What does RLUCC mean to you?

"I had many of my favourite childhood memories at RLUCC as a camper, then as a counsellor, and then as staff. Being a counsellor in particular, as a teenager, I had the opportunity to grow and make friends and develop in ways I don't know that I could have otherwise. I learned how to deal with difficult people, and how to conjure energy wherever and whenever it was required of me. I learned that at times the leader's enthusiasm is the only thing needed to engage a group. I developed the ability to jump into action. And as a staff, I honed that. The things that made me a good counsellor and staff member are the things I like most about myself. I got to discover that at the same time as I helped hundreds of kids from across the province make their own lifelong memories, friends and experiences. And that's pretty freakin' cool."

"RLUCC is my favourite place in the whole world! I've made so many friendships that have lasted so many years. Some of my best friends were made at camp. Being a counsellor is one of the main things that made me realize that I want to work with kids. I developed crazy amounts of leadership skills. I learned just how demanding kids can be, but how rewarding it is to see how much fun they have. Camp is the best thing that's ever happened to me!"

"I never actually went to Rock Lake, but because of Rock Lake, and my sister, I went to my first youth retreat. From there, I became a leader at events, became more active in Presbytery and Conference, and as of May 31, 2015, became Conference President. So even though I didn't go there, it had a pretty major impact in my life."

"Well I may not have gone to Rock Lake for as long as most people did but I definitely realized going to Rock Lake you not only gain friends but most of those friends somehow become your family. Camp is home away from home!"

"Some of my best memories are from rock lake. I went to camp for eight years and counseled for two after that. I made tons of amazing friends over the years; really great people and everyone there always felt like a second family to me. Nothing in life will ever replace the incredible memories and friendships I made at RLUCC."

"Rock Lake is my favourite place on earth. I met all of my best friends there, my wife, and learned many lessons as well. I began to question a call to ministry there, and got married there as well. Most of the growing up I needed to do in my early adult life, I did at RLUCC."

" RLUCC was a place where I felt that I could be different and not have to worry about what people think. I especially enjoyed it as a counsellor as you had longer to get to know people and become better friends. It taught me so much about how to deal with all different kinds of people and personalities, and it taught me the things that truly matter in life. You can only understand what camp is like if you have gone, which is why it was so awesome to come back every year! I will never forget my RLUCC memories"

" RLUCC has helped mould my children to be the beautiful adults they have become."

"Rock Lake is the place that I come to every summer, to get away from the stress and problems back home, to have a worry free week filled with nothing but fun and the presence of amazing people. The friendships you make at camp last a lifetime, everyone there is one huge family. There's nothing I'd rather spend my summer doing than go to Rock Lake!"

"Rock Lake is the first place I understood that there was a group of people who might think that I was interesting for actually just liking the things I liked, and doing the things that I wanted to do. I got to be cool for being me at camp. Which gave me the guts to sing and play guitar in front of an audience for the first time in my life at camp, which is a pretty big part of my life now. Rock Lake isn't the reason I am who I am now, but it was the place where I was able to learn that being that person is totally okay. That's pretty formative."

"I have spent some time since trying to figure out how to put in to words what RLUCC means to me. I went to Rock Lake from the age of 3 to the age of 16, mainly as a camper (I spent only one year counselling). Rock Lake is where I had friends, where I could be myself, and where loving books and music and sports and art could all come together and be cool. For a kid like me, that was huge. I remember being so excited that I would be antsy weeks before going to camp... I would usually have my suitcase packed and ready to go at least a week early. It was so exciting for me because I belonged to a group of weird, awesome, hilarious, talented, amazing people, and that was incredible. Rock Lake gave me the confidence to step up, speak out, and try new things. I never went on to be staff since I moved out to Alberta for school, but I do believe that I never would have had the confidence to make such a huge move without everything I learned at RLUCC. Honestly, who I am today would be completely different had it not been for every single person I met at camp. Between the staff, counsellors, and other campers, I learned how important it is to be true to yourself, care for others, and be open to new people and opportunities. I owe that camp a whole lot."

The Campaign

Rock Lake United Church Camp has been providing camping experiences to young people in Southern Manitoba for 130 years. Throughout that time, there have been many changes to our structure and programming, but one thing has stayed the same. RLUCC is a safe place where you can feel free to Live, Love, Laugh, and Learn how to be the best person you can be! 

Now we need your help. 

Rock Lake United Church Camp is launching their first ever online fundraiser to support the camping programs that will be going on this summer. Money raised will be going towards supplies, equipment, and be used to help pay for our BEAUTIFUL new bathrooms!