A Difficult Goodbye, But Endless Gratitude – The Bombach Family
To our camp families & friends,
The best part of camp is the people. And as it turns out, that’s also what makes saying goodbye so hard.
Over the past three years, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to witness the growth, improvements, and additions to our camp program. Making camp more accessible, beautiful, and enriching has been a constant focus of my heart and mind. After this past summer, I built a few benches from leftover ropes course lumber, and on one near the Old Chapel site, I carved Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Initially, I carved these words as a reminder for our campers, guests, and staff who paused to take in the Lake Brooklyn sunset. But over time, I’ve realized how deeply they apply to my own journey with this special place we call home.
When I was diagnosed with cancer for the second time in late 2023, our staff, campers, and families surrounded my family with unbelievable support, encouragement, and love. Our camp community battled with us, believed with us, and showed up in ways we could never have imagined. In over 20 years of camping, I have never felt more embraced by a community than I have here. Because of you, when I was weary and burdened, I was able to rest. On Wednesday I had my “last” appointment at Baptist MD Anderson in Jacksonville and was told that after eight years, I am now in the category of cured. I am fortunate to be cancer-free. I am blessed to see another day that isn’t promised.
Though my heart remains fully devoted to Camp Immokalee, my health has made it clear that I can no longer sustain the energy this role demands at the level our campers and community deserve. Recovery after camp is not only extremely difficult on my body, but even more so on my family. My family deserves everything I have, rather than everything I have left. After much reflection, prayer, and discussion, Jessica and I have made the difficult decision to step away from our roles at Camp Immokalee.
Over the next few weeks, we will do everything we can to make this transition as smooth as possible. We will finish out the month here at camp, take a few weeks to pack, and then head out before Spring Break Camp.
As we take this next step, I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead for Immokalee. Having Allison return to camp this summer was both a timely gift and a blessing. With her at the helm, I have complete confidence that the passion, drive, and heart of this magical place in Keystone Heights will continue to thrive. My family and I are at complete peace knowing Camp Immokalee is in the best hands.
I have always told our camp team that self-care is not selfish. This decision, while difficult, reflects that truth. Our next chapter will take us closer to family, but our love for this camp and the people who make it so special will never fade.
Thank you for trusting us and allowing us to serve your family. Calling Immokalee “home” will forever be one of the greatest chapters of our lives. Though this chapter is closing, our love for Immokalee and the friendships we’ve built here will always remain. Camp isn’t just a place—it’s a family, and we will always be a part of it.
With deepest gratitude,
Richard, Jessica, Amaya, and Annabelle Bombach
P.S. The greatest legacy we could ever leave is a full camp. Don’t forget to sign up today!