How God has led in the past
Located on the scenic shores of the Lake of the Ozarks, Camp Heritage has served as a cornerstone of youth development for over six decades. The land was originally purchased in 1961 by a group of medical professionals, called MAMS – which stood for Missouri Adventist Medical Society. Their desire was to provide a Seventh-day Adventist camp in Missouri. Up to that point, the Missouri Conference had organized an MV (Missionary Volunteer) summer camp each year, but they had to rent out a scouting camp, called Camp Pin-Oak, also located on the Lake of the Ozarks. The initial land purchase for Camp Heritage amounted to $8,500 for 143 acres, but over the course of the next 65 years, the borders of the camp have grown to almost 200 acres. Since its founding, the camp has remained steadfast in providing a transformative summer environment where young people can grow spiritually, socially, and physically.
How God is leading in the present
At its core, Camp Heritage is designed to challenge modern youth by trading screens for the great outdoors. The curriculum is built upon high-energy engagement and skill-building, offering a diverse array of activities that foster both independence and teamwork. This is “Discipleship Through Adventure.”
* Aquatic Mastery: Leveraging its prime lakeside location, the camp offers premier instruction in wakeboarding, wake surfing, water skiing, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming.
* Outdoor Leadership: Campers develop resilience through horsemanship, rock climbing, and wilderness survival skills.
* Community: The small-group cabin structure ensures that every young person is seen, heard, and supported, leading to the lifelong friendships for which the camp is known.
* Intentional Spirituality: Before the campers ever arrive for the summer, the staff are encouraged and given time to spend seeking and finding God, both as a team and independently. This intentional spiritual preparation is critical for a summer of ministering to one another as well as the campers. The camp staff participate and lead out in daily group worship music and individual cabin Bible studies.
How we believe God is preparing for the future
Camp Heritage’s story already makes it an anticipated destination for families seeking a safe, high-quality, and spiritually enriching summer for the next generation. Parents frequently report significant growth in their children’s self-confidence, describing the experience as “life-changing” and “deeply impactful.” Camp staff share that summer camp is a “spiritual high” that they look forward to each year and miss when away. What is God calling us to do going forward? We believe God is calling us to focus on intentionally instilling in our campers and staff a personal relationship with Christ that transcends the summer vibes of the lake waves, the swaying hammocks, and the horseback trails of our great camp—an internal relationship with their Creator that goes with them everywhere and is externally shared with everyone they meet. To do this, we want to continue asking Him the question: “How can we make next year better than the last?”
As we look toward the 2026 season at Camp Heritage, we are constantly seeking God’s will and asking for Him to guide us in providing the best summer camp season possible!
At Camp Heritage, our mission is to create experiences and grow relationships while teaching how to reflect to find God’s truth. This discipleship process isn’t just for campers, it is for all the staff as well, including the leadership.
Camp Heritage Location:
376 Camp Heritage Rd
Climax Springs, MO 65324
Camp Heritage 2026 Summer Camp Schedule:
LIGHT Camp (Ages 13-17 | 3 weeks: June 7 – 27)
Junior 1 Camp (Ages 10-12 | 5 days: June 9 – 13)
Junior 2 Camp (Ages 10-12 | 7 days: June 14 – 20)
Cub Camp (Ages 7-9 | 5 days: June 23 – 27)
Family Camp (All Ages | 5 or 6 days: June 29 – July 5)
Teen Camp (Ages 10-12 | 7 days: July 12 – 18)
Teen River Adventure Camp (Ages 10-12 | 7 days: July 19 – 25)
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