Final Chapter – Louisiana, Alabama and Texas

Hello everyone, Today is Tuesday, August 31st,  but wanted to share about my last two stops on the 2009 Face to Face Trip!!

Louisiana – The Solomon Episcopal Conference Center

The state of Louisiana, is geographically split in to two dioceses, Louisiana, formed in 1838 and Western Lousiana, which was voted on and formed in 1979.  A charming story if you have a second to read. But this summer, I only had a chance to visit the Diocese of Louisiana’s center, The Solomon Episcopal Conference Center.

One of the younger centers, started in 1992, it sits on 80 rolling acres of piney woods.  It is a very serene and quiet place set apart, with plenty of benches to sit down, relax and enjoy nature.  Or meditate in their Chapel.

Alabama – Beckwith Camp and Conference Center aka “Camp Beckwith”

Beckwith is the center located in Fairhope, Alabama about a hour south of Moblie, a hour west of Penscola, Florida and is in the diocese of the Central Gulf Coast.  Founded in 1933, as a summer camp, it is on of the older Episcopal Camps, with the conference center part built in the 60’s/70’s.

It is on 84 acres with waterfront property on Weeks Bay an inlet bay off the Mobile Bay, that is rich with many ecosystems.

And one of the reasons I put aka “Camp Beckwith” is because they have a strong summer camp program with 800+ campers for the season!! Above are the outside Chapel, recently built, and outside Pavilion.

Texas – Mustang Island Confernece Center

My final car stop on the trip was Flordia, the home of the new ECCC office, Duncan Center, then flew to Texas to see one more center.

But back to the last visit, Mustang Island Conference Center, another on of the newest centers, opening up in 2003! Located south of Corpus Christi, TX on the Gulf of Mexico, it is one of the centers in the Diocese of West Texas.

Above is the picture of the architectural Award Winning designed Conference Center, and the Gulf of Mexico it overlooks!  During the summer there are 12 Family Camps, Thursday-Sunday programs, focused on family.

And speaking of family, my last day of the roadtrip was very similar to a campers last day at camp,  my mom,  Sandra Slocumb, came to pick me up…

Thanks to all that read this blog and especially, thanks to Camp Allen and Valle Crucis Conference Center, with others who contributed to support this trip.

In Faith,

Bill