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Come away from it all to a simpler way of life – come to Camp Buckeye. Camp Buckeye provides a rustic, 92-acre haven for camps, corporate/civic/social groups, youth groups, family gatherings, church events, Outdoor Education activities and field days, home school groups, Scout camping, and retreats. Facilities on the two levels of the camp include the Tree House (new), Labyrinth, Agape Lodge, Serenity Cabin, Peace Pavilion, a lower level Woods Pavilion, a spacious new Founder’s Pavilion , the Friendship Center, Shower House, Playground, an Olympic sized swimming pool – Perseverance Pool, outdoor Chapel, and Amphitheater. Overnight accommodations are offered in the form of 8 all-season Cabins, 6 Adirondacks, Tent and RV Camping, as well as lodging in the north end of the Agape Lodge. The camp can accommodate approximately 180 people (not including tents/RVs) during summer events, but groups of all sizes are welcomed. Also available are a Low Ropes Course, Sports Areas (equipment available ’ volleyball, basketball, baseball, horseshoes, playing field, etc.), Miniature Golf, seasonal Petting Zoo, Hiking and Nature Activities, Toboggan Run (winter), Hayrides and other activities. Maps and activity information are available at the Camp Office. |
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Peace Pavilion -- This pavilion, located on the upper level near the cabin area, provides a sheltered area for outdoor cooking with its central fireplace. There is electricity and water is available nearby. The pavilion can accommodate groups of approximately 50 with its picnic table seating. Woods Pavilion -- Nestled in the woods between Hickory cabin and Grace Adirondack, this new shelter built in 2004 provides a unique gathering area for those camping on the lower level. Picnic tables can seat approximately 50, and make it an ideal area for meals, nature, craft, or Scout merit badge activities. |
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Located on the upper level and ’bookended’ between Hospitality and Joy Cabins (with a combined sleeping capacity of 34), the Friendship Center is winterized and will also soon have basic food preparation facilities. As an open meeting room, it provides the ideal place for small groups to gather. The combination of the joined Hospitality and Joy cabins and the Friendship Center, with their own fire rings, a back porch, picnic tables, and small swing gazebo, makes them an excellent choice for weekend retreats or family groups. Friendship Center can be rented alone or with one or two of the attached cabins. This complex is near the volleyball and basketball courts, and is just at the top of the path leading down to Perseverance Pool. |
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The heated shower house, located on the upper level near Agape Lodge, provides convenient restroom and showering facilities, with a Men’s and a Ladies’ section. There is a smaller, more rustic showering/restroom facility on the lower level at Perseverance Pool. These facilities are in addition to the more primitive, outhouse style facilities located directly behind the cabin areas, as well as the single restrooms available inside of Agape Lodge. |
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A children’s play area is located in the evergreen pines area beside Agape Lodge. This area offers swings, a tire climbing activity, loft/tree house, and a ship with slide to explore.
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The camp has a lovely half Olympic sized swimming pool in a wooded area on the lower level, which can be accessed by a path or utility road. An adjoining shower house provides restroom and showering facilities. A lifeguard must be on duty at all times, and this can be arranged by contacting the Camp Office. |
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The outdoor Chapel is located between the upper and lower levels of the camp. This peaceful, wooded area has an A-framed stage area with log benches that can seat about 100. Evening vespers in the Chapel are especially beautiful, with the sounds of birds and chattering squirrels surrounding attendees. At dusk, mosquito repellent is highly recommended! |
Nestled in the woods where the Pileated Woodpecker’s rat-tat-tat echoes, the Founders’ Pavilion, 40’ x 80’ is a large and spacious area for groups of all sizes, with a seating capacity of up to 150. Located near the Playground area and shower house, the shelter is available for family reunions and other gatherings as well as for regular camp activities. The Pavilion has running water & kitchen equipped with two gas stoves, refrigerator & freezer for guest use. The Founders’ Pavilion was completed in 2007 and was built in honor of the camp founders, Nate Miller, LeRoy Mullet, and Ken Stoltzfus, Sr.
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P Charity Cabin ’ Charming Charity Cabin is always a favorite, tucked in close to the tree line and sleeping 12 in bunks. Winterized/electricity. Upper level. Hope and Faith Cabins - Hope and Faith are ’sister’ cabins, built end to end, though with separate entrances. Each of these cabins sleeps 16 in bunk beds and are an excellent choice for families who wish to camp together. Winterized/electricity. Upper level. Hospitality Cabin ’ Our largest cabin, sleeping 20 in bunk beds, and with two entrances, Hospitality is a perennial favorite, with lots of room to spread out. A door also leads directly into Friendship. (Hospitality and Joy cabins ’bookend’ the Friendship Center.) Private outdoor area. Winterized/electricity. Upper level. Joy Cabin ’ Joy Cabin sleeps 14 in bunk beds, and has a door leading directly into Friendship Center as well. (Hospitality and Joy cabins ’bookend’ the Friendship Center.) Winterized/electricity. Upper level. Hickory Cabin ’ Hickory is currently the only non-Adirondack cabin on the lower level. Rustic Hickory sleeps 16, and is also ideal for groups where the ’grown-ups’ may want to sleep indoors while the younger campers opt for tent camping outside in the wooded setting. Close to the Woods Pavilion, hiking trails, and Perseverance Pool. Winterized/electricity. Lower level. |
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A Adirondacks are open air, highly rustic cabins for full enjoyment of the great outdoors. Three sides are wood, the fourth wall is 3/4 screened in. Bunk beds. All have electricity/NO heat (obviously!) The brave of heart are welcome to use them for winter ’polar bear’ style camping as well! Aspen ’ Sleeps 8. Upper level, in woods behind Playing Field. Beech ’ Sleeps 12. Lower level, near Woods Pavilion. Firewood ’ Sleeps 10. Lower level, near Perseverance Pool. Grace ’ Sleeps 10. Lower level, outer edge of Woods Pavilion area. Secluded location. Maple - Sleeps 12. Lower level, near Woods Pavilion. Perseverance ’ Sleeps 10. So-named for its close proximity to Perseverance Pool.
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Guests may bring their own tents or recreational vehicles to use for camping. Several lots very close to the lodge provide electrical & water hookups, and electricity is also available in the Peace Pavilion area. Tent camping is available throughout the campgrounds, on both the lower and upper levels. |
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New to the camp in 2004 and made possible by a generous grant from the Rosenberry Foundation in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, the Low Ropes Course offers and excellent opportunity for individuals and groups to build leadership skills and boost self-esteem. Team-building opportunities abound, with individual components such as Whale Watch, Wild Woosy, and that ever-popular challenge ’ THE WALL! Several different activity pods make it possible for larger groups to experience the challenges of the course simultaneously. A portable initiatives pod enables course activities to also be used anywhere, anytime. Our qualified instructors/leaders can tailor make a program to meet your objectives, using our permanent Ropes Course at the camp or the portable pod at your location. The ropes course is designed to be used by corporate and civic groups, leadership teams, and Scout groups, as well as with our own Camp Buckeye programming. For more information/rates and to schedule your group, contact the Camp Office. |
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Camp Buckeye offers a wide range of sports facilities. A sand volleyball court, half-court basketball, horseshoes, a baseball area with backstop, swimming in our Olympic sized Perseverance Pool, archery, fishing, boating or canoeing at the Pond, Playing Field activities such as Ultimate Frisbee, The Big Ball, The Parachute and more all combine to make your stay at Camp Buckeye one of infinite possibilities! For those with a bent toward low output activities, our Miniature Golf course in a shady area near the Lodge provides a low-key way to spend a summer afternoon. A sports equipment shed is accessible through the Camp Office. |
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A seasonal petting zoo is a well-loved tradition at the camp. Inhabitants have included Portia the Potbellied Pig, Cocoa the Black-bellied Barbados Ram, Garth the Pony, and other assorted critters, including, but not limited to, exotic chickens, ducks, an ill-mannered turkey tom, pygmy goats, baby piglets, homing pigeons, and one of our recent additions, a white-tailed young deer named Dewdrop. If you look closely, you just might see the grown-up Dewdrop lingering at the edge of the woods. Petting Zoo is usually in operation June through Labor Day weekend.
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Hiking and Nature Activities -- Camp Buckeye’s 92 acres, bordered by a state wildlife area, provide an ideal setting for outdoor activities. Maps are available, with a Trail Guide or Nature Program available by special arrangements. Hiking to the Dundee Falls or Hobo’s Cave are special highlights of the Camp Buckeye experience. Wildlife include deer, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, and other mammals, as well as our much-loved reptile inhabitants such as salamanders and Blackie the Blacksnake. (Please note: if you should happen upon Blackie, don’t be alarmed, and please don’t harm her. She is rather large, but she is shy and quick to glide away, and won’t hurt you in any way!) Our pond contains large numbers of bluegill and bass - catch and release fishing is permitted. Any Pond activities must be closely monitored by a trustworthy adult.
Click for TRAIL MAP |
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Outdoor Education -- Available for groups or schools and is available by prior arrangement. Toboggan Run -- A new addition to camp, the toboggan run is sure to add an extra ZIP! to your wintertime camping experience. Call the Camp Office for more information. Seasonal (of course!) Hayrides -- An old-fashioned hayride experience awaits you with our Camp Buckeye hayrides. Provided by one of our Founders, Nate Miller, and his trusty tractor and hay wagons, you will enjoy a leisurely journey through the back roads of Tuscarawas County. Genuine hay bales provide deluxe and genuine seating accommodations. Sing a rousing camp song, enjoy a picnic lunch, or simply sit back and relax and enjoy the scenery! Hayrides are also a great way to haul a group of weary hikers back from their Waterfalls or Hobos’ Cave excursions. Available by prior arrangements with the Camp Office. |
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Located across from Agape Lodge, and staffed by the friendly face of our Office Manager Lucy, the Camp Office is also headquarters for other camp personnel and part time volunteers or summer staff. The office is a beehive of activity in the summer months, but we will always have time to stop and answer any questions you may have about the camp, provide hiking trail maps, or give you a camp tour. Office hours are 10 ’ 5 Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, or by chance or appointment! Stop in, enjoy a cup of coffee, and let us introduce you to Camp Buckeye! Office address: 10055 Camp Road NW, Beach City, OH 44608 Phone: 330-756-2380 Email: office@campbuckeye.org
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LOCATION: Camp Buckeye is located at 10055 Camp Road NW, Beach City, Ohio, just 2 miles south of US Route 250, and can be easily accessed from the I-77 Strasburg exit. It is only a 20-30 minute drive from the Canton, New Philadelphia, Millersburg, or Wooster, Ohio areas, and approximately 2 hours northeast of Columbus and 1 ½ hours southeast of Cleveland. |
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LOCAL ATTRACTIONS and ACTIVITIES: Dundee Waterfalls ’ The Falls are within hiking distance of the camp, and are on public lands. Both the Upper and Lower Falls offer breathtaking scenic beauty, whether it be in the green coolness of summer, the stunning display of autumn color, the icy wonderland of winter, or in the pounding rush of the spring rains. Take a picnic lunch along and enjoy an afternoon at the Falls. "The Rocks’ ’ Enjoy the massive impression these huge rocks, left behind by the glaciers, make as they rise out of the woods. Groups enjoy the challenge of rock-climbing and rappelling. Getting to the top is well worth the challenge! Hobo’s Cave ’ Hobo’s Cave, so named for the days when wanderers who were ’riding the rails’ on the nearby passing trains used it for a warm and dry place to sleep, is a favorite at Camp Buckeye. Not for the claustrophobic, the cave begins with a descent into a hole hidden in the side of a hill, and continues with a series of twists and turns before emerging on the other side. The cave is a fun adventure for all ages as it is impossible to become lost in the tunnel. The journey takes approximately 20 ’ 30 minutes, and old clothes and a bright flashlight are highly recommended! Beach City State Wildlife Area ’ Sharing a border with the camp is this state protected wildlife area, home to deer, turkey, raccoons, and other creatures, and flora of many varieties. Noted inhabitants are a pair of bald eagles, who have chosen the area near the Beach City Dam as an ideal place to raise their young. River Activities’ A local canoe livery provides rentals for canoes, kayaks, and inner tubes for short, medium, and long as well as overnight treks (with primitive camping) down the Tuscarawas River. They also offer optional scavenger hunts and guided hiking along the Zoar towpath. Historic Attractions ’ The camp is located within a 20-30 minute drive of historic attractions such as Zoar Village (Zoar), Fort Laurens (Bolivar), Schoenbrunn Village and the Trumpet in the Land outdoor drama (New Philadelphia), the Sugarcreek Swiss Village and annual Swiss Festival (1st weekend in October in Sugarcreek), McKinley Monument and Museum/Discover World, and the First Ladies Library (both Canton). Other Activities ’ Local offerings include quality golf courses, the nostalgic Lynn Drive-In (one of the last drive-in movie theaters in America), a weekly outdoor flea market, indoor auction houses for both livestock and household goods, and several antique venues. Of particular interest is the large local Amish community and the accompanying quilt, woodworking, and other artisan shops and famous restaurants, as well as the prominent cheese making industry with its delicious factory tours! It is typical to encounter a horse-drawn Amish buggy on the back roads near the camp. Life is truly simpler here.
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The Labyrinth Spring of 2009, a labyrinth was created on the hillside adjoining Camp Buckeye, right behind Peace Pavilion---a bit removed from the activities of camp. It came about as an inspiration of Jane Sewell and Viola Miller and the sweat labor of Sam, Jane, Sammy, Emily & design by Bob Sewell. This prayer path site has far-reaching vistas of fields and woods. The labyrinth has only one path, it is not a maze. The path winds throughout and can enrich our relationship with God as we walk and pray. It touches our sorrows and releases our joys. Wendy J. Miller, Eastern Mennonite Seminary associate professor suggests to adults and children: “make it serious, prayerful or playful. Play music or sing. Pray out loud. Walk alone or with a crowd. Notice the sky, listen to the sounds. Most of all pay attention to your experience.” Come, walk, and experience a new venue of prayer and meditation. More information can be obtained at the office or on the information board. We pray this may be another way for camp to provide a place of healing, worship and spiritual growth.
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In the midst of the woods, by a gurgling brook, rising 19 feet above the ground, veiled by Beech branches stands “the Tree House”. A 24’ x 16’ screened in room was an incredible effort of donations and volunteers, completed in 2008. The 4’ diameter Beech tree stands proudly with its new adornment. This Beech was destined to be harvested many years ago, when long time Boy Scout and Camp Buckeye supporter, Jim Rila, from Freeport, asked how much the loggers were going to pay camp for the tree. He then ‘bought’ the tree, giving the equal amount of money to camp to save the tree. It now invites an adventure of getting a birds eye perspective of the sights, sounds and smells of the woods. Truly a cabin for those with a “higher calling”. It is available for guest rentals at $35 per night sleeping 10-14 youth. (mattresses available) in Rustic accommodations.
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Agape Lodge, originally built in 1954, is the beautiful and rustic
multi-purpose central facility of the camp. With a stone
fireplace as its heart, faux-stone floor, comfortable leather
furniture and welcoming atmosphere, it is the ideal place for
civic and corporate gatherings as well as family and youth
events. Remodeled in 2004, the lodge offers new tables and
chairs that can be set up for each group's specific needs,
doubling as a dining hall when needed. On the south end, an
adjoining commercial sized kitchen provides ample space for food
preparation for both small and large groups, as well as a laundry
area. At the north end of the lodge there are restroom facilities
and 3 sleeping rooms with both bunk and double beds, one with a
private bath and shower. This area can sleep up to 22 people.
Fully heated in winter, the Lodge can accommodate approximately
100-150 people in its main room. A large, covered front
porch provides a second outdoor stone fireplace and seating area
to gather with friends as well as table games such as carpet pool,
foosball, and ping-pong. An even larger rear porch adjacent
to the parking area provides an additional sheltered area for open
air dining, games, or activities. The lodge may be rented in its
entirety, or without the kitchen or sleeping quarters, and may be
rented for day, evening, or extended periods. The Lodge can be
utilized for corporate business meetings, reunions, graduations
and more, and has even been the proud host of several beautiful
weddings and receptions.
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SERENITY
RETREAT CABIN --New 2007
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