Caledonia Times The
September 2015 - Pre Synod Edition The Diocesan Section of the Anglican Journal
Life is always better at Camp!
“Camp Cal” comes back for 5th Season to learn about caring and sharing
D
espite the unrelenting heat of the first full week of July, Teen Camp was a tremendous success. The camp staff, counselors and counselors-in-training had already been together for a week, training, prep for the programs and the campers. This preparation included time with Bishop Anderson on the “Protecting God’s People” program and time with Mrs. Margaret Anderson on working with special needs campers who have a variety of challenges. There were some changes around how the camp was to be lead and administered this year. In particular was the addition of Sharon McIntosh, who serves as the Camp Administrator. The role of the Camp Administrator is to take hold of and deal with the day to day issues that happen around the Camp. This is includes control of the Camp budget, keeping a list of capital projects that need to be tended to, and even taking camps to the emergency room for medical attention if needed. Amanda Veillette was the Program Director and the one looking after the counsellors and the campers. Amanda also designed the Chapel time and the Chaplain’s Time which is the soul of the program at the Camp. Sharon and Amanda are also assisted by “Pete” who looks after the maintenance issues on the grounds and in the buildings. The Camp is also served by a fantastic kitchen crew and a wonderful band of volunteers. This group was responsible for feeding the campers, counselors and staff three times each day and for “mug up” each night. The kitchen crew start-
ed their day by 530 am and the volunteers were there after supper to finish mug-up after chapel at about 830pm. The Theme this year was “Sharing and Caring” and was based on parables from the Gospels. Chapel times are full of fun, faith and music. One of the things that has been noticed in recent times is that kids are not as use to signing together as we once were. There are the proverbial favourites like “All God’s critters got a place in the choir” and “the Lord of the Dance” along with reintroduced songs like “I wanna boogie for Jesus!” which goes to the tune of the Beatles “Twist and Shout”, and is interspersed with Mexican cat calls. The campers also got a taste of learning to sing in rounds with tunes like “The Love Round” and “Father we adore you.” One of the great things about this year was the inclusion of campers with Down’s Syndrome. It was great because it called out in the counsellors and in the campers, the servant ministry of Christ to be with and help those who could not participate in much of what the Camp program does throughout the day unless they had help. It was awesome to watch people work together and be together and to experience Christ in the midst of all that was going on. Each Camp concludes with Chapel and the sending out of light boats onto the lake. It is a powerful moment that helps campers and staff to start saying goodbye after a great week and to recognize that we are together in Christ and hope to see each other soon.
Thoughts turn now to evaluating the whole experience of the summer of 2015. The Board will be meeting just before Synod to hear about the whole summer. Please keep in mind that there are needs every year to make Camp the success it is. Please consider making your contribution for 2016, whether great or small so that kids can encounter Christ. In particular, the Camp is always in need of nurses or first aiders to care for the basic health needs of the campers and staff. Also, there is a real need for the Camp to have chaplains during the camps, to be there for the spiritual needs of the campers and the staff. if the counselors are the heart of the program we deliver every summer, then clearly the chaplains must be the soul. The mission of Camp Caledonia is to “provide a Christian community where people of all ages can share anexperience of God” (Staff and Policy Manual, 2010). We need the help of staff and volunteers to deliver the Camp program. It is hoped that you might consider getting involved to make our mission a sucess! A prayer for Diocesan Synod:
Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel in Diocesan Synod, for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honour and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.