Recently, I was privileged to serve as co-director at church camp. Our Presbytery partners with the Christian Church of MidAmerica in offering summer camps to children who have completed PreK through those who have just graduated high school. This summer’s theme, Linked by Love, provided a rich text to build our summer camp experience around and I enjoyed planning activities for campers. Being at camp as they experienced the planned activities was a blessing.

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We know that love comes from God, and sometimes we experience it directly. More often, God’s love is manifest in relationships of all kinds that weave in and out of our lives. We see God’s love in close friends and family – those we are born into and those we chose along the way. We see God in quiet moments where we are present with each other and in acts of profound grace when we have been far apart. We hear God in life guiding and life changing words of truth from those who know and love us. We know that such love links our lives, teaching us about commitment, grace, and faith. As we seek to create and strengthen life giving relationships, we remember that such love flows from God and links us all together.

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Since I began in a leadership position at our camps in 2021, I've heard from many families that the decision to send their children and youth to camp really comes down to whether they can fit it into their schedules. I understand this reality, but I can say from my personal experience that camps, especially faith-based camps, should be part of a family’s summer plans.