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ABOUT US
Founded in 1936, Camp Findley has a storied history as a place where groups and individuals can get away from their regular lives to a place of fun and excitement, relaxation and renewal. A part of the Findley Lake community, the camp is situated in the village on 150 acres of forest and waterfront with lodge style housing and facilities for indoor activities and gatherings.
In March 2018, the Camp Findley property was sold to new ownership, a local nonprofit. The new leadership team of The Camp at Findley, The Board of Directors, purchased the property with plans to continue to provide it as a destination for camps, retreats, weddings, and other gatherings. We had a vested interest in ensuring that Camp Findley continued its Christian ministry in Western New York and Western PA.
Since that time, the board has been developing the camp grounds and programming to be a place where people can experience a positive impact on their well-being: mind, body, and soul.
Mind: we are a place where guests may disconnect from their day-to-day lives and slow down.
Body: we serve healthful, whole foods, with an emphasis on local produce, and provide many recreational opportunities.
Spirit: we encourage and facilitate prayer and meditation in a natural setting
Our setting intentionally creates accessible spaces where guests can be immersed in the natural world, from our waterfront to our woodland trails, allowing our small slice of Creation to facilitate Christ's peace and renewal.
We are a place for fun, family, and friends. We are a place for rest and renewal.
The Board of Directors of The Camp at Findley is comprised of members from different denominations, several local communities, and two generations. We have One vision: Spiritual transformation of lives through Christ’s love for every man, woman, and child. Our mission is to develop the camp to be a safe and inviting place for the community, with programming that encourages mental, physical, and spiritual growth in every individual.
MISSION
To be a safe and inviting community that makes and grows disciples through Bible based, Christ centered, Holy Spirit led camping, as well as, personal, group, and family retreat experiences.
VISION
Holy Spirit led spiritual transformation for every man, woman, and child through Christ's love.
MEET THE CAMP STAFF
As The Camp at Findley grows, so does our year-round staff! These are the leaders that keep all things at camp running!
Rev. Amber J. Shearer
Executive Director
Amber was hired as our new Program Director in May of 2021 and in January of 2022 was promoted to Executive Director. She is originally from Cambridge Springs, PA and has lived in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana where she has done camp ministry. Amber caught the “camp bug” at 12 years old when she helped start a Christian Day Camp for youth outside her hometown. Since then she has served at many different camps and in various roles.
Amber believes that God uses the camp setting to draw people closer to Him in an environment that helps them quiet their hearts to hear God’s voice and gives them a break from our busy culture. She is thrilled about the opportunity to serve at the camp, build relationships with the Findley Lake community, and continue to bring God’s Kingdom to earth.
Amber oversees the overall camp operations and ministry. She is on all of the camp committees and teams and chairs the Fundraising Team.
Harley
Slava
Housekeeper
Harley was hired as a Housekeeper in the Spring of 2022, after working in custodial at the state hospital in Warren, PA for 8 years. She was born, raised and educated in Corry, PA. In August of 2020, she married her husband, Robert Slava II and in September of 2021 they welcome their daughter, Lorelei. They currently reside outside of Corry and spend their time working on the families beef cattle farm.
Harley is committed to The Camp At Findley and takes pride in knowing that the camp is clean and inviting for all of our guests. She enjoys seeing the fellowship that takes place at camp and she loves seeing the children forming relationships with their peers and with God during their time here at camp.
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Katie
Sadler
Program & Marketing Director
Katie was hired as our Program and Marketing Director in November of 2022. She is originally from Corry, PA but currently resides in North East, PA with her husband Pastor Joshua Sadler (C3 Church). Both Katie and her husband have a history of working in camp ministry and overall have hearts for ministry and are willing to serve in whatever capacity the Lord continues to call them.
Katie's heart for camp starts with her heart for the family. Over the years Katie has served in various ministry roles, working with a wide range in ages. From babies to the elderly, Katie believes that the Lord moves in and uses everyone in a unique way. Being at camp Katie is able to help facilitate a space for the Holy Spirit to meet people where they're at, no matter their age or background.
Katie's main roles at camp include planning and facilitating year round retreats, overseeing the summer camp staff and program, as well as using her creativity to market it all. She also serves on the Marketing & Outreach Committee, the Programming Committee as well as the Fundraising Team.
Kimberly
Osburn
Camp Intern
Kimberly, typically known as Kimmy, joined our camp staff as a Camp Intern in December of 2022. She was born and raised for the majority of her life in Gowanda, NY. As she was raised in the church she began to grow a heart for ministry, eventually settling into a long term role as a Small Group Leader at C3 Church's youth ministry.
Kimmy has heart for kids and teens and wants to share the love of Christ with each and every one of them. Being at camp has given her a unique opportunity to grow her strengths in a ministry setting. She can be found in the camp office 2-3 days a week working on programming details and being a helping hand.
MEET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
All board members are unpaid and serve as volunteers.
Interested in joining the board of directors? Start by serving on a committee!
To learn more about committees click here:
Don Blakeslee
Chairman of the Board
Chair of Facilities Committee
Don resides in Findley Lake, NY and served as the Camp Findley Director and Maintenance Manager for over 30 years. Don provides a wealth of knowledge concerning the management of a camp facility and programs. Don will not only lend his experience to the strategic planning process, but also aid in day-to-day operations and decisions to ensure smooth operations.
David Cooke
Chair of Programming Committee
Secretary
Dave is in his eighth year serving as pastor of Findley Lake United Methodist Church. He is a homeowner in the community, where he also serves as the Chaplain of the Findley Lake Fire Department.
As a lifelong camper at Findley, Dave has a passion to help lead the ministry into a new future. He has attended Family Bible Camp (FBC) all of his life and currently serves on the FBC Board. In previous years, he has served in a variety of roles at FBC including Director of the Middle School, Senior High and Young Adult programs.
mark gillings
Vice-Chairman of the Board
Chair of Volunteers Committee
Member of Facilities Committee
Mark resides in Findley Lake, NY and served on the steering committee for Friends of Findley, an all volunteer support group for the camp when it was still under the ownership of the Upper New York Conference of the United Methodist Church. Mark worked in construction management for 43 years and has volunteered on recovery and rebuild missions for five years including team leadership roles. Mark has also served on administrative boards, board of trustees, and maintenance and grounds committees for churches in the past.
Mark will lend his construction management experience, volunteer leadership, and church administration experience to the board and daily operation/maintenance of the camp.
All Mark’s children attended camp at Camp Findley and his vision is to keep The Camp at Findley actively expanding God”s kingdom as it serves the surrounding area through retreats, summer camps and other creative programming and to see Christ transform the lives of future generations of children that will attend the camp.
Eric (Buddy)
Maess
Member of Admin Committee
Eric (Buddy) recently retired from the Mfg Engineering world, but is still keeping himself very busy! Buddy resides in Findley Lake area with his wife Debbie who he married in 1982. In his spare time he serves as an Elder, Sunday School & Discipleship teacher, and occasionally sings with the Worship Team at the North East Christian & Missionary Alliance Church.
Eric's heart for camp is one that started a long time ago. As a child Buddy attended Camp Findley as a camper where he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord in 1970. He was baptized at the Lake during Bible Conference, served on Summer Staff for seven summers during his High School and College years, and directed 4th-6th grade camps where he met his wife.
Dr Roger Brumagin
Chair of Safety Committee
A former Research Associate with Hammermill Paper Company and faculty member of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Roger is now semi-retired.
He resides in Erie, PA, with his wife Debbie and serves as the organist of the Glenwood United Methodist Church. Roger first attended the former Camp Findley as a camper in 1964 and over the years has been, among other things, a camper, a counselor, a weekend retreat host, a board member of the former Camp Findley – and now as a board member of The Camp at Findley.
These grounds hold special significance in Roger’s life, for it was here that he accepted Christ as his Savior, was baptized, and where he proposed to Debbie.
Barb Cooper
Member of Marketing & Outreach Committee
Barbara Cooper has lived in the Findley Lake area since 1996. For many years she has led and continues to serve in many capacities at the Findley Lake Church, the SCS PTO, and the Findley Lake Rec Committee to name a few.
Barb has owned and operated Village Photography since 1987 and Cooper Rentals since 2009. Her quiet time with the Lord comes from serving at The Camp by mowing, light maintenance, cleaning, working in the kitchen, fundraising, etc.. "It doesn't seem like work when it's for our Lord".
Psalm 100:2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
GORDON POST
Chair of Legal Committee
Gordon is the Owner & President of Post Apple Scientific, Inc. Gordon has been involved in leadership at Findley Lake United Methodist Church, where he has served for over 20 years as Lay Leader and has been the Lay Member to Annual Conference since 1993. Gordon has been intimately involved with Camp Findley, serving on the Board of Directors from 2007-2010, and volunteering at the camp for many years.
Al Gernovich
Member of Facilities Committee
Al Gernovich is a pastor at the Salt Church, a non-denominational church in Corry, PA. He has been married to Christine for 35 years, his high school sweetheart, and has four adult children and eight grandchildren, whom he adores more than anything. He has a mantle of joy in his life and has been teaching the Word of God with a fervor, in order to see others freed from the strains of this world and be filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. Life is an adventure to be lived in connection with the One Who created us to live it to the fullest.
Facilities Committee
The Facilities Committee is responsible for grounds keeping, facilities maintenance, and interior and exterior project planning, renovations and execution. For those interested in getting involved contact Don@thecampatfindley.com
Chair
Don Blakeslee
Committee Members
Mark Gillings
Al Gernovich
Marketing & Outreach Committee
The Marketing & Outreach Committee is the face of the Camp to the community. Responsible for website design and maintenance, newsletters, mailings, advertising and promoting events, the camp's facebook page and designing camp swag! If you are a creative person with a heart for ministry please contact katie@thecampatfindley.com to volunteer!
Chair
Amy Allen
Committee Members
Barb Cooper
Lauren Schenk
Jen Heiser
Katie Sadler
Programming Committee
The Spiritual Formation and Program Committee seeks to develop, resource, and support retreats, activities, and events that enable participants to experience “a peace of heaven” while on the grounds at The Camp at Findley. If interested in volunteering contact katie@thecampatfindley.com
Chair
Dave Cooke
Committee Members
Katie Sadler
Administration & finance committee
The Administration & Finance Committee keeps the day to day operations of the non-profit going. Admin and Finance is responsible for taxes, payroll, budgets, human resources, financial reporting and general IT support. If interested in volunteering contact admin@thecampatfindley.com
Committee Members
Dave Cooke
Don Blakeslee
Volunteers Committee
The Volunteers Committee is responsible for organizing and deploying all of our generous volunteers! Work weekends and other friends of findley events are organized by the Volunteers committee. Contact mdgillings@gmail.com if you'd like to help out!
Chair
Mark Gillings
Legal Committee
The Legal Committee assists with making sure the camp is operating and adhering to the state and county regulations and laws. They also serve point on other legal matters with camp leases and property.
Chair
Gordon Post
FUNDRAISING TEAM
Our Executive Director & Fundraising Team assists with raising funds for camp projects & programming, hosts fundraising events, focuses on donor and church relationships, and is a part of grant writing.
Chair
Amber J. Shearer
Team Members
Shenley Schenk
Katie Sadler
Kimberly Osburn
The Camp at Findley is a registered name of Fit For Life Ministries, Inc, a NYS 501(c)3.
The Camp at Findley / Fit For Life Ministry is a Christian organization, run by a volunteer board of directors with the shared vision of the camp as:
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Continuing in its ministry to Christian groups, as a place to gather for worship, learning, and fellowship
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Providing programming to enrich the lives of those in and around our community
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Being available to all groups and people as a place to host a retreat, a family gathering, or a a personal getaway.