September 16th

Shifting Lenses at Camp

Reflections from Nadya Langelotz, Assoc. Program Director, Camps with Meaning

This summer has been all about shifting lenses. Just as I did from camper to staff, staff to leadership, to my role with MCM now, I have had to readjust the way I see God’s foolishness, divine intervention, backward-Kingdom work and love, popping up at camp. Here are the new(ish) lenses through which I saw camp this summer.

1. Camp is a place of GROWTH for everything and everyone: growth of new relationships, of plants, birds, underbrush in forest areas, new skills, fresh knowledge, physical growth of people and animals and veggies
2. Camp as a community has LIMITS: It’s quite easy in my position to look at the big picture and have overarching dreams for camp. At times, I had to admit to myself, and others, that camp cannot do everything and be everything to everyone.
3. Camp as a community needs SUPPORT: On the flip side of the big picture lens, camp calls out for support from those beyond the physical space of camp. To use the beautiful metaphor of the tree: we have such a strong trunk at camp, but these years after the pandemic have prompted a need to re-strengthen the roots that connect camp to camp-adjacent communities (like you, our churches!).
4. Camp is approaching a time of CHANGE: The Light the Fire Capital Campaign makes it obvious with site changes, but through this lens, I also notice the need to increase the ability to adapt well and provide support for decreased emotional capacity as both camper and staff support needs evolve in the coming summers.

These lenses have, ultimately, given me hope, because every single one signifies movement, and not stagnancy. We are on our way to something! And God walks with us. As the summer season ends, I can’t help thinking of the Emmaus Road story. I reflect on the campers I met, the staff who committed their whole summers, and the leadership who I mentored and chatted late into the night with, who trusted me to guide them through this whole thing and I keep asking “were our hearts not burning within us?” What a beautiful summer.

Photo: Youth camp outdoor feast at Camp Koinonia. Photo by Bernie Loeppky

Let’s give thanks to God for another wonderful summer of camps! Pray that the learning and experiences of camp will take root and grow in the lives of campers and summer staff, bearing the fruit of love in the way of Jesus. To ensure that we can continue to provide these opportunities, consider giving financially to support our camps; see www.mennochurch.mb.ca/giving