Mission
The mission of the Camp Lincoln under the Lincoln Legacy Foundation is to educate young people in the proper working of our republic form of government and the political system which supports it through positive, healthy, conservative camping experience, and to develop leadership skills that will prepare a new generation of responsible citizens to participate in and assume leadership rolls in their city, county, state and union.
History
Camp Lincoln was founded in 1960 by James Roydice Jones as a GOP youth leadership camp and was held for 26 consecutive summers at Camp Caesar. From 1989 to 1998 no camp was held. In 1998 the camp was reorganized under the Lincoln Leadership Group by alumni of Camp Lincoln. The camp operated for five years under this leadership. In 2003, former campers demonstrated the leadership they had learned by organizing and staging a camp on their own initiative. In 2004, the Lincoln Legacy Foundation, a West Virginia-certified non-profit, was organized for the express and exclusive purpose of operating and developing Camp Lincoln as a leadership training experience for teens.
Program
Campers are divided into two political parties, the Nationalists and the Federalists, upon arriving at camp. The parties are then in competition throughout the week as they participate in the nomination, campaign and election of Camp President and Vice President, and earn points to "win camp."
Campers will convene a congress where they will write, debate, lobby and pass (or defeat) legislation. Each day they will have the opportunity to attend short seminars, conducted by recognized leaders in their fields. There will be athletic competitions, camp fires, vespers, special programs, parties, special speakers, and free time.
PLUS, in addition to the opportunity to learn about the government, ethics, and the political process, develop leadership skills, experience campaigning, pushing and defending legislation, campers will bond and form true and lasting friendships with fellow campers and counselors. Former campers tell us that some of the best and closest friends today were made at Camp Lincoln.
Campers will convene a congress where they will write, debate, lobby and pass (or defeat) legislation. Each day they will have the opportunity to attend short seminars, conducted by recognized leaders in their fields. There will be athletic competitions, camp fires, vespers, special programs, parties, special speakers, and free time.
PLUS, in addition to the opportunity to learn about the government, ethics, and the political process, develop leadership skills, experience campaigning, pushing and defending legislation, campers will bond and form true and lasting friendships with fellow campers and counselors. Former campers tell us that some of the best and closest friends today were made at Camp Lincoln.
