Coaches spend a lot of time during the season away from their families and the Blue Lake Coaches Camp offers them a chance to spend some quality time together and grow spiritually.

Coaches from across Alabama and North Florida gathered at the Blue Lake Methodist Camp with their families for a weekend of activities, food, worshipping and relaxing.

Along with Jimmy Reeves, Pleasant Home girls basketball coach Jerry Davis and his wife helped get the annual event off the ground seven years ago.

“There are a lot challenges when you are married to a coach,” Maria said. “It can be stressful when you don’t see them but for maybe just a few minutes a day during the season. This camp gives up the chance to all get together and worship and just enjoy the company.”

Maria said that being around the other coaches’ families is always nice.

“All the wives, we get together and do arts and crafts and just talk with one another,” Maria said. “It’s very nice to have them to talk with because we are all in the same boat. We are able to connect through shared experiences. Being married to a coach is hard and this camp has helped save marriages.”

Maria said that the idea for the camp came from another camp they use to attend.

“Several years, we use to go to a camp in North Carolina,” Maria said. “I didn’t know what I had gotten myself into at first because I am not a camper. It turned out to be so amazing. It started to get very expensive to go up there every year, and so we wanted to start one down here that more affordable. It has been a truly amazing experience each year we have had the camp.”