Thankful for Camp

John Vandervelde - Program Director   

So it's a few days after Thanksgiving, and I'm sure you all, like me, have been thinking and talking about the things in life you are thankful for.  It would be easy to fill up a couple weeks' worth of blog entries, talking about all the things I'm thankful for.  This week I spent about 17 hours building Lego creations with my two boys (Brayden, age 5 and a half, and Wyatt, age 4).  It was great fun, and I can honestly say I got pretty into it.  Okay, really into it.  It was like being a kid again.  Each morning for the past 3 days, we'd eat breakfast quickly and run down to the Lego pile to work on the latest project.  As you can imagine, this provided great bonding time with my boys.  I am very thankful for that time.  In the midst of building our "Fire Crew Rescue Hovercraft," my oldest son, Brayden, said, "I'm thankful for camp, Dad."  Of course, he was talking about HoneyRock.  I told him, I'm thankful for camp too.  Later that day I reflected a bit on camp, not HoneyRock specifically, but my camp experience as a young person.  I came up with a short list of the reasons I am thankful for camp:

1)  I went to Camp Roger in Rockford, MI, when I was 8 for my first overnight camp experience.  My counselor's name was "Pink," and he went to Calvin College.  He had pink bandanas tied around his leg and his arm (circa 1986), and I thought he was so cool.  I remember him telling us Bible stories and thinking they were so cool being told by him.  He loved God, and I wanted to too.  I'm thankful for Pink.

2) When I was 10, I went to Camp Pendalouan in Montague, MI.  My counselor's name was John, and he took us out on a wilderness camping trip.  This was not my first time camping, but it was my first time sleeping under the stars.  I remember being a bit scared, but eventually I drifted off to sleep looking up at the stars.  One of my favorite things to this day is sleeping outside under the stars.  Even if a tent is available, I'd rather be outside.  I'm thankful for John taking me on my first wilderness camping trip.

3) At camp I learned how to shoot a compound bow.  I've never shot one since, but I did at camp.  I'm thankful for camp allowing me to try new things.

4) I led my first wilderness trip at HoneyRock in 1999 as a student.  That changed my life forever, and I've been involved in adventure ministry ever since.  Camp gave me a vision for my life, and I'm thankful for that.

5) At camp I learned to paddle a canoe -- the right way.  Each summer I take my boys on a 3-4 night wilderness canoe trip (we started when Brayden was 3).  I'm thankful for those patient leaders who taught me how to canoe because it is something I love to do and can enjoy with my kids.

6) At Teen Missions Boot Camp in Florida, I committed to following Jesus with my whole life -- I became a Christ-follower.  I am thankful for boot camp.  

While you're reading this blog post, I'm sure you can think of all the reasons you too are thankful for camp.  Christian camping is something special.  This week I, along with Scott and Liz, will be taking part in "Hi-Def" the National Conference of the Christian Camp and Conference Association (CCCA).  Pray for us, and other camp leaders, as we work to keep Christian camping something people can be thankful for not only today, but for generations to come.