Thinking About Camp

Happy March Friends! This week I finished a commitment to help write the summer curriculum for youth camp for the Oklahoma Conference. It is about being “Called.” It reminded me of my own camping experiences and all the ways that I have loved camping in Oklahoma. This month the Discipleship Team is asking for donations to help offset the cost of summer camping for our students. But did you know that there is also camping opportunities for the adults?

On April 4th & 5th, Canyon Camp is hosting a retreat for all ages with a focus on Creation. It’s called the EcoFaith Revolution:The Community of All Creation. For those of you who are passionate about care of the earth and how that is informed by our faith, you have choices of staying in a hotel like room or a cabin. My confirmation retreat as a kid was at Canyon Camp and we saw live armadillos and goats on the canyon walls! If you would like more information, click here.

Most of our camping happens at beautiful Camp Egan in the valley between Tahlequah and Westville. Our Women’s retreat is at this camp ground and our camps for children and youth. Linda, Mark and I have all been camping there since the 70’s and it holds a lot of memories for us. We sleep in cabins rather then tents and the food in the cafeteria is always delicious. The view from the mountain is awe inspiring and the creek is an opportunity for hiking, fishing and kayaking. I also love having worship outside.

The most important thing that happens for students at camp is the immersion into sacred space and community. Often they make friends that they see year after year. Camp has been compared to an entire year of Sunday school lessons for spiritual development. As you know, our camping system is also based on adult volunteers. Without those adults, we couldn’t take the students. If you are willing and able, I hope that you would consider volunteering for a week this summer to help our kids or to donate to help cover the cost of those who will be going. I have already registered myself and I look forward to going with our students to this incredible week. The goal for camp scholarships is $7500. If you would like to know how much it costs to send a single camper, please talk to Linda or Mark. Each camp age group costs are different.

I love you and God loves you,