Camp wraps up season
And it was good. Already August has brought the close of Camp Cross’s main season and with it the bittersweet feeling of the end of an unforgettable summer. As we started out this summer exploring God’s New Creation, it seemed as though the summer’s newness would never end. Now, looking back, it stands out as a season that kept alive the tradition of fun and antics that makes the “Joy of Camp” real for everyone while bringing Christian learning and community to life for hundreds of campers and counselors.
This year’s theme of God’s New Creation blossomed with the freshness brought by the staff and Camp leaders to each session, and with the open minds and hearts of the campers who participated. This year’s Camps were filled with visits from a host of strange and wild characters, ranging from the misguided Eraser Man and Captain Planet to a Santa Clause and Giant all bent on sending campers into the lake. The campers also got the chance to try interesting new activities such as games from Ecuador, Japanese calligraphy, and slack lining (a form of low to the ground tight rope walking). All this built on the hikes, all camp water wars, canoe trips, dances, crafts and games on which the fun of Camp is based
God’s New Creation was truly present in our programs this year. The Camp leaders did a wonderful job of finding new and engaging ways of bringing the lessons of Jesus and the Bible to life. Some used their gifts of imaginative and illustrative crafting, some brought the lessons to the modern age through movie clips and music, and some asked campers to imagine a world without God and then introspect deeply about why they believe in God and how they can support God’s New Creation. We were blessed in the creative leadership provided by the volunteers and clergy, and are truly thankful for the education and support they brought to Camp Cross.
The true power of Camp comes in the tearing down of social expectations and roles and the building up of a Christian acceptance and love among the campers. This powerful community of acceptance is difficult to describe unless experienced, but it’s what keeps all of us coming back; we have a place in God’s New Creation where we all belong. At Senior High, at the last formal dinner, every one without exception was wearing black and white, dressed to the nines, long-time campers together with first-time campers – everyone welcome at the table, everyone laughing and eating, and everyone without exception in that moment together. Beyond all the activities, that is what Camp was this summer, and it was good.
And this year, all this was experienced by more Campers than last. Our community is growing and reaching more campers from around the country, as far away as Boston. Thank you to Bishop Waggoner and everyone in the Diocese and beyond for your presence and for your love and support. It was an incredible summer but would have been utterly impossible without you. Thank you.
