Join us at Chanco on the James May 4-6, 2018 and celebrate with us Chanco’s half century birthday! This golden anniversary of Chanco’s ministry will celebrate 50 years of camp programs and many years of Cursillo, EYC, Happening, and retreats. A committee has been working for almost a year to plan the BEST anniversary celebration possible! Reunite with old friends & make new ones, experience archery, ropes, water activities, hayrides, campfires, live music, a pool side luau and more.
A half century of ministry holds many things that have changed and many that remain timeless. At the beginning when Chanco was at its old site, Camp Chanco was platform tent camping (does anyone remember when it would rain at camp and your stuff was wet for the rest of the week?); only fall and spring EYC retreats could happen due to no year-round lodging; and out trips were a favorite program of Camp Chanco. Those things have changed. But, the Chanco song is still sung every night as campers and staff circle up after evening program, the 
Lord’s Prayer at nightly chalet meetings finishes with the loudest, ascending in volume AMEN that you can year throughout the camp in bursts; Big Day still occurs; and campers sing outside the dining hall before meals. Timeless. Other changes include many new retreat programs over the last 28 years at our “new” location now that we have a year-round retreat lodging space. We host groups of all types and sizes from throughout our area. Our most regular guests include the Episcopal Youth Community, Cursillo, Clergy Conference, Deacon School, Fresh Start, Happening, and vestry & parish retreats from our many diocesan parishes. We are blessed by every single guest from the youngest to the oldest that graces our grounds. And we look forward to celebrating them all at this special anniversary event.
The 50th Anniversary sold out for overnight space in our chalets and retreat lodges within two weeks of going live with registration! However, there is overflow space at the retreat center next door to us, Eastover Plantation. Those reservations can be made by calling the Eastover staff at 757-294-3636. If you stay at Eastover, you will still need to register with us for the weekend events but not for lodging. Choose $75 option for food for the weekend. Tent camping space is also still available at Chanco.
This spectacular celebratory event is open to participants of all ages and from all ministries and programs of Chanco’s history. Youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Come all weekend long or come just for the Sunday celebration (May 6th) – the choice is yours! The Sunday event will be our pinnacle moment of the weekend including a celebration ceremony, Eucharist and BBQ on the bluff. We are encouraging those that cannot make the entire weekend to please join us for the Sunday day event beginning at 11 am Sunday. To register for the day event celebration on Sunday only, the cost is just $10 per person.
for a tentative schedule for the weekend. Click here for a digital invitation to share with friends. Click here to register now for either the weekend OR the day event! Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or 888-7-CHANCO (888-724-2626). We can’t wait to see you back in Chanco’s magical forest where “friends are friends forever”.
