The Rewards from a Summer Camp...

My first experience in camping was when I attended a one week sports camp as a 12 year old. I remember two special things from that experience one was Winning a 3rd place ribbon for the high jump—I think I won with a jump of 3’3”. I really felt special when they called my name out to come down to receive my ribbon. I felt like I had placed in the Olympics. Later, my high school basketball coach would never believe me when I told him that I had won 3rd place in a high jump competition one time. When he asked me how high I jumped, I said that I didn’t remember. Had he known the height of my jump, he would have questioned me on it. Jumping was not one of my strengths in basketball.

Another thing I remember about that summer was when I made a fool out of myself playing in a camp baseball game. Without going into it very much, let’s just say that I was a very bad sport. The next day, my counselor offered to take me on a canoe ride out into the lake. I was happy to accept his offer and have another opportunity to show off some of my skills. I had never been in a canoe before, but I was sure that I would soon be an expert with a paddle. Once we paddled out into the lake, he pulled his paddle out of the water, saying that it was time for us to just float a little bit. That was when he shared with me his opinion on my behavior on the baseball field the day before. He wasn’t happy, to say the least. After admonishing me, he then had some encouraging words to say that built me back up. I really can’t remember now everything that was said, but I have a lasting memory of the time my counselor thought enough of me to spend his free time, when I didn’t deserve any special attention at all; that happened 50 years ago. Now, every summer, I find myself trying to impress on our staff the importance of spending unexpected time with each of their campers while they are here, and of finding ways to recognize special achievements or positive actions they see from their campers, even if it is only for a high jump of 3’3”.

The things that turn me on about camping more than anything else are the little things that happen in a child’s life at camp that later turn into big things in their adult lives.

The right words to someone at the right time is God’s voice at work.

Matthew 5:16 “You should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and they will praise your Father in heaven.”