SUMMER FUN
NEARLY TWO DECADES OF FUN Carolina Creek continues to grow over the years
STORY BY MIKAH BOYD
Since 2002 , Carolina Creek has been serving the greater Houston area by hosting camps and outings yearround .
With three camps and 500 acres of space , Carolina Creek can meet the needs of any group seeking a getaway from the humdrum of daily life .
Each camp on their grounds serves a different purpose . ‘ The Wilds ’ is geared toward children between kindergarten and fifth grade , with an amusement park style and waterpark facilities . Those in middle school and high school attend summer camps at their ‘ Creekside ’ camp , here the kids engage in various activities from tubing on the lake to engaging in creative , visual and musical arts . The final area , ‘ Lakeview ’, is where groups such as churches are allowed to run their own programs .
Lisa Olsen has been executive director of the facility since 2016 , after being drawn to Carolina Creek ’ s mission to help their guests experience and know the love of Jesus Christ . She explained that they do this in many ways , through sharing the gospel with campers , leading Bible studies with campers or through their hospitality to those who come to their facility .
Olsen was also drawn to the charitable nature of Carolina Creek , as they work with organizations such as CASA , foster care groups , Huntsville ISD and others to help children have their own camp experience that would not have been possible otherwise .
“ I love that we ’ re interdenominational ,” Olsen said . “ We don ’ t have any specific denominational affiliation or agenda that we ’ re trying to push . We ’ re just about loving people in Jesus ’ name and helping them to love him , to be known by him and to experience that love too .”
Sharing this love is why Olsen has been in similar positions for the past 38 years . She has worked in five different states as a camp director and feels that there is nothing better than serving children this way .
“ It ’ s the best job in the world , I don ’ t know why anybody would want to do anything else ,” Olsen said .
While doing what she loves , Olsen enjoys watching the children learn about themselves , while facing challenges that summer camps pose , like meeting new people or trying a zipline for the first time . She explained that through these things , the kids transform and learn that courage is not being without fear , but being afraid and facing their fears .
“ Seeing kids at camp go from the shy , little bit of anxiety , as they come in on Sunday to just see them blossom , open up and just grow during the week ,” Olsen said .
36 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | JULY-AUGUST 2021