Five Stones Camp

Good News for Inner-City Boys

OVERVIEW...

Situated on 145+ acres of wooded land in Reelsville, Indiana, Five Stones Camp provides an absolutely FREE residential camping experience to disadvantaged inner-city youth from all over the state of Indiana. The Five Stones program is a rigorous 40-day residential summer program that rescues troubled, low-income teenage boys, ages 13-18, from the negative influences of gangs, drugs, neglect and domestic violence and helps them become responsible, mature and independent young men through spiritual, educational and vocational training.

OUR NAME…

Our name, Five Stones Camp, comes from the Biblical account of David and Goliath. David chose five smooth stones from the brook before his battle with Goliath. David, only a youth at that time, understood that his victory would not come from his own strength but rather the strength he knew God would provide. Five Stones is a great name for our camp as we seek to prepare all visitors Biblical stones they can use to defeat their spiritual giants. We will use the five stones to represent character traits in Davids life that help him become a man after God's own heart. Character traits like Faith, Humility, Courage, Intergrity, and Wisdom will be the cornerstones of our program.

OUR MISSION…

Our mission, vision, and passion is to train at-risk teenage boys to turn away from their destructive lifestyles and to embrace the responsibilities and freedoms that come with true Biblical Manhood.

WHO WE SERVE…

Five Stones Camp serves inner city and low-income teenage boys from ages 13-18. Most of the young people served are African-American and are from low income, unstable homes. Many of the young men that come to us demonstrate a lack of respect and discipline. These young men come from neighborhoods filled with crime and fueled by rebellion, and we hope to give them a future.

PROGRAM…

We train 40-50 teens every summer in a 40 days and 40 night program. The program is developed around teaching quality work ethic, biblical training, teamwork development and life skills training in a structured living facility.

During their stay the boys will live in the cabins with a qualified mentor/counselor. Every day there is a structure and definition to life for our boys. They get up at a certain time, have meals and breaks on a schedule, and go to bed at a specified time each night.

Every morning the teens are separated into service team. The teens will take the first 2-3 hours of the day to go to work. The will be trained in basic carpentry, landscaping, and culinary skills. This gives the young men a sense of pride, accomplishment and appreciation for hard work.

Along with learning the above skills each teen will learn basic laundry and housekeeping skills. They are required to clean their living quarters daily and must pass inspection to participate in free time activities.

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE…

The entire program at Five Stones is based on Biblical principles. The teens are given time every morning to search God's Word in a personal devotion time.

Throughout the day their counselors and service team leaders guide them through insecurities, difficulties, and conflicts by continuing to encourage them as they complete their daily projects.

Evening sessions are geared to keep the teens fired up about the lessons they are learning. They are given the opportunity to share their experiences with their group. A Biblical challenge is given every night and is designed to help these young people take another spiritual step.

PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE…

Five Stones Camp is focused on making sure that each boy maintains a healthy lifestyle. Physical training exercises know as "PT", are designed to get the young men in shape without undue strain on their body. This is an opportunity for each boy to become physically fit while learning discipline, structure and teamwork.

BEHAVIORAL DISCIPLINE…

A large part of the process of change is "un-learning" bad habits, attitudes, and routines that have been part of troubled teen's downward spiral.

We teach that consequences are part of life. Many of our young men have been raised in an environment void of guidelines, expectations, and consequences. It is our desire to educate these boys about the true nature of consequences in a way through which they can learn and mature.

STRUCTURE…

Structured living involves boundaries. It is due to the removal of boundaries that many teens fall prey to the pressures of gangs, drugs, and violence.

Because of their home lives, these teens have a great need for structure, balance, and consistency. Five Stones provides this discipline through accountability, structure, love, and encouragement to empower these at-risk boys and give them a hope for their future.

Every day at Five Stones there is a structure and definition to life for our boys. They get up at certain time, have meals and breaks on a schedule, and go to bed at a specified time each night.

LASTING CHANGE…

Lasting change takes time, and the process and timing for each boy is unique. The long-term commitment by the parents and teen enables each boy to progress, make mistakes, learn from them and show themselves, the staff and their parents the consistency over time required for lasting change.

The bad attitudes and habits the boys have upon entering the program did not occur overnight and they will only change over time.

In order to be accepted into the program each teen must be committed to stay throughout the entirety of the 40 days and 40 nights program.