Camp El-Har

In the interest of transparency I volunteer at the camp. The camp provides family friendly horseback rides. The camp has numerous trails through hills, woods and across creeks. The horses are gentle and sure footed. The horse wranglers are Christian and have a passion to serve their guests.

I am not sure if this camp has changed in recent years, but I think it’s important that every parent knows what kind of ‘Christian’ environment they are sending their kids away to when they sign up for this camp.
My mom signed me up for a Camp El-​Har week long day camp after hearing me complain about how all my friends were going. I grew up in a local Methodist church and I am sure my mother had no real qualms about sending me to a Christian camp, where there would of course be songs and mentions of Jesus, but nothing really ‘deep’. After all, I was 8 years old. I wasn’t equipped to handle any deep theological discussions.
She couldn’t have been more wrong. I’m not sure if Camp El-​Har is deeply associated with any hellfire baptist groups, but that is the experience that I got as a child. I didn’t even realize the profound (and negative) effect their teachings had on me until I was much, much older.
For instance, a friend of mine (also 8) ran home to her mother one day after camp, crying about the fact that the counsellors had told her she would «go to hell» if she celebrated Halloween.
The discussions and group talks were always centered about the rapture and the return of Jesus. As an 8 year old child who had never really thought about the impending doom of the universe before, I found myself deeply scarred by the experience. I spent weeks wondering if the devil was going to pop out of the ground at any moment and send us all to hell.
Don’t get me wrong– all the ‘camp’ aspects of El-​Har were great. They made the moments not associated with their hellfile rhetoric extremely fun, which is probably what kept kids coming back year after year and parents unaware.
I suppose if this is the sort of thing you want to subject your children to, camp El-​Har is for you. But if you want your kid to grow up with a positive, loving interpretation of Christianity and Jesus instead of the fearful and hateful message of this camp, there are many other great Christian camps in the area.

This is a wonderful Christian camp that is open year-​round. They have a beautiful riding trail and a certified horse trainer on full-​time staff that provides riding lessons. There is a small petting zoo of sorts, with rabbits, ducks, chickens, pigs and goats. All the animals look very happy and well cared for. The place is well maintained and clean. It’s a little piece of paradise hidden in Dallas. The staff is friendly and professional. Great spot for church groups of any age.

I used to visit Camp El Har all the time from about the age of 10 to 14. I’ve been to several week-​long day camps, and I have gone horseback riding several times as well.
The staff is all really nice, and the natural setting of the camp is really great as well. I haven’t been to the camp in years, so I don’t know if it’s changed or anything, but it’s a great place to have a lot of fun.
If you, or a group you’re in (such as a church youth group) are interested in finding a camp to go to in the Dallas area, check out Camp El Har. It’s in a great location, and they have some really great programs.