Camp BAM youth bring hope and healing to aging

For many, summer camp memories are made of songs, s'mores, crafts, and carefree afternoons. But for the 25 intergenerational participants of Camp BAM 2025, their most meaningful memories were forged through sweat, service, and shared prayers with aging adults still recovering from disaster.

From June 18–22, campers served in Western North Carolina as part of a disaster recovery mission for seniors impacted by Hurricane Helene. Sponsored by North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry (NCBAM), this fifth annual Camp BAM brought together IMPACT Community Youth—a group comprised of students from churches in Stanley and Rowan Counties alongside leaders Monica Talbert, Jennifer Parker, and Alicia Burrage.

Yes, they played games and laughed late into the evening on the first night. And there was tubing on the final afternoon. But what happened in between was more memorable and far deeper.

Love in action through every task

Throughout the week, campers served at multiple sites—cleaning flood-damaged homes, working at care facilities, and lifting the spirits of older adults still coping with profound loss. Camp BAM Director Austin Decker shared, "It was a blessing to witness the hearts of these campers. They showed up with great attitudes, loved seniors well, and shared the Gospel not just with words, but through their work—even in sweltering heat."

At The Hayesville House, a memory care facility in Clay County, youth received special training before visiting with residents. They played bingo, led a craft activity, trimmed hedges, and pressure-washed sidewalks—but perhaps the most lasting impact came from a simple friendship.

Group leader Alicia Burrage reflected: "Teens are often wrapped up in their own world. But one camper connected with a resident and couldn't wait to see him again. The next day, that resident couldn't communicate well. That moment opened the camper's eyes to what many older adults face."

Campers also volunteered at The Still Place, a retreat for families grieving the loss of a child; Renewed Hope, a men's addiction recovery center; Truett Children's Home; and cleared trails at the Hinton Center, a Christian retreat center.

Jennifer and Brandon Parker have served as leaders since the first Camp BAM in 2021 and consider the camp a highlight of their summer. "It was a great honor that this year's camp was in memory of our son, Christian. Having his name on the shirt and seeing people wearing them made it feel like he was part of the week."

Aubrey's Fourth Year: From tools to transformation

For 16-year-old Aubrey Burrage, this was her fourth summer attending Camp BAM—and her most powerful one yet.

Working alongside the Macon Baptist Association, Aubrey and her team helped restore a home in Franklin that had been devastated by Hurricane Helene. The damage, she said, was still haunting even a year later.

"We cleaned out the garage the first day, then crawled under the house to lay plastic so the next group could install insulation," Aubrey explained. "The creek close to their home hadn't even overflowed—the water just rushed down the mountain and slammed into their home."

There were still refrigerators littering yards across the neighborhood. Inside the house, water lines marked how high the floodwaters had risen. Aubrey and her team scraped sediment off walls, salvaged what they could, and discarded what was beyond saving. But they handled everything with care.

"Some things were easy to toss—like rusty soup cans. But Sandy (NCBAM's senior director) reminded us: 'Be careful—you never know what might be important to her. Maybe something her husband gave her.' That changed how I looked at everything."

"More than learning to use a drill"

What keeps Aubrey coming back year after year isn't the fun or the travel—it's the heart of the mission.

"I have friends who go to the beach, to concerts, or do worship-y stuff," she said. "At Camp BAM, we go to work. We learn how different life can be in other communities and to be grateful for what we have. We learn how to really talk to older adults—to care and listen. It's eye-opening. There's definitely more to it than learning how to use a drill."

Looking ahead to Camp BAM 2026

Reserve your spot for Camp BAM 2026, contact Camp Director Austin Decker at adecker@bchfamily.org. To benefit Camp BAM in perpetuity, designate your gift for the "Live Out Luke" endowment fund at ncbam.org.

Written By Carol Layton, Director of Communications & Administration, NCBAM