PHOTOS BY KRISTEN WOLFE
Southeastern California Conference
The bigger events happen on Wednesdays, such as glow parties and carnivals.
Lucas (brown shirt), Sienna (striped shirt) and other children take turns holding millipedes.
Camp Safari Brings Summer Fun
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isit the Palm Desert Oasis church in the summer, and chances are you’ll find a group of 60-80 children. It’s not VBS, and it’s not your typical summer camp. It’s Camp Safari, a day camp for children ages 5-13 run by the youth of the church. Camp Safari began in Oregon when Paul Savino, associate pastor of the Palm Desert Oasis church, was associate pastor there. The idea originally stemmed from the youth and their desire to do outreach. When Savino moved to Southern California, he brought the camp idea with him. The seven-week program is similar to an overnight camp, except that the children go home at the end of the day. Campers choose the classes they want, are divided up into cabins and spend the day rotating through a series of activities. Wednesday is the big event, with activities such as a water day, a glow party and a carnival highlighting the week. “Having an all-day summer program allows our campers to get to know our staff better, in turn making our program better,” said Lissa Clark, programming director. “Being familiar with camp itself provides a better environment for the campers to learn more about God.” While run by an Adventist church, the camp is not primarily for Adventists, but rather for the community as a whole. A third of the children who visit are from Adventist families, a third are from other churches and a third claim
Over 60 children ages 5-13 attend Camp Safari, a sevenweek day program at the Palm Desert Oasis church.
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no religious affiliation. The camp has never had to advertise, as word-ofmouth brings in enough to fill each session. Even though the camp draws children from all over the community, Savino does not see the camp’s mission as focusing only on children, but also on the youth who run it. “I started it for young people to believe that they are not the church of the future — they are the church of today,” Savino said. The result is a group of high school and college age staff that return year after year. The turnover is small, and staff often call months in advance asking for a spot on the team. As for Clark, she sees the camp as a chance to show the children love and teach them the importance of simple truths. “If we can gear them up now and get it in their heads that they’re loved, then maybe one day when they’re going through rough times, they will at least know that Jesus loves them,” Clark said. Savino would like to expand the program and is working with a church in Northern California to set up a Camp Safari there. The hope is to spread the success and blessing further. “I see it as a camp where God wins, the parents win, the church wins — and the youth win,” Savino said.
Papier-mâché crafts were just one of the many activities offered at camp this summer.
Julia Bonney
A group sings up front during the main program at the Palm Desert Oasis church for Camp Safari.