Stronghold Foam Sword Camp

Praise be to the Lord my Rock,

who trains my hands for war,

My fingers for battle.

He is my loving God and my fortress,

My stronghold and my deliverer,

my shield in whom I take refuge,

who subdues peoples under me.

Psalm 144:1-2

August 2 – 8, 2026

Stronghold Foam Sword Camp

Join Stronghold overnight camp at Machen for our overnight camp for our 10th year anniversary! We will play epic games, have tournaments, imagination adventures, learn battle strategies, sing ballads and have medieval feast.

In our Bible study we will look at Conflict and Reconciliation. We will look at scripture and discuss:
  • How do we disagree with someone and stand for what we believe to be true?
  • What is worth arguing and having conflict over?
  • How do we forgive others and what does that look like in practice?
  • How do we reconcile when we have hurt others?
And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

Machen‘s Stronghold camp is for boys and girls ages 10 through 17. 

Camp check in starts at August 2nd at 3:00 pm on the Sunday and camp programming starts at 5:30 pm, and ends Saturday August 8th at noon.

 

Camp Staff

Stephen Ippolito

Stephen Ippolito (Aka: Sir Estivan) created the club/game Stronghold in the year 2009. God called him to use the club as an afterschool ministry that teaches youth about the game of foam sword fighting and challenges them to serve the one true King: Jesus Christ.

With the Lord’s blessing the ministry has grown to summer camps and overnight camps. Stephen Ippolito became a full-time missionary this past summer and now serves with an international organization called Push the Rock where he hopes to spread the joy and gifts of the Stronghold programs to Pennsylvania and beyond.

Register for Stronghold Foam Sword Camp

Stronghold Camp Fees

$370 for a single camper

$320 per camper for 2 or more siblings

Machen Retreat and Conference Center

Mail

P.O. Box 203
Mt Crawford, VA 22841

Location

6 Job’s Hill Rd
McDowell, VA 24458

Phone

(540) 396-3650

Email:

Director@Machen.org
Webmaster@Machen.org

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2