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March-May 1999 The Sabbath Sentinel
Summer Camp
by Mandie Nickels
Daily fellowships, nightly tuck-ins,
lifetime friendships and most of all, fun activities. Sounds
like a parent's dream? It is. And it's found at the
summerChurch camp I go to, sponsored by the United Church of
God, AIA.
This year, there are six UCG summer camps in the USA, for
teenagers from the ages 10-18. I haveonly had the chance to
experience one camp, Camp McKenzie, in Oregon. There, I have
made the bestfriends a person could ever ask for. As a faithful
Camp McKenzie camper, I am open to white-waterrafting,
over-night hiking, meeting new campers, and taking a bite of
camp food and actuallyswallowing.
I am a teenager growing up into today's society, and I can
honestly say that there are very few thingsthat teenagers can do
today for the Church. But taking part of summer camp teaches
me, and it's a greatthing that a teenager like me can take
advantage of. And one of the best things is, that your parents
aremiles away from you, so if you don't clean your bunk, there
is no one there to nag you to clean up. But,from experience, if
you have the messiest bunk, you get a beautiful bouquet of
broccoli and have to eatit in front of the whole camp. Yuck!
Each day we start with a breakfast and a Bible study. Then each
cabin has its own schedule ofactivities. Such as, archery,
riflery, swimming safety, dance class, ropes course, basketball,
volleyball,astronomy, and even etiquette classes. At the end of
camp, there is a special dinner and a dance.
Summer camp is the best thing for a teenager today. It gives
you a chance to hang out with peoplejust like you, and have lots
of fun doing it. There is nothing that pleases God more than
His peoplehaving fun. And that's what Church camp is all about.
Mandie Nickels is a 14-year old Sabbath-keeper in Wyoming. You
may contact her atmnickels@angelfire.com.
For more information about UCG summer youth camps, open to
Sabbath-keepers in general:
Another youth camp is the Living Youth Camp, to be held in the
Upper Peninsula of Michigan fromJuly 27 to August 9. Activities
will include flag football, volleyball, fishing, dancing,
canoeing, obstaclecourse and much, much more. Write: Living
Youth Camp, 2200 Cherokee Strip, Blue Springs, MO64015, phone
816 228-2035, or E-mail: LYC@pars.net.
TSS
March - May 1999 The Sabbath Sentinel
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