Volunteering

Recently we had camp planning meeting and the team was asked to share why they were involved in the camping ministry. We heard all answers and some with serious reflection and some with great humor. So many volunteers began with camping since they were teens and “moved up the ladder.” Many volunteers where tapped on the shoulders years ago and “we became infected with camping fever”. It was a great exercise in the why are we here.

Many of us volunteers experienced for ourselves what the camping ministry can do when you least expect it. You go to serve as needed, maybe have a job description and follow the day’s agenda with campers. Your goal is to make certain the campers have the best experience of a life time in that one week. A leader, a role model, a facilitator and discussion leader. Then some of the following may happen:

As a group leader or camp pastor you plant seeds that someday are nurtured, maybe hear from the camper or parent how much the week meant to them. As a nurse you care for a camper who got the needed rest and was able to complete their camp experience. One year you are touched in a way that you make the decision to be baptized as a profession of your faith! Another year’s experience gives you guidance in your spiritual gifts and you look to a change your career. You meet fellow volunteers that touch your life in a way that they become friends for a life time. Some day you lead a group through the day’s activities and you just are there to listen and a camper asks you “ I have always wanted to know....”

As a leader you see lives changed and you are a part of that process. You also see that camper coming back year after year. You volunteer to work with campers in the craft hall and you leave with a gift that is all yours. One year at camp you learn how old you are or how old you aren’t, but you have a great time and you teach the campers on how one pushes themselves, and you learn to laugh!

There are many stories of why people volunteer at camp and what happens in their lives because of the experience.

Lord, as you have directed these volunteers to camp, prepare them to be ready with open hearts and minds to what you want during their week of camp. You know the campers you are sending for the week. Let us be ready for them and be there for them. Let us go to camp with a servant’s heart. With that we also pray for safety in travel and activities, strength and endurance of the volunteers and a week that is a blessing to you.

 

 

 

 

 

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