Camp Covenant
In the summer of 2017 Camp Covenant completed its renovations and returned for our first season since 1994. In 2021 Camp Covenant began expanding it's Bandera campus and Vanguard Christian Education moved onto campus permanently!
The Rhodes Family Covenant
The Rhodes family, Clarence and Helen, (pictured below) owned the camp property until failing health led them to sell. As our ministry grew on our Boerne campus and many other programs were started including, 2 more camps: EquipGirl, and Camp Shield, our leadership staff (descendants of the Rhodes) found out that the old camp property was again for sale.
We believed that God was opening a door, and we were happy to come home again to the ranch. In 2017 we completed renovations and began Camp Covenant again!
Clarence and Helen Rhodes made a covenant with God in 1985 to minister to kids. Many years now after their deaths, the family has remained vigilant in keeping that promise in their honor and in our personal dedication to Christ. That covenant is being renewed and expanded in the hearts of our wonderful staff in the grand re-opening of our beloved Camp Covenant. We are dedicated to changing lives and determined to share the valuable information that we have gained over decades of work.
Helen Rhodes' etched Bible verse in the foundation of the campground, below.
The Original
Camp Covenant
Started in 1985 and open until 1994, Camp Covenant was built on the Rhodes Family Ranch
Clarence and Helen Rhodes made a covenant with God back in 1985 to minister to kids. Many years now after their deaths, the family has remained vigilant in keeping that promise in their honor and in our personal dedication to Christ. That covenant is being renewed and expanded in the hearts of our wonderful staff in the grand
re-opening of our beloved Camp Covenant.
In 2017 word spread overnight that Camp Covenant would be open again and previous campers (all grown up now and many having remained friends for decades) began to come onboard, excited for the camp renovation project and reopening.
The 2017 returning season brought many former campers and their families as staff and campers...and was one of our most memorable seasons ever.
The New Camp Covenant, EquipGirl, Camp Shield,
and Christian Character Ministries
The Camp Covenant property after being sold in 1999 and over time fell into debilitated state in needing of repair. In 2016, the Tracy family, descendants of the property's original owners, repurchased the property and began restoring and rebuilding the campground. In 2017 the camp hosted its first summer camp season since 1994. In 2021 Christian Character Ministries and Vanguard Christian Education relocated from its Boerne, Texas campus to the Bandera campus permanently. The campground is now the rebuilt home to Vanguard and Christian Character Ministries, as well as Camp Covenant. Every year more and more improvements are made and the ministry is expanded on the property.
The Future of our Camp Ministries
Vanguard Christian Education occupies the property during the school year season. In the summer the property is used for camp programs including Equipgirl Girls Summer Camp and Camp Shield Boys Summer Camp. co-ed Camp Covenant sessions are also hosted on a schedule between the girls and boys camps. As the property continues to grow and house our ministry, the Camp Covenant Program continues to as well.
Every year pre-summer season we announce what camps will or will not be available and dates to register and where.