The world as we understand it is changing. By this, we’re not only talking about automotive, though our industry has definitely changed much over the years. In this instance and others, “change” is not necessarily a bad thing; it’s something that’s going to happen, and yes, it’s unavoidable. Luckily one rodding organization has brought traditional values to the rod and custom craft, and they’ve done it by getting those involved who could one day be our world and nation’s leaders.

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma’s “Heart of a Craftsman” organization runs a hot rod camp that is unlike any other, and if you’re looking for a place to send your young ones this summer, where they can grow spiritually while engaging in the rod building process, then Heart of a Craftsman just may be the camp that your kids will remember for a lifetime.

Broken Arrow’s Christian-based, rod and custom camp is one that deals specifically with fusing together hot rod savvy with traditional values. The way that they accomplish this is by pairing-up young people with older Christian mentors who guide youngsters through the building process, while instilling the teachings and compassion of Christ.

The skills and personal values that are taught over the course of a Craftsman camp can be applied to make the outside community better for all, and the organization’s mission is to train youth to not only be seasoned rod builders, but to be the best leaders, teachers and parents that they can possibly be.

Unique to the rod and custom community, Heart of a Craftsman is an organization that doesn’t mooch for money, but instead asks that motoring enthusiasts and people of faith get together to give whatever they can. The organization’s website does feature a donations page, but the donations themselves may come in the form of anything from paint and supplies to entire project cars and engines. Money gifts are also welcome, but here it’s the education that’s most important.

If you’re a gearhead or if that’s something that you’ve ever been called, then this means that motored vehicles are a very important part of your life. Building rods and customs is a concern of Heart of a Craftsman as well, but they want to make sure that this knowledge of everything motors is not one that goes to waste and they focus on getting the next generation more involved.

Each hot rod camp lasts approximately one week, and the session revolves around one project vehicle that helps to build more personal relationships between the participants and their motoring mentors, while bonding together and becoming stronger in the Christian faith.

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Just some of the fun that's had at the Heart of a Craftsman, hot rod summer camp.

Heart of a Craftsman may be a faith-based operation, but it’s not one that takes their hot rodding resume very lightly either. Some of the cool rides that have been completed by the Craftsman camps include a trick ’32 Deuce that was finished in 2009, and a ’23 T-bucket that was finished in 2011, after 30 years of sitting stagnant.

If it’s not enough that the Oklahoma camp strives to round-out young people on the topic of hot rod construction, they also teach other aspects of the auto hobby, as one of their feature customs is an ’05 Harley Softtail chopper built during the 2011 camp, parallel with their 30-year-old T-bucket.

Heart of a Craftsman is a life-changing camp, and if it’s something that you and your family may be interested in, then be sure to check it out; it may just change the way that you and your kids see custom cars and help get them more involved in a positive atmosphere to build on for years to come.