The Florida Elks Youth Camp (FEYC) in Umatilla, Florida is dedicated to enriching the lives of children from the state of Florida. The camp staff presents a safe camp experience that contributes to each camper’s mental, physical, and social growth. It is located on 405 acres of rolling hills, forests, lakes, and open space in Marion County, Florida. The camp is accredited by the American Camping Association and is re-certified every three years to assure compliance and a safe camping environment for children.
The Camp features 52 modern cabins, each of which sleeps 9; a kitchen facility; swimming pool; golf driving range; archery; primitive camping sites; baseball; basketball; boating; ropes course; tennis; softball; a pavilion that serves as the dining hall; TV viewing area; meeting hall; and night-time activity center. Click here for an aerial tour of the facility.
The camp opened its doors in 1991 to all of the children of Florida and has played a pivotal role in the development of many children. It offers them countless opportunities that have not previously been available to them. Their team-building skills are improved, they have access to state of the art recreational equipment, and they have a chance to enjoy themselves in a caring, social setting where the good of the children is always the priority.
We offer summer camp opportunities to any Florida child as well as Elks’ children and grandchildren at a modest cost for one or two weeks. However, we don’t turn away those unable to pay. Additionally, the camp is used year-round by a wide variety of organizations dedicated to enriching the lives of children in general and underprivileged and disabled children in particular.
The camp has become one of the finest of its kind in the country. It is already a facility that Florida Elks take pride in, and it is a popular place for Florida’s young people, as thousands use it every year.
In June 2018, our Lodge invited 28 area underprivileged children to attend a week of fun, fresh air, sports and a full camping experience at Florida Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla, FL. They had a fantastic time! These children were awarded $180 scholarships to attend camp tuition free and were provided bus transportation to and from camp. This was all made possible due to the generosity of our lodge and personal member donations. Read all about it here.
Read this post for a wrap-up of our 2019 Youth Camp program.
The 2020 Youth Camp program was on a virtual basis only because of COVID.
As directed by the FEYC, we were unable to send our usual 52 passenger bus in 2021 with 30-40 area children due to the ongoing COVID pandemic. Busses were not allowed with the regulations now mandating that families were to be assigned staggered times to pick-up and drop-off by family vehicles.
The IRC School District, parents/guardians, children and agencies hesitancy to send children was still an underlying issue this camp year. The offer was made to the IRC School District and various agencies that we would still sponsor children to attend camp, however, they would be required to transport their child and receive a $200 stipend when the child had completed their camp experience.
Through cooperation with the FEYC Director, Nick Miller, an arrangement was struck with the Homeless Children’s Foundation (HCF), to utilize the HCFs 24 passenger vehicle to transport 10-12 children to camp, wearing masks and taking all precautions outlined by the camp. Eleven (11) children were originally scheduled to be picked by the driver with Rich and Kathi Miller as chaperones for the August 25 – August 31 camp. Our Lodge provided water bottles, sandwiches and goodie bags. The children wanted to hear all about the upcoming camp experience and had many questions. The children were each administered a COVID test upon their arrival at camp. The registration process was held with strict protocols for safety.
On the way back to Vero Beach, the children confirmed that they had a great week and were tired, but excited singing the customary camp songs and stories of their adventures, craft projects and achievements. The children that will be age eligible next year are already looking forward to FEYC 2022! Lets hope and pray that FEYC regulations are back to normal and the pandemic is history!
Soon we will begin taking applications for children ages 9 – 13 residing in the Vero Beach area to attend the Florida Elks Youth Camp in June, 2022. Our Vero Beach Elks Lodge has generously provided a secure and memorable camping opportunity for 45 of our area homeless, underprivileged or children in crisis and to provide a tuition scholarship to attend this beautiful and modern 405 acre campground complex. If COVID regulations permit, we also supply a bus with all amenities to transport the children to and from camp. The camp provides housing, food, swimming, canoeing, campfires, exercise, a rope course and lots of fun!Download a copy of the FEYC Brochure in pdf format click here…or read below.
FEYC Brochure
