Summer in the Son Camp Fair Coming to New Providence Presbyterian Church

New Providence Presbyterian Church (NPPC) is already looking ahead to Summer 2026 as they prepare to host their first ever Summer in the Son-Christian Camp Fair on Sunday, September 28th from 11:45-1:45. Held in their Parish Hall, this fair will feature representatives from camps throughout NJ, NY, and Pennsylvania.

Kelly Villanueva, church Elder and one of the co-organizers for this event, said, "I'm excited to be part of the fair to share with the families in our church and the community the experience of Christian Camps for kids and teens." She continued, " We have camps participating that are local as well as ones that are several hours away, we have co-ed camp and camps for just girls or boys. Some of these camps are more sports oriented, while others feature more outdoor adventure. Many are on lakes and some feature horseback riding. There really are so many great options and each one provides campers the opportunity to unplug and take a break from their routines and grow in faith and friendship."

"And this isn't just for kids," added Claudia Gustavsen, fair co-organizer, "many of the camps we've invited also offer family camping opportunities where families and extended families — parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins -- come together to have a fun time while deepening their faith in Jesus and their relationships with one another. These family-getaways happen throughout the year, not just in the summer. We also have a very special organization joining us, joni&friends, which provides retreats for families navigating the challenges of disability. These retreats provide a fun and Christ-centered experience for entire families and volunteer opportunities for all ages to join in their mission to serve people with disabilities and their loved ones."

"I'm so excited that this multi-dimensional fair is also about job opportunities," shared Lorie Acciarito, church Deacon and event co-organizer, "as most of our camps are also seeking to fill summer positions in addition to some year-round opportunities as well. Problem solving, team work and negotiating skills are just a few of the competencies employers are looking for that can be developed through working at summer camps. Opportunities go beyond traditional camp counselor roles and include summer staff options for many majors including business, communications, digital media, culinary arts, hospitality, media arts and more. Christian Camps are a great environment for students to build their resumes through valuable work experience in the midst of Christian community and we are excited to be able to highlight this to students and their parents.”

When asked about this inaugural event, Rev. Luke Gordon, the new Senior Pastor at NPPC responded, "When I came to New Providence in August, the plans for Summer in the Son were already underway which was very exciting for me because of the impact Christian Camp had on my own life. One summer, I showed up at camp as a kid looking to have fun with my friends and God captured my attention; He broke in and changed me forever. I then went on to be a Counselor, and I even shared one of those experiences during a recent sermon." He continued, "this is a free event with something for all ages and includes a camp-style lunch and fun activities for the kids. Everyone is welcome to join us for worship immediately before the fair at 10:30 AM. I'm looking forward to meeting more members of my new community on the 28th."

Elder Gregg Chatterton, leader of the Adult & Family Discipleship Team reflected, "This Camp Fair is very well aligned with our church mission to help people Know, Love, and Follow Jesus and Share Him with others. As one of our shared values is to love kids and support families, our church leadership decided to sponsor 3 Christian Camp scholarships, each up to $500. There will be a drawing at the end of the fair to select the winners and every family in attendance will automatically be entered.”

The camps scheduled to be represented at the fair include: Day Camp Sunshine and Young Life/Young Lives in New Jersey; joni&friends, Ligonier Camp, Spruce Lake and Tuscarora in Pennsylvania; Camp Cedarbrook, Northern Frontier, Pine Bush Bible Camp and Tapawingo in New York.

The New Providence Presbyterian Church is located at 1307 Springfield Ave in New Providence, NJ. The church website is TheCornerNJ.com and anyone with questions regarding this event and other church ministries are invited to call the main office at 908-665-0050.