Indian Cave Youth Camp

The mission of ICYC is to be a place set apart, where men, women, boys, and girls can get away from the world and connect with God.

Indian Cave Youth Camp is a place set apart. In a 1959 District Conference of the then Virginia-North Carolina District of the Evangelical Methodist Church each church pledged to raise $200 to purchase approximately 40 acres of land to establish a youth camp just outside of Danville, VA. In the summer of 1960, the EMC held it’s first youth and children’s camp on the grounds of what would become Indian Cave Youth Camp. For 60 years Indian Cave has hosted EMC Kids Camps and Youth Camps, in addition to weekend retreats, men’s conferences and women’s conferences.

Besides EMC events and activities, Indian Cave has been a place set apart for churches and groups from across the denominational spectrum. Each year nearly 2,000 attendees attend the various camps and retreats, traveling from at least 6 states. The altars at Indian Cave have been holy ground over the years where countless numbers of young people were saved, sanctified, and called. Many pastors, missionaries, youth pastors, and worship leaders trace their calling to an Indian Cave chapel service. Indian Cave Alumni are board members, Small Group leaders, youth leaders, and workers in our Evangelical Methodist Churches. And then there was COViD.

Youth camps have been hit hard this year, and Indian Cave was no exception. COViD restrictions forced ICYC to shut down, as we were prevented by the Virginia Governor’s executive order from hosting any overnight camps. Since nearly 70% of ICYC’s normal operating budget is generated via rental income this has been a particularly difficult season for us. Of the remainder of our budget 13% is denominational support, with the remaining 17% arriving via undesignated charitable contributions.

Eventually, our nation (and the world) will come to grips with COViD and life will return to normal. When that happens ICYC wants to be there as a place set apart to help raise up the next generation of Christian leaders. In order to do that we need your help. ICYC’s bare bones operating costs in these difficult times are approximately $6,000 per month. We are asking our churches to consider sending at least a portion of what you would typically spend to send your kids or youth to camp.

Your contribution will help us to maintain our facilities and pay our basic operational costs. We are believing with you for greater days ahead!

Meet Our Camp Director

Rickie Garner has been ICYC Camp Director since 2007. But he has been involved with ICYC for much longer than that. In fact Rickie was a young boy when he attended the camp in its opening year in 1960. And he just never stopped going!

In 60 years (not counting this COViD interrupted year) Rickie has only missed camp one time! Over the years he has served in various capacities in his local church and on the district and denominational level.

For many years he served as youth director at Community EMC, Atlantic District Youth Director, served on the youth camp board, and the district council.

In his spare time he operates Pilot View Woodworks in Thomasville, NC.

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