Author Archive

“…let all the trees of the forest sing for joy!” ~ Psalm 96:12   Join us July 27th – 29th at Chanco for fun in the forest for ALL ages!  This will be a rejuvenating weekend retreat full of creativity, fellowship, and fun.  This dynamic weekend will include joyful music, meaningful worship, workshops for children, youth & adults AND excitement for everyone!  Rent a canoe, float in the pool, or stroll along the beach.  No experience required ~ just a playful spirit!  Don’t miss this spiritually inspiring and creatively energizing weekend.  Registration is open!  Click here for a flier with more information about this retreat and for registration.  We hope to see you in July for joyful, musical, creative FUN IN THE FOREST!

You asked!  We answered!  Friends of Chanco have long asked how to share a taste of the Chanco experience with friends.  Now, there are two ways!  Visit us at a Chanco Open House (April 15th and April 29th from 11 am – 5 pm) and/or click here to see a video of campers enjoying all the exciting activities Chanco offers while making life-long friendships.  Now, it’s easier than ever to share Chanco with your friends.  And, don’t forget – every new registered camper you refer to Chanco earns you $50 off your own camp tuition!  So, don’t wait!  Share Chanco with your friends TODAY and they’ll be thanking you tomorrow!  Any questions?  Contact Camp Director Jim Sitzler at director@chanco.org or at 1-757-294-3012.  See you soon on the banks of the James!

Chanco & Richard Pace Honored in Monument Dedication

     Chanco would like to extend gratitude to all those who attended our March 22^nd monument dedication service and reception.  Chanco board members, alumni, friends of Chanco and Surry County citizens all attended the monument dedication which opened with an invocation by the Rev. Ed Tracy, Canon for Administration for the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia.  After the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Adjutant Bill Duncan of American Legion Post 160, Mr. Jason Wiedel, Vice President of the Surry Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the guests.  Charlie Hughes, founding Director of Chanco on the James, asked, “What does Chanco mean?”  He shared “The name Chanco represents courage.  It represents love.  It represents faith.  All these traits that we talk about, we live, and we teach to our campers at these grounds called Chanco…We feel the presence and the hand of God guides us in everything that we do from our counselors, to your campers, to our parents.  We have parents here today who were campers at the old campsites…You take the Chanco spirit with you.  You can have Chanco forever, because Chanco is you.”

Wearing the 1600’s-style clothing representing Isabella Pace, Janie Mae Jones McKinley, author of The Cultural Roots of the 1622 Indian Attack – Richard Pace and Chanco Save Jamestown, told how she first found Chanco, shared her heritage as a descendant of Richard Pace, and shared the principals and value of the life of Richard Pace that inspired her to author her novel.  “Chanco, an Indian boy, and Richard Pace, an English man, worked together in Christian harmony and love that continues to bless us here in the United States of America throughout the ages.”  As Bill Porter, interim Executive Director of Chanco on the James, uncovered the monument, the Rev. Conor Alexander, President of the Chanco Board, offered a prayer of dedication and words of gratitude for the heroes of both the past and today.  The dedication closed with a beautiful solo of “God Bless America” by 12 year-old camp alumni from Bruton Parish, Miss Tara Davy.

The Chanco board of directors and staff extend gratitude to Janie McKinley for her generous donation of the beautiful new monument, hosting the dedication and reception and her support of Chanco on the James.

Virginia Living Magazine’s “Best of Virginia 2012” edition hit newsstands on May 1^st and Chanco is proud to have earned the top place recognition as “Best Summer Camp”.   Thank you to all Virginia Living readers who voted for Chanco and to all our camper families and camp staff who make Chanco the stellar ministry that it is.  More and more families in the Diocese of Southern Virginia and beyond are choosing Camp Chanco as the best summer camp experience for friends, faith and fun in God’s great outdoors.  Don’t delay ~ register today and join us this summer to see for yourself why Camp Chanco is the Best Summer Camp in Eastern Virginia.

God’s blessings to all!

Sail Camp and the one week Session Four residential session are full with a wait list!  All camp sessions are filling fast, so don’t wait to register for your favorite camp session!  Register now for Chanco summer fun before it’s too late.  See you soon on the banks of the James!

It’s not too late to register for this fabulous family event!  The July 1st registration deadline has been extended until July 13th.  Come to Chanco on the James and “praise God with what you have!”  Join us on July 15-17, 2011 for a weekend of music, movement, drama, painting and exuberant creativity.  This wonderful retreat for individuals and families of all ages will include joyful music, meaningful worship, workshops for children, youth and adults AND fun for everyone! Questions?  Contact Stacey Richards, Conference Center Director at , at 757-294-3126 or at hospitality@chanco.org for more information.   You may also click here for the retreat flier which includes a registration form:  11 Music Retreat flier.  We hope to see your family at Chanco this July for a weekend retreat you won’t soon forget!