Kingston, Oklahoma, August 14, 2025
Photo: antiochian.org
Camp St. Raphael, affectionately known as “Camp YABOY!” among its attendees, celebrated its 25th anniversary this summer with three successful week-long sessions that drew nearly 500 campers from across the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America.
The milestone camping season, which ran from June 22 through July 13, hosted approximately 160 campers and 40 staff members and volunteers during each session at Cross Point Camp in Kingston, Oklahoma, the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese reports.
Founded in 2001 with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Basil of Wichita, Camp St. Raphael began with a single week and 85 participants. It has since grown to serve over 1,000 youth, expanding to two weeks in 2003 and adding a third session in 2016 to meet increasing demand.
Photo: antiochian.org
This year’s program featured morning lessons on the life of the Theotokos, complemented by activities including “Ask Abouna” sessions, an Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry service project, and craft activities. Afternoons were dedicated to sports including angleball, pickleball, and basketball, highlighted by a midweek competition between four teams.
Evening programs brought campers together for themed events including neon night, video-games-come-to-life night, serenade night, and the camp’s traditional hafli celebration with Middle Eastern music and dancing.
Daily prayer remains central to the camp experience, with campers gathering for Matins each morning and Vespers each evening. Participants also have opportunities to receive communion at Divine Liturgy and attend a supplication service honoring the camp’s patron, St. Raphael of Brooklyn, who established 29 Orthodox parishes across the United States between 1905 and 1915.
Photo: antiochian.org
The camp observes Orthodox fasting practices by refraining from meat on prescribed days, encouraging spiritual growth alongside recreational activities.
Camp administrators expressed gratitude for the Kingston facility and optimism about the camp’s future as it enters its next quarter-century of serving Orthodox youth in the region.
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