouraged my own children to go to Asbury Hills as the name changed to. They had a great time and would cry because they weren’t ready to come home! Then as time flies so fast, a women’s group called Celebration from 2 churches St. Paul UMC and Cambridge UMC in Ninety Six, S.C. has a retreat every year in November up there so I have experienced Asbury Hills in different phases of my life. It is a wonderful place and has made a difference in many lives through the years!

I was amazed when I first went to visit Asbury Hills!. It is less than an hour from Greenville up in the foothills and connects via trails to Caesars Head and Table Rock. It has well marked paths, miles of them, that pass by hidden lakes, waterfalls and a rushing trout stream. It is peaceful, brimming with sounds and sights of nature, and there is no cell phone coverage in most areas unless you hike to the top of a hill. They have a full size pool and are building a new one now to make way for a larger meeting space. They have a really cool worship center that has all glass garage doors for walls looking at 360 degrees of woods. They have zip lines, ropes courses, climbing walls, other climbing things, archery, outdoor games I have never seen, giant swings, a creek you can walk, and outstanding food at the dining hall. I stayed at a lodge with 8 bedrooms and 8 baths with a common area. I had a chocolate on my pillow. While it wasn't luxury, it was clean, and the bed was comfortable. They send 1200 kids through summer camps at half the cost charged by most other camps. College students can get a variety of jobs at $200 a week, weekdays only, as counselors and photographers, or in the dining hall. I plan to take my young granddaughters there for day trips to teach them about nature. It is a great spot for a hike from easy to overnight, or a family reunion with major amenities, or a group retreat. I will be encouraging my grand daughters to attend camp where they can learn three skills, 1) how to make a friend out of a stranger in a week, 2) how to try new stuff without fear, and 3) how to much fun it is to be around Christians in God's creation. Asbury Hills is a hidden gem in the Upstate. Wow.