Summers at BCC

The scent of pine trees and the hum of cicadas take me back to the sweltering summer days I spent at Backwoods Christian Camp in Lineville, Alabama. It’s been more than a decade since my last week there, but the memories remain vivid. There was a time when air conditioning was a luxury we couldn’t afford, and our days were spent with red dirt clinging to our skin and mosquito bites dotting our arms and legs. Yet, those were some of the best days of my life. 

Back then, BCC was a place where the simple joys of childhood thrived. We woke up with the sun to the loud clang of the camp bell, our sleep-filled eyes slowly adjusting to the early morning light. The smell of breakfast – usually something hearty like grits or biscuits and gravy – would beckon us to the dining hall. After our meal, we attended Bible and singing class. There was swimming in the lake, games and the water slide that inevitably left us dirty and exhausted. 

Evenings were magical at BCC. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the camp would come alive with the sounds of laughter and songs. We gathered around campfires, where stories were shared, and marshmallows were roasted to a perfect golden brown. We worshipped together, had fun at skit night, told ghost stories and held hands on the hayride.  

Now, a decade later, I watch with a sense of nostalgia and joy as my niece Winnie gets to experience the magic of Backwoods Christian Camp. The camp has undoubtedly changed with the times – air conditioning now offers a reprieve from the intense Alabama heat, and technology has brought new ways to connect and learn. Yet, the core of BCC remains untouched. 

 Winnie is living her best life at BCC this summer, and through pictures her mom sends, I get to relive a piece of my own childhood. 

There’s something timeless about Backwoods Christian Camp. It’s a place where children can unplug from the digital world and reconnect with nature, with each other, and with themselves. It’s a place where the beauty of simplicity is celebrated, and where the bonds of friendship and faith are strengthened.  

As Winnie enjoys her summer at BCC, I’m reminded of the enduring legacy of this special place. It’s a legacy built on red dirt and mosquito bites, on laughter and song, on the shared experience of growing up in the backwoods of Alabama. And it’s a legacy that continues to shape young lives, just as it did mine all those years ago. 

So, here’s to Backwoods Christian Camp – a place where memories are made, where childhood thrives and where every summer is a reminder of the simple joys of life.

May it continue to be a haven for generations to come, and may Winnie, and all the campers who follow, carry forward the spirit of BCC in their hearts.