Our Mission
To provide a safe, fun environment were every camper entrusted to our car can experience fellowship and grow their faith.
Camp St. Christopher: More Over a Decade of Ministry
Camp St. Christopher is a camp for Orthodox youth between the ages of 8 and 18.
Camp St. Christopher was launched by Father David Wooten in 2015 under the Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of the South. Since that time, the camp has been shepherded and stewarded by many faithful clergy and laity.
The camp took a hiatus due to COVID, starting in 2020, and returned in 2023. In 2025, Camp St. Christopher launched as a 501(c)3 under the leadership of Patrick Prentice. The board of directors includes Patrick Prentice as CEO and Camp Director, Father David Galloway as overseeing priest, and Katie Sheppard as Camp Co-Director.
The camp location has changed over the years. Most recently, the camp has been held out of Orange Springs Retreat in Hawthorn, Florida. We hope to make this camp facility our home for the foreseeable future.
In addition to our week-long summer camp, we also hold a Winter Retreat for middle school and high schoolers. The Winter retreat takes place at Wekiva Springs around Old Calendar Theophany. It includes primitive camping and a blessing of the waters. It is a chance for our Camp St. Christopher kids to re-engage.
Why is St. Christopher our Patron Saint of the camp?
When Camp St. Christopher launched in 2015, the camp facility was on a river. Our camp founders prayed that the kids attending would meet Christ at that river, the same way that St. Christopher met Christ at the river.
Saint Christopher’s name means “Christ-bearer.” According to Church tradition, he was a very strong man who wanted to serve the greatest king in the world. At first, he served powerful rulers, but he learned that even they were not all-powerful and feared evil. In time, he came to know that Jesus Christ is the true King over all who fear no evil and has conquered death. After he became a Christian, Saint Christopher used his strength to help others.
One story tells how he helped people cross a dangerous river. One night, he carried a small child across the water. As he walked, the child became heavier and heavier. When they reached the other side, the child revealed that He was Christ, and that Christopher had carried the weight of the whole world by carrying Him. This is why Saint Christopher is called the “Christ-bearer.”
Saint Christopher later preached about Christ and refused to worship false gods. Because of this, he was arrested and tortured. Even while suffering, he stayed faithful and encouraged others to believe in Jesus. In the end, he gave his life as a martyr.
We honor Saint Christopher as an example of courage, faith, and love for Christ, and remember him as one who truly carried Christ in his heart and actions. We pray that Christ and St. Christopher will intervene in our children’s lives – carrying them through difficulties and bringing them safely to the other side. We pray that through St. Christopher’s witness, and God’s work in this camp, many children will meet Christ and likewise become Christ bearers to this world, faithfully bearing witness to the truth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Who We Are
Camp Mission & Vision
Camp Board
Meet Our CSC Staff
Most of our camp staff have been serving with Camp St. Christopher for many years. Every year, we are blessed to include junior counselors who have come up through the ranks of Camp St. Christopher and come back to serve. All of our counselors are background checked and take a sexual abuse training. The counselors come from those faithfully serving within their individual parishes at the recommendation of our other counselors and priests.
Father David Galloway, Camp Priest: While Father David did not grow up attending camp as a kid, he has a heart for reaching people and youth. He serves as a mission priest in Orlando at St. John the Merciful. He started as a camp supporting priest in 2023, and took on the role of overseeing priest in 2025. His personality and enthusiasm is contagious and the kids love his Fun with Father talks and Sea Shanties by the fire!
Patrick Prentice, Director: Patrick (known to the kids as Paddy the Baddy) is the youth director at St. Stephen OCA in Longwood, Florida. While Patrick never attended camp as a kid, he wanted to bring Orthodox youth together to strengthen their faith and help them build relationships. He had heard from many about how impactful camp can be, and took on the role of Camp Director with gusto!
Katie Sheppard, Co-Director: Katie attended camp as a kid, and knew how meaningful it was in her life. Her time at camp strengthened her faith and gave her a chance to set aside the challenges of school to regenerate, play, and bask in God and friendships for one week over the summer. Her desire is to make that available to kids of this next generation.
Janet Petutsky, Camp Nurse: Janet has been attending as a camper and supporting Orthodox youth camps in Florida for more than 40 years. Camp St. Christopher is her passion, and we are grateful to have her year after year.
Father Daniel Hickman, Camp Priest and Counselor: Father Daniel has been with Camp St. Christopher as a supporting priest since 2015. In 2023, he took on the role of overseeing camp St. Christopher and relaunching it after a COVID hiatus. He handed the reins over to Patrick and Father David Galloway in 2025. He continues to return each year to play with with the kids.
Ayesha Dotan, Counselor: Ayesha has been a counselor with Camp St. Christopher since the beginning. At first, she was there to support her kids, and even though they are no longer campers themselves, she returns with gusto every year!
Zach Dotan, Counselor: Zach started with Camp St. Christopher as a camper at the age of 15. Camp was where Zach fully dedicated himself to Christ and the Church. He wants to help young people make that decision for themselves and knows how impactful camp is in the lives of our youth.
Zoe Dotan, Counselor: Zoe grew up attending Camp St. Christopher and loved it! She missed out on camp the last few years of high school due to COVID. As soon as camp re-launched, she wanted to come back as a junior counselor. She has returned every year since!
Yanexis Gallo, Counselor: Yanexis has been counseling with Camp St. Christopher since 2023. She grew up attending camp as a kid, and is carrying the torch of camp forward for the next generation. With her can-do attitude, Yanexis can be found assisting with crafts, organizing sports, and even climbing the challenge courses!
Chris Chudik, Counselor: Chris attended Camp St. Christopher as a teen. He loved coming to camp and wants to continue the tradition of seeing kids build relationships and grow closer to Christ. Chris is always willing to pull a late night around the camp fire or at the basketball court, allowing the older teens to fellowship!
Julian Kroener, Counselor: Julian’s first summer with Camp St. Christopher was in 2025. He was a hit with the kids, and loved camp. Overseeing pranks and middle school antics was his speciality. We look forward to having him return in 2026!
Theodore Sheppard, Certified Lifeguard: Always ready to lend a helping hand, Theo oversees the beach and lake activities.
