Mike Foti

Review of Hume Lake Christian Camps

I've taken my family to Hume Lake many times over ...

I've taken my family to Hume Lake many times over the years, and we all love the place. I have to preface this review by saying that we've only ever camped at the Forest Service campground and not stayed at the Christian Camp. I'm leaving the review here however, because let's face it, if you are at the lake, you are at the Christian Camp by simple dint of the fact that their facilities, their guests, and most significantly, their activities dominate the landscape there. If you are looking to commune with nature around a quiet and pristine alpine lake, may I suggest you pack your hiking boots and head for the high sierra backcountry. This is not that kind of experience. This is a summer camp. Think "Meatballs" with Bill Murray, except that instead of the motley crew of blue collar misfits attending Camp Northstar, Hume skews more toward their snootier rivals at Camp Mohawk, where every athlete has a crack East German trainer behind them, as well as a team of Swedish masseuses at the ready. Seriously though, the amenities available are self evidently first rate. I myself have bought food at their snack bar, groceries in their market, and rented canoes from their dock and have always been satisfied. Now for the downside... While I find the festive atmosphere around the lakeshore charming during the day, the noise from their evening programs is off the hook. I just got back from a mid-week two night stay. On our first night there was some sort of talent show going on and at some point in every act the assembled throngs would let out a cheer that sounded like a game winning touchdown at a pro football game. This went on for hours. This was nothing compared to what was in store for us the next night however. Clearly somebody at the Hume Lake Christian Camp marketing department got wind that EDM clubs are all the rage in Las Vegas these days, and they decided they needed some of that action. I kid you not, they had a full on rave going with an elaborate light show, and a huge sound system. All that was missing was (presumably) the drugs. The drum and bass was thumping through the pine trees for hours, and even though we were camped a quarter mile away, it sounded like we were in the parking lot of the Electric Daisy Carnival. Just a note to the DJ staff: If you guys are gonna play a techno mix of Europe's, "The Final Countdown", wait for the end of the night to do so. Don't repeat it three or four times throughout the night. It's the Final Countdown after all. The clue is in the title. Before composing this review, I went to the Christian Camp website where they have a full page describing this year's "theme" in which they say that while your child is at the camp they will supposedly, "take a look at the life of Elijah and challenge students to proclaim God s truth in an ungodly culture." Really? You're telling me they're attempting to reject the culture with DJ's and electronic dance beats? I guess anything short of sacrificing virgins is A-OK, right guys? I am admittedly not a follower of Jesus, but I've always heard that His was essentially a countercultural message. From what I can see and hear, Hume Lake Christian Camp is about as mainstream American Culture as it gets. Your millage may vary.